Initially we've proposed to solve the question of what kind of physical space will enable working independently in community.

The answer has been to create a shared space with desks and wifi, in a location that is easily accessible, surrounded with good food and other services, and in San Francisco (to start). This space would be rented by members and available for events, etc.

Soon it was obvious that there would be a virtual component to the space. Maybe this already is... Chris mentioned the idea of developing a tool that would be used to coordinate the shared use of the space; This tool would offer:

• Scheduling desk space
• Managing membership
• Billing services
• Booking events
• Co-promoting events
• Hosting test applications on a local server
• Others?

The social structure of how the space could be used quickly became another area of interest. The space could make people's professional lives more productive by putting them in an environment that was more conducive to collaboration. The space could also enable emergent types of socialization, driven mostly by the fact that the founding team all have an interest in online community development.

The social structure issue is complex and not easily distilled for the purpose of this marketing plan. It merits further thought.

We've proabably all had the experience of using a wifi enabled cafe for five hours and we only bought one coffee. This obviously affects the cafe and the cafe workers who survive in part on income from tips. We also have experienced having to hustle for an open table in a crowded cafe, jockeying for an electrical outlet, or similar.

We've also probably all spent more than enough time in lifeless, soul sucking cubicles. I have. It affects my productivity. (Is it bad form to wiki in first person singular?) My ability to produce creative and meaningful information is heavily influenced by my surroundings. I've structured a home office environment that has all the comforts I enjoy in a work space. I spend a lot of time there, and it works for me. Not everyone has this luxury, especially in a high rent community like San Francisco.

Often marketing plans and products or services are created to alleviate a user's pain. The market has proven that people willingly spend money to alleviate pain. In this regard I think the social structure of the coworking space would alleviate the pain that some people experience when working in isolation. Home offices are great for some people. They're not great for others.

There are a lot of other aspects of this plan that could make the coworking space an engaging social structure...