BizTechDay is a conference that says it ‘puts business before technology,’ to empower small business owners and entrepreneurs to harness the power of the internet to grow their businesses. To us this sounds all too familiar – because, well, that’s what we do, too. We help small businesses leverage web tools to grow their businesses online. So, I suppose it’s lucky for us we’ll be rubbing elbows with what’s shaping up to be a great crowd and solid list of featured guests – all free of charge.

Credit Where Credit is Due

We (R3R) spend a good bit of our productive time at a coworking space in San Francisco called Sandbox Suites – who are also a sponsor of the conference. Sandbox co-owner Sasha Vasilyuk initially clued me in to this new event, even though flyers for BizTechDay had been catching my eye for weeks. On those flyers, by the way, was the face of New York Times best-selling author, Tim Ferriss (whose book, The 4-Hour Workweek, I reviewed previously, and whose recommendations prompted me to experiment heavily with overseas virtual assistants). Even so, it was Sasha who really peaked my interest with the opportunity for a free conference pass. So, I submitted the ‘scholarship’ application with the following (winning) business description:

[R3R is] a ‘web business consulting agency.’ We help small and medium sized businesses build, promote, and monetize their online brands and web presences. To a lot of people, that sounds like a regular web design firm. But what makes R3R different is:

• Our Experience: Our deep corporate and public sector experience working on and managing aspects of technology projects with companies like IBM, Accenture, the US Navy, Chevron, Texaco, Sony Pictures, Neutrogena, Bristol Myers-Squibb, BioSpace, local utilities companies, and others. Now we work exclusively with small and medium sized businesses where we feel those years of “best practice” experience make the biggest impact.
• Our Network: As an agency we are able to leverage a wide network of talented individuals (web designers, programmers, writers, and search marketers), bringing in specialists for every phase of a project. No firm is all things to all clients. But a well coordinated network can be.

I have to admit I can be a little resistant to new conferences, simply because there are so many, and I have to filter out the noise in order to find the good ones. But BizTechDay’s stated mission just jives too much with our own for us to ignore it. The conference description reads like an old R3R post about helping small businesses find best of breed technology solutions. That, on top of the fact that it’s all happening 3/4 mile from here – and oh yeah, did I mention we got a free pass – yep, it’s a no-brainer. We’ll be there.

A coworking space is essentially a casual open office that rents desks by the day, week, month, etc – without long term commitments, and allowing flexible schedules. Facilities (like conference rooms), equipment (like printers), and utilities (like WiFi internet) are generally available to all members – just like in a corporate office…but without the corporate “stuffiness.”

Coworkers are most often solo entrepreneurs, or independent contractors, very often working in internet industries, wh look to coworking offices as a place where they can gather to work and socialize with like-minded professionals. Coworking can be a solution for the individual or team who is looking for (a) more social interaction than what their house pets or baristas can offer, (b) more elbow room than their home offices can offer, (c) a change of environment, (d) professional workspace at a lower cost than a private office, (e) a place to network, and a host of other reasons.

If you are an independent worker or small company, and are looking to make some new connections while getting out of your home office for a change, check the coworking wiki to see if there are any coworking spaces near you. Many offer free trials or free drop-ins.

We have spent a good bit of time at a coworking spot in San Francisco, called Sandbox Suites, and can wholeheartedly recommend their facility to solo entrepreneurs in the area.