Rebecca Webber | Executive Director, CIC Providence
1. What does CIC Providence offer to business beyond shared workspaces?
CIC Providence offers access and flexibility. CIC clients have access to a community of companies of various sizes in our Providence office. They also have access to our global network of sites. We currently have [offices in] five American cities, from Boston to Miami, and one site in Rotterdam [in the Netherlands]. Our clients sign month-to-month service agreements. These agreements give them the flexibility to right-size their operations as needed. And unlike other shared office space options, at CIC your monthly fee is all-inclusive. For example, we don’t want you worrying about hitting your monthly conference room use [quota]; we just want you to focus on growing your business.
2. Who are some of your initial tenants? If this is not disclosed, why?
Generally, we don’t disclose our clients because they aren’t ours to disclose. In several cases, though, clients share, or give us permission to share, that they are part of our community. In Providence, we are proud to have The Boston Globe and Zumper as clients along with riHub, the startup incubator and accelerator program featuring MassChallenge. Pangea.app is one of the companies taking part in the current cohort. Since opening our doors in August, we have welcomed about two dozen clients.
3. What are the options for businesses of various sizes, and for growing businesses?
Again, a draw for our clients is our flexible space. Our workspaces are easily right-sized for what a client needs. Some companies are a team of one and reserve a hot desk. Others, [such as] Zumper, are starting in a small office with four people. They are looking to hire 10 engineers this year, which will require them to move into a larger space. Our team is ready to help clients map a flexible plan that works to support their business goals. It’s worth noting, too, that regardless of size, all of our clients have access to 21 conference rooms, a fully stocked kitchen and phone booths for private calls, among other amenities.
4. How many of the floors in the new Wexford Innovation building are taken up by CIC?
CIC Providence occupies about 65,000 square feet across 2½ floors.
5. What is the programming available to tenants?
As more clients move in, we will tailor our programs to what they need. Right now, we have weekly networking sessions for our people to get to know each other. Clients are also welcome to join the Thursday night gatherings hosted by our building neighbor, Venture Café.
Mary MacDonald is a PBN staff writer. Contact her at Macdonald@PBN.com
