FAQ
Where is this ‘Venture Café’?
During its “alpha” or prototyping phase, The Venture Café is located on the 11th floor of the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC). CIC is at One Broadway in Cambridge’s Kendall Square and a short walk from the Kendall/MIT T-stop on the Red Line. Our intent is for the actual café to be located in ground floor retail location in Kendall Square.
Why are you open now? Why only for a few hours a week?
We’re using this ‘alpha testing’ opportunity both to work on technology to enhance the cafe experience and to develop experimental partnerships with organizations to provide programming of interest to the community. For instance, the New England Venture Capital Association is conducting office hours within the café, and prominent speakers, such as angel investor Bill Warner, have used it as a venue for talks. We are approaching building The Venture Café much as one would a software development project: with a fair amount of real-life usability testing even early in the concept development.
When will you be open as a café at street level?
We are currently negotiating street-level space in Kendall Square, and should be opening there within 12 months.
Why are you in Kendall Square?
Cambridge is a hub of innovation and entrepreneurial energy, and Kendall Square is at the heart of that. We are convenient to the Red Line and the Greater Boston innovation community, while being steps away from MIT, MIT Sloan, the Cambridge Innovation Center, and many other surrounding start-up, angel and venture capital investors. We find this a good, central location from which to collaborate with other area schools, including Harvard and Babson.
Is Venture Café just for entrepreneurs seeking venture capital?
We’re not sure what are all the things the the Venture Café is for. We hope you will help us answer that question. In a nutshell, however, Venture Café is for entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors who want to meet other like-minded people, with an eye toward making things happen, engaging in meaningful work, and getting involved in new, exciting projects. ”Venture” is meant in the broadest sense – as a potentially risky endeavor – like an “adventure”.
What is the vision for the street-level café?
The current café plans sketch it as a European-style cafe, serving frothy cappuccinos alongside glasses of Bordeaux, with delicious breakfast, lunch and small plate options to complement lively conversation and keeping up with the buzz around the Square. We will be a social place to meet and connect with others, born out of the idea that meeting face-to-face with like-minded people can make great things happen.
What is Venture Café’s connection with Cambridge Innovation Center?
One of Venture Café’s founders is Tim Rowe, who is also CEO and founder of CIC. CIC has provided many resources to help The Venture Café get off the ground, however The Venture Cafe is not owned by, nor part of, CIC.
