May 26, 2010
Don Stavneak will never forget the day he and partner Rod Smith started Volano Solutions.
He would like to forget the custom business application software company’s first office.
“It was four of us and a server rack working in 200-square-feet, basically the size of a closet,” Stavneak recalled of Volano’s start-up location in 2007. “You could say it was a bit cramped.”
Flash forward to 2009 and Volano had grown to employ a staff of seven. Stavneak and Smith decided a new home for the company was needed. Unbeknownst to the owners, the hunt for suitable office space would last nearly an entire year.
“We could use a lot of colorful language to describe how frustrating the process became,” Smith said. “Most people did not want to work with us given that we were looking to lease around 1,000-square-feet. It was absolutely frustrating.”
“Building owners, agents, no one wanted to bother with us,” Stavneak added.
The light at the end of the tunnel came in the form of the AIM Institute’s new Innovation Exchange Space. Located on the 8th floor of the AIM Institute’s Exchange Building, 1905 Harney St., the Innovation Exchange Space is designed to attract regional IT entrepreneurs to downtown Omaha, no matter what the size.
“Our hope is that businesses relocating to the 8th floor of the AIM building share a passion for making a mark on the business community, both locally as well as nationally,” said Jeff Slobotski, AIM’s Director of Innovation and New Media.
More than 10 office suites, ranging in size and lease price, are currently available. The location boasts many amenities, including access to AIM’s staff and resources, close proximity to the Old Market and interstate, views overlooking the downtown Omaha skyline and ample parking. In addition, the floor is currently undergoing numerous upgrades and enhancements intended to appeal to IT companies.
Smith, whose company is the first Innovation Exchange Space tenant, said he was attracted to the AIM building for its downtown location, convenient parking, skyline views and AIM’s willingness to work with a small company.
“This is going to work well for us,” Smith said. “We welcome the idea of additional companies working here and creating an organic collaborative community of IT-related businesses. That would be good for the community and good for us.”
Please contact Adam Klier at 402.345.5025 x147 or
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for additional information or to schedule a tour.
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