Ask HN: Entrepreneur/Startups-friendly cafes in NYC

Posted by pghimire on Tuesday May 03, 2011 @09:57AM
from the ask-hn dept.

I am not sure if this has been asked before. As many of you can relate to, I tend to get bored working at home and try to go out and about in the city hoping to find a good spot to get some work done. Startbucks does not do it for me - WIFI is too slow and I lose my patience waiting for the bar to go 100% when I FTP a file. Very frustrating. Aren't there places that can relate to this and are catering to startups? I might just not be aware of them - can you guys share some spots? My schedule is not consistent - I can be very productive at home - so I do not necessarily want to rent a cube or workspace. Just looking for a change of scenary where I can be productive as well. Thanks!

( 13 comments | 7 points | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: Entrepreneur/Startups-friendly cafes in NYC by evanlh on Tuesday May 03, 2011 @11:11AM (#2510230)

None of these are explicitly startup-friendly, but they're all good for doing work at:

http://newyork.timeout.com/restaurants-bars/restaurants/6328...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Entrepreneur/Startups-friendly cafes in NYC by lsemel on Tuesday May 03, 2011 @10:46AM (#2510124)

I answered this on Quora: http://www.quora.com/WiFi/What-are-the-best-wifi-enabled-wor...

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Re:Ask HN: Entrepreneur/Startups-friendly cafes in NYC by nateberkopec on Tuesday May 03, 2011 @10:33AM (#2510063)

Not exactly a coffee shop, but maybe you're looking for something along the lines of the Wix Lounge on 18th street? I can't think of any startup-specific coffee places but this is close.

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Re:Ask HN: Entrepreneur/Startups-friendly cafes in NYC by pghimire on Thursday May 05, 2011 @08:21AM (#2517035)

How is Wix Lounge? I have never been there before, but will definintely check it out. Yelp seems to have pretty good reviews. http://www.yelp.com/biz/wix-lounge-new-york

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Re:Ask HN: Entrepreneur/Startups-friendly cafes in NYC by frankdenbow on Tuesday May 03, 2011 @01:48PM (#2510943)

Here is a map that may be helpful: http://hotspotr.com/wifi/map/115-new-york-ny

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Re:Ask HN: Entrepreneur/Startups-friendly cafes in NYC by namank on Tuesday May 03, 2011 @11:26AM (#2510291)

Small business idea - a walk in startup incubator type deal that has internet, books, coffee, cool furniture, possibly whiteboards, no mentors!

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Re:Ask HN: Entrepreneur/Startups-friendly cafes in NYC by beagle3 on Tuesday May 03, 2011 @02:28PM (#2511079)

There are actually quite a few of those - New Work City, Sunshine Suites, and a few more. It's on the order of ~$30/day for walk-ins, last I checked (a year ago) and you can get much cheaper if you are more regular (around $100/month for 2 days/week, $250 for full time).

Internet connection is valued too highly, though - Clear 4G gives you ""unlimited"" ""nationwide"" mobile internet for $45/month (and occasionally you can get the wifi hotspot in exchange for a contract). I put unlimited and nationwide in quotes because I don't know how true that really is, but if you are in NYC it works reasonably well. You are likely to spend more than $2 extra per day (==$45/month) extra in coffee/food working at Starbucks or Argo Tea or Think Coffee.

Personally, I find I can't do work at a starbucks because of all the auditory and visual noise - YMMV.

(Also, if you actually have any sort of income, you can expense the mobile internet connection, whereas you usually can't expense the coffee).

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Entrepreneur/Startups-friendly cafes in NYC by namank on Tuesday May 03, 2011 @09:50PM (#2512478)

Interesting - I'll definitely have to check these out

And...upon evaluating, they found that Starbucks has chairs ergonomically adjusted to discourage long use

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Re:Ask HN: Entrepreneur/Startups-friendly cafes in NYC by pghimire on Thursday May 05, 2011 @08:26AM (#2517055)

Thanks, I will have to check them out.

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Re:Ask HN: Entrepreneur/Startups-friendly cafes in NYC by achompas on Tuesday May 03, 2011 @12:03PM (#2510520)

General Assembly is one step ahead of you:

http://www.generalassemb.ly/

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Re:Ask HN: Entrepreneur/Startups-friendly cafes in NYC by namank on Tuesday May 03, 2011 @09:48PM (#2512474)

Doesn't sound like a drop in 'cafe'...although its pretty cool what they are doing

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Re:Ask HN: Entrepreneur/Startups-friendly cafes in NYC by pghimire on Thursday May 05, 2011 @08:25AM (#2517051)

How do you suggest the business generate revenue? It's gonna be rather complicated business model. Charge entry fee? Charge for coffee?

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Re:Ask HN: Entrepreneur/Startups-friendly cafes in NYC by pghimire on Thursday May 05, 2011 @08:20AM (#2517028)

Thanks everyone! I'll definitely check them out.

[ Parent | on HN ]