The [Not So] Humble Beginnings

We spent the last 11 of our 16 years in business in the Union Bank Tower. As our lease finally came to an end, I found myself in a unique position to reimagine what NedSpace could become.

When I took ownership of NedSpace 18+ months ago, I had effectively inherited an empty floor—devoid of people, ideas, and any semblance of community. The pandemic and its effects on downtown had scattered our members, and honestly, we started from scratch.

But sometimes, starting from zero gives you the clarity to build something extraordinary.

I went on a journey of rediscovery, exploring:

• Our legacy, historical impact, and the community culture that made NedSpace what it was
• Downtown Portland's needs and the collective energy required to support our people, commerce, and civic identity
• Traditional business models around coworking and accelerator programs—essentially, how to connect people with resources and help them achieve their professional goals

I wanted to co-create and deploy a win-win-win business model that leveraged the potential energy of our community, our central downtown location, and a culture that created a circular loop of mutual support, community impact, and influence that reached far beyond our walls.

NedSpace Evolved in 2024

With a mix of longtime members and fresh faces, we collectively redesigned what coworking, community, and entrepreneurial ecosystems could look like:

• We built "co-labs"—micro-hub playgrounds for industry-specific learning and growth that evolved into growing "villages"
• We taught each other how to leverage our collective skillsets to help everyone grow individually and as a community
• We learned how to host meaningful events, bringing together diverse groups of people while supporting other professional organizations around town
• Most importantly, we helped everyone who walked through our doors ideate with depth, dream bigger, and execute with communal support

With every action, we grew in small and large ways. As we evolved, our logistical and community needs outgrew our space.

Introducing NedSpace 3.0

“A Professional work & play space, social club, and accelerator-esque incubation hub.”

Our move to the American Bank Building represents a strategic step forward in our mission:

More Space for Collaboration: We traded half of our unused private offices for multipurpose spaces where our villages and event communities can truly collaborate.

Pioneer Square as Our Living Room: We traded views of skies and clouds for views of people and city energy. We'll be leveraging our newfound front-row seat to bring people together in fun, creative, and impactful ways.

A Historic Building That Matches Our Energy: This 110-year-old piece of Portland history was freshly renovated, creating a space that feels as ambitious as the community we're building. We also have upgraded amenities and access to a street-side event space.

Partners Aligned for Growth: Menashe Properties appreciated our vision for Portland's future, and their legacy of social impact initiatives aligns perfectly with our community-first approach.

(Huge appreciation to Melvin Mark Companies for 16 incredible years—they gave us the foundation to become what we are today.)

What’s in it for me? [Your experience at NedSpace]

Imagine walking into NedSpace on a Tuesday morning. Next thing you know:

• Week 1: you're chatting with a UI designer who finally explains why your “thing” feels clunky.
• Week 3: you’re attending an event around town; fellow members coming along with you.
• Month 1: someone from the AI village shows you how to automate that manual process eating your weekends.
• Month 3: you're co-hosting workshops, teaching what you know while learning from people whose skills perfectly complement yours.

6 Months later: your business has momentum you didn't think was possible.

Not because you found a magic bullet. Because you finally found your people. The entrepreneurs who get your struggle. Celebrate your wins. Help you navigate obstacles that used to stop you cold. You're no longer building alone. You're building with a community invested in your success because your success strengthens everyone.

The Next Chapter Starts Today

As we continue on this path of actualization and building toward a better tomorrow—for all of us, you included—expect to see exciting changes in and around our space:

• More intentional programming, unconferences, and hackathons
• Playful and unique social gatherings
• Tools and resources to equip our community with everything they need to succeed
• A blurring of the traditional boundaries between work, play, and life

The future looks bright; 🫶

I, alongside the rest of NedSpace, welcome you to join us on this journey.
Together, we'll help you hit your goals while creating something bigger than all of us individually.

— Faris Mubarak, NedSpace Owner & "Intern" for others