From 5:30-8:30PM at Fado's Irish Pub (808 7th St. NW), Razoo will be hosting their annual March Goodness Tournament where a select group of nonprofits will compete for grants based on fundraising through the Razoo network. In last year's competition, more than $160,000 was raised for 30 participating nonprofits that competed for nearly $20,000 in grants and prizes. The big winner in 2009 was Big Cat Rescue of Tampa, FL. Who will win this year?

The success of the Affinity Lab members and the Lab model is discussed in an article in today's Washington Post. Design Symphony and MeMyself&Co were highlighted as examples of companies bucking the small business failure trend brought on by the recession. Affinity Lab's new U Street location was also mentioned as a place where people who are practively taking charge of their economic destiny can start their businesses and collaborate with others.

Award-winning business incubator Affinity Lab opens new space in the U Street corridor

Affinity Lab doubles its size in new location and reach to support member businesses and organizations

What’s Your Bright Idea?

Submit Your Plan to the DC PRIZE Business Plan Competition.

The William James Foundation and the Affinity Lab support DC entrepreneurs who are starting for-profit businesses with defined social and/or environmental goals.

DC PRIZE Business Plan Competition.

The music business is a great place to train entrepreneurs. Martin has bounced from behind the drum kit (with PiL,Killing Joke, Ministry, Pigface etc) to running a record label, building a studio, starting a music publishing business, traveling to China where he recorded bands and made an award winning documentary then on to teaching and writing the book Toiur:Smart. His lectures look at treating any artistic enterprise as a business and the creative impact of very simple decisions.

Check out the article at Express

Coverage of Affinity Lab's model, benefits and members continued with a great article (and a front page photo) on "digital nomads" in the Sunday, July 26 Washington Post.

"Slightly more formal co-working centers have opened across the country, including Affinity Lab in office space above the Diner in Adams Morgan. Ads on the wall at Tryst offer space to the fully-evolved nomad who doesn't want a formal office but still wants a community of people to swap ideas with -- and a fax machine."

Affinity Lab has been selected as the winner of the 2009 PremeirPlan Business Plan Competition sponsored by the Washington DC Economic Partnership, with funding of the $100,000 prize provided by Enhanced Capital Partners, Advantage Capital Partners and the DC Coalition for Capital. The funds will be used towards the development and marketing of Affinity Lab's next location.

The Washington DC Economic Partnership and the DC Coalition for Capital have chosen Affinity Lab as one of five finalists in the 2009 PremierPlan business plan competition. A review committee comprised of twenty individuals, including individuals from the venture capital, financial services, and business services communities, found the Lab model to be one of the most competitive and feasible in the contest. The Lab will now go on to compete for a $100,000 CAPCO investment, on July 8th, 2009.

Affinity Lab member, Peter Krsko of Albus Cavus, is working on a massive sculpture, which is to be completed by the end of this month. Before the final unveiling, he would like to share with us his creative process through sketches, prints, models and a preview of the sculpture itself. We are very proud to be hosting an Art Opening for one of our members.