Gravitate Coworking Downtown will host the Intro to the Des Moines Startup Scene on Nov. 8 as a way to introduce both the city newcomers and the longtime residents just starting to think about founding their own businesses.


Inspiration came from experiences in Austin, Texas, and feedback from a friend, Gravitate founder Geoff Wood said. Four years ago Wood was visiting the SXSW Conference when he came across Capital Factory’s regular meetings, aimed at Austin residents or newcomers seeking an open door to enter the city’s startup culture. 


The idea was intriguing, and Wood called up a friend in Madison, Wis., to see how a similar initiative had been going just one state over. 


“He said the most interesting piece is that the people that come to them, 95 percent he’s like, ‘I don’t know them. I feel like I know everybody in the [startup] ecosystem in Madison,’ ” Wood said. “That was kind of the kick to be like, OK, we should do this for Des Moines.” 


Wood will lead participants through common questions, from finding a co-founder to meeting investors and mentors, and give participants an overview to resources provided by Gravitate, local investors, accelerators, lawyers and other supporting organizations in the Greater Des Moines area. Participants will also tour the new Gravitate Downtown location, which is expected to open in November. 


“If it is successful, I anticipate we’ll do this on a regular basis,” Wood said. “I don’t know if we’d do this monthly, if there’d be enough people to enter the ecosystem — either people that are already here that want to move over into a startup, or people that are coming in.” 


Tickets for the event are limited, and available online.