Considerations for Startup Office Space
At AccelerEyes, for the last 3 years our primary office has been located in ATDC, the southeast’s premier hub for startups. We will be graduating from ATDC this year, and that means we are looking for new office space.
Startup office space is a hot topic right now due to David Cumming’s unveiling of Atlanta Tech Village last month. As we are looking for a new home for AccelerEyes, we find ourselves gravitating towards the following priorities:
- Windows with a good amount of daylight. In the first year of AccelerEyes, we worked out of a Georgia Tech business professor’s lab space with no windows. While we are extremely grateful for the Professor’s goodwill, the lack of windows drove us batty, especially with the long startup hours. Weather could completely change, and we wouldn’t have a clue.
- Mostly open floor space. We like to all work without dividers and in the same area. The openness facilitates collaboration and accountability among the team.
- Private areas for crucial conversations, whether they be in person or by phone. When privacy is important, it is hugely important. The environment of these areas should fully enable individuals to speak freely without fear of being overheard.
- Muffled areas for phone calls or small group meetings to avoid disturbing others.
- Small kitchen area with microwave, refrigerator, and ice machine.
- Separate server room to avoid the heat and noise.
- Proximity to Georgia Tech. We hire the top Georgia Tech parallel programming engineers and need to be close enough to keep the talent funnel strong.
- Proximity to other startups. While there are not many startups in Atlanta that operate in our same markets, we find that all startups go through similar challenges. Participating in the startup community has been very valuable for our business. However, we are not a fan of community participation to the detriment of deep focus on our own business and culture. A balance is required.
In the midtown area, we are finding that $22/sq foot is a good rate to achieve those items, with a 6-month lease. We are also excited about the Atlanta Tech Village, but still need to evaluate that option on the basis of price, distance from Georgia Tech, and ability to maintain our own corporate identity and culture in a village environment.
What do you value in startup office space? How do the items on my list compare to what you consider?