Karin, what is your role in the Spoorzone?
I work as an acquisition officer for the municipality of Tilburg in the Economics & Labour Market department with the Spoorzone as my focus area. Because of the development and growth that MindLabs is going through, I am seconded to the foundation for 2 days a week. My role is to gain as much insight as possible into the needs and establishment wishes of pre-starters, start-ups and scale-ups. And to ensure that new parties settle in Tilburg (read Spoorzone).

What are the opportunities for start-ups and scale-ups to settle in the Spoorzone? 
The intention is for the Spoorzone to develop into an area where you can find a suitable working environment in every phase of your business. For startups and pre- startups, you can think of a low-threshold, raw environment with a reduced rent. The Startup Kitchen and the Incubator are good examples of this. Scale-ups, on the other hand, are often looking for a more mature working environment.  Think Plan-t, Station88 and the Bruisend Hart; Mindlabs' new building next to the Lochal that is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. 
There are certainly still opportunities for office development. Together with the stakeholders in this area, we are therefore working to find suitable work locations.

Is there a policy that helps small businesses find housing or helps finance them?
Tilburg is primarily a knowledge city with many students. Pioneers often start from home in combination with the need for meetings, networking and knowledge sharing. The Tilburg municipality does not sit in the shoes of real estate agents offering commercial space. However, we do encourage collaborations and encounters. To this end, various incubators have been set up. Together with Citymarketing we bring the breeding places/flexplaces into view, so that entrepreneurs themselves can come into contact with the organizations. We do not finance workplaces. 

Where can such a small entrepreneur go if he or she is interested? 
Onmakeitintilburg.com you will find an overview of (flexible) workplaces in Tilburg. Are you specifically looking for a workplace or office in the Spoorzone? Surf to www.spoorzonetilburg.nl. Do you have any questions or would you like more information? Then you can always contact me directly. I can be reached by phone at 06 51 71 02 84. You can also send me an e-mail at karin.croes@tilburg.nl.

Are there any special requirements you have to meet in order to apply for a spot in the Spoorzone? If so, what are they?
With the development of the Spoorzone, we are thinking mainly of companies in the smartservice with a focus on data and digitalization. These are service providers affiliated with industry/manufacturing and logistics companies. MindLabs' focus areas are: VR/AR, Robotics & Avatars, Language Technology and Serious Gaming.

Can you stay in that spot once you are no longer a true start-up or scale-up? Or do you then have to make room for a new start-up? 
For the workplaces for start-ups we set a maximum term of 3 years. This gives you plenty of time to profile yourself as an entrepreneur, develop your product or service and build up your network. 
 
What is the average cost for office space in the Spoorzone?
That just depends. As a starter, for example, you pay per workplace and not per square meter. In the breeding ground, the costs for a permanent workplace are approximately €170 per month. The monthly costs for a flex workspace or office space in Station88, for example, are somewhat higher. And even a step higher are the rates for a space in Plan-t. As well as the rental periods. This is partly due to its unique location in the heart of the Spoorzone.

Are there waiting times? Or can you count on a spot quickly?
There are currently no waiting times (yet). I keep a list of them myself. I check each request to see if I can make a match between the type of company and the available spaces.
 
Why is investing in an office in the Spoorzone a good idea?
The Spoorzone is easily accessible by public transportation and there are all kinds of facilities you can make use of, such as a rental car or rental bike. In just 10 minutes you can be on the A58 which leads to Breda. It is a real A-location. By establishing yourself in a collective building in the Spoorzone, you build up your network. You meet people and share knowledge. In addition, it offers opportunities for future collaborations with like-minded people and growth companies. And if you outgrow your office, there are plenty of opportunities to move on to other business space that suits the developments your company is undergoing. 

Are there also activities organized for 'residents' of the Spoorzone? Or do you benefit in any other way from having your office there?
Yes, both Station88 and MindLabs offer a broad program. But also the datahub and the future MindLabs building facilitate plenty of meetings and knowledge sharing. Not just for members, but for any interested party.
 
And if you don't just want to come to the Spoorzone, but also want to engage with MindLabs (via the Startup Kitchen, for example), what is the route to take? 
The best thing to do then is to make an appointment with me. Unlike other stakeholders in the Spoorzone, we are an association. We offer workspaces to members who become members of our community. For startups, this membership primarily means a small contribution that they make per year, separate from the rent that they pay for a workplace.

And then this: do you have any tips for a nice lunch in the Spoorzone?
Well, Smeer 'm is always a good idea!
 
And the best cup of coffee, where do you think we get that?
Hmm... at the Wagon, Monkey Coffee and Starbucks!