NJ Ignite Approves Latest Co-Working Space in Summit

On Nov 22, 2019

The Co-Co Collaborative LLC (The Co-Co), a women-focused coworking and co-learning space for entrepreneurs and solopreneurs in Summit, recently became the latest collaborative workspace approved to participate in the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s (NJEDA) NJ Ignite program.

NJ Ignite helps technology and life sciences startup companies realize the benefits of collaborative workspaces – incubators, accelerators, and coworking spaces – by providing up to nine months of rent support for startup technology and life sciences businesses that are moving to an approved collaborative workspace. In addition to benefiting the startups, NJ Ignite is also a unique tool that collaborative workspaces can use to attract new tenants to their facilities. To date, 17 collaborative workspaces have been approved to participate in the program.

The Co-Co opened its doors in January 2019, less than one year after co-founders Suzanne Willian, Lynne Pagano, Lauren Decker, Christine Gilfillan, and Suzanne Spero hosted a listening event at a coffee shop and brainstormed the idea of creating a place for women to work side-by-side, learn from each other, and empower one another.

“We’re seeing an increase in female owned and/or operated coworking spaces, incubators, and accelerators throughout the Garden State, including nearly half of the participating NJ Ignite collaborative workspaces,” NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan said. “Investing in women-owned enterprises is an important step in fulfilling Governor Murphy’s vision for creating the most diverse innovation ecosystem in the nation and we look forward to hearing success stories from startups growing out of these workspaces.”

Offering full-time, part-time, and community memberships, The Co-Co currently boasts 175 members, including a life sciences attorney, a technology marketer and investor in several startups, a computer analyst at a customer relationship management company, an employee working remotely for a major pharmaceutical company, and several independent consultants. Members also include women who are at different stages of life and career. Willian added that The Co-Co’s location less than an hour from Manhattan gives a perfect alternative for Union, Essex, and Morris County women looking to avoid commuting into New York City.

In addition to office space and networking opportunities, the co-working space also serves as a co-learning space, hosting six to eight events per month. On December 11, The Co-Co is hosting “Inspiration and Encouragement Cohort: Allies & Advocates, Building Your Personal Board of Directors” and anyone interested in attending is encouraged to register at online.

“Things are buzzing here at The Co-Co and you can really feel the synergy among our members,” Willian said. “With support from the NJ Ignite program, we look forward to attracting even more tenants and adding to the growing list of entrepreneurs and solopreneurs that are taking advantage of all we have to offer.”

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