Earlier this month, Geoff Wood announced a plan for a space that would become Des Moines’ next “entrepreneurial center of gravity.” Now, after discussions with various members of the community and the building’s owner, plans for the space are beginning to coalesce. 

The space will be called Gravitate—a nod to the space’s goal of becoming a community center and gathering place—and will be located just blocks away from StartupCity Des Moines’ current space in the Midland Building. 

Plans for the new space include a “bullpen” that will offer open seating for up to 40 floating co-workers as well as nine offices available for small teams to rent. There also will be a lounge, cafe area and event space located on a different floor of the building, for larger gatherings like Startup Weekend. 

Wood says the plan is to have Gravitate open Sept. 1, one month before operations end at StartupCity. Initially members are asked to commit to a three-month lease, but after that, payments for the space will be month-to-month. 

“Gravitate is first and foremost a community space and like the Des Moines Social Club says ‘you are a member’ already just for being part of the community,” Wood wrote in a blog post. “Community members are invited to all sorts of events and we want everyone to feel that this space is theirs and that it is an asset to the Des Moines scene.”

Funds still need to be raised for buildout costs of and furniture for the space, but for anyone interested in working at or supporting Gravitate, a number of memberships are available at various price points:

Social Membership

$75/year (launch pricing through Sept. 1)

A social membership to Gravitate is ideal for external community members who may not co-work or office out of the space but still want to help support and launch the endeavor. The membership includes a 10 percent discount on services (daily drop-in, mailbox, conference room rental), 10 percent discount on events, member T-shirt and Gravitate organizers’ “undying love and gratitude.”

Sign up now via credit card or Dwolla. 

Co-working Office 

$400-$500/month 

A co-working office is available for teams of up to four and includes access to all of the space’s amenities. Companies that sign up by Aug. 31 will be included as founding members. 

Co-working, Floating Desk

$150/month 

Anyone interested in working out of Gravitate without a fixed desk or office can sign up to be a floating co-worker. Anyone who signs up by Aug. 31 will be included as a founding member.

Co-working,  Daily Drop-in

$15/day or 10-day punch card for $100

Don’t want to commit to full-time co-working at Gravitate? Stop in for the day or grab a co-working punch card. 

Just need an address? 

$25/month

“Is your startup a side project that you work on nights and weekend from home? Use Gravitate as your address. We’ll happily receive your mail and packages and let you know when they show up,” Wood writes.

Interested in working at or helping sponsor Gravitate? Email Geoff Wood.