WeWork, a company that specializes in co-working spaces and entrepreneur assistance, has opened a new WeWork Labs location in Portland, Oregon. WeWork Labs is meant to serve as an “incubator” for startup company ideas; a place where would-be entrepreneurs can bounce ideas off of each other, use communal office space for logistical and clerical work, and network with and learn from industry experts. This location is headed by Stephen Green, a prolific figure in Portland’s startup scene, having previously started his own competition for African-American, Latino, and Latina entrepreneur, PitchBlack, before joining WeWork as a community director.
WeWork Labs was conceived back in 2011 and launched with modest success, but the brand seemed to lack staying power. Earlier this year, the brand was re-launched, and has since opened fifteen new locations around the world, with locations planned for London and Frankfurt as early as next month. Elizabeth Scallon, head of WeWork Labs’ Seattle location, said that WeWork Labs is “more of a curated, hand-holding experience for the startups” in comparison to the regular WeWork spaces. “It’s providing those resources so that they can succeed at a faster rate.”
