A friend of mine once said that all one needs to start a career as an entrepreneur is their head, some coffee, a notebook (electronic or traditional), and a nice place to sit. I think he’s right.

The cafe has been a wonderful place to generate ideas for millennia with no major improvements until recently when wireless internet service enabled improved information and communication access. This access has acted as an enabler to allow folks to work in new ways from the creative environment of a cafe.

After working from an internet-enabled cafe recently, I wondered to myself what other improvements could be made to the catalyzing effect of cafes? I began to focus on the communities created by a cafe. The unspoken camaraderie of location, groups of people intentionally and unintentionally meeting, the familiarity generated by consistent staff. A cafe is a place of many communities with many resources.

However, one community resource cafes lack is an entrepreneurial expert. Someone available during predictable hours for entrepreneurial conversation and advice. A new age Oracle at Delphi, who - for the offering of a coffee, tea, or latte - will listen to and discuss a burgeoning entrepreneur’s ideas and provide third-party perspective and thoughts that might help guide the entrepreneur along their path.

Could such a resource encourage new entrepreneurs to start small businesses that would contribute to a city’s economic engine? I suppose until someone tries it, only an oracle would know.

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