Tempe Offers Mentoring, Free Office Space To Small Businesses

By Claire Caulfield
Published: Saturday, November 21, 2015 - 5:05am
(Photo via tempe.gov)
Tempe

A new program in Tempe called Vault is offering small startup businesses free office space and mentoring. The city of Tempe paired with Transmosis, a tech training company from Oakland, Calif., to renovate 25,000 square feet in the Tempe Performing Arts Center into office space for technology and creative startups.

“What Transmosis will be doing is providing coaching and guidance to new startups that will partake in Tempe,” said Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell.

“We’re really focusing on diversifying and having a sustainable economy, and what worked decades ago to build the economy in Arizona doesn’t necessarily work anymore, so we’re really going to be focusing on some of Tempe’s strengths,” Mitchell said.

Kris Baxter, with the city of Tempe, said Tempe is one of Arizona’s most educated cities. “The Tempe vault program really highlights the best of the city – technology and creative people.”  

In addition, the program offers internships to older adults looking to gain experience in the technology field and requires startups who sign with Vault to provide business advice to community members at the Tempe public library. 

“So they’re giving back to the community,” Baxter said.

According to Forbes, 52 percent of small businesses are run from home. “Imagine bringing a client into an office space versus your home office,” Baxter said. “This gives companies the professional benefit without the overhead costs.”

Three small companies have already signed with the Vault program and will begin training in early 2016.