Member Q&A with Ben Gibson
This month we are have an interview with member Ben Gibson of The Un.Inc here in Austin. Ben has been a friend of Createscape for a number of years, and our partnership with his organization last year has helped us offer hundreds of mentoring sessions with founders, designers, and creators to the community.
Can you describe what your company, The Un.Inc, does?
Sure! Here at The Un.Inc we believe in changing the world. We've been inspiring creative entrepreneurs for the past 6 years here in ATX and now moved online. Our programming is housed at our partner location in Austin here at the fantastic Createscape.
In a nutshell, we walk alongside creatives who have a mission to do something good in the world. We have a three-month program to bring in mentors and experts on all kinds of business topics. We help them launch and get started.
If you've never started a business it can be extremely daunting to do it on your own. So that's why we’re here.
Can you tell me about a few popular speakers/mentors affiliated with the company?
We’ve had over 100 mentors from around the country come in and talk about all kinds of topics related to entrepreneurship. We focus on attracting mentors who have a passion for working with creative entrepreneurs.
Createscape is an Un.Inc subscriber, which means members can go to the Un.Inc campus and watch live programming? Can members also work with a mentor?
Members of Createscape get full access to eight to 10 monthly mentor sessions that we host. It's a bit like the trending Clubhouse app — you get to sit in on a live interview on any number of topics and then have a chance to ask questions and engage directly with mentors.
Is programming 100% online? Or is that just a concession for the pandemic? Will you have in-person events when people can mingle again?
Right now everything is online. My co-founder, Liz Deering, and I started transitioning our programming to Zoom just before the pandemic. But we can’t wait until we return to in-person events again.
Your business model is to provide tools and support to founders? Can you describe who qualifies as a founder?
We are super flexible with how we define “founder.” Basically, if you’re starting something new and want to earn money from it, we think of you as a founder.
We've served filmmakers, artists, musicians, non-profit leaders, tech entrepreneurs, therapists, event producers — all kinds of creative entrepreneurs.
What are your speed networking events? Can anyone sign up for those or just founders?
Dreamer Chemistry is the monthly networking event that we host. Creatives can drop in and meet other like-minded professionals who are starting something new. We call it Dreamer Chemistry because something special happens when you meet people who are on your same frequency. That’s what we call Dreamer Chemistry.
When did you bring Un.Inc to Createscape?
We have been partnered with Createscape for about a year now! Time flies so freaking fast.
How does being a Createscape member help with your work?
Oh my gosh, I love working here so much. I was so sick of working from home because of the pandemic. And honestly, as we build The Un.Inc, it helps to see our product through the lense of the Createscape community and what members need. I get to see how Keller and the team promote the events, we can more easily work out kinks in our system, and just generally figure out how to make the Un.Inc Campus better.
Do you attend our networking events and use the amenities, like conference rooms, call rooms, mail and printers?
YES, I love the Study Hall conference room (the pyramids mural) so much for our team meetings. And I am always blown away by how kind and giving and friendly the Createscape team always is. The other day Keller and Vana set up bagels and coffee for breakfast. I always meet new people at happy hour events. The team just goes above and beyond. I love them.
What inspired you to get into the kind of work that you do?
I grew up in a small West Texas town where creativity was unheard of. If you weren't in the oil field business then you didn’t have a place there. So I had a dream to create a space for people like myself to be able to find the community, resources, and support they need on their journey to change the world.
So you’re originally from Texas?
I was totally born and raised in Texas.
How did you hear about Createscape and what brought you to our doorstep?
I met Keller through my business partner Liz. And he has always been so nice and friendly and kind to us. He let us host some events outside on the huge and beautiful grassy side lawn. I think Createscape is the #1 place for local creatives to work from. It has the right vibe.
I understand that you also dabble in some arts, like filmmaking and poetry?
OMG yes! lol. I have been writing poetry about my journey as a dreamer the past years. I've learned to love to express the ups and downs and highs and lows on my journey to change the world.
I saw some inspirational quotes on your Instagram page. Which one is helping you get through this week?
"Act boldly, and unseen forces will come to your aid."
I think I also saw some poetry on your page. Did you write those poems? Do you want to share one with our readers?
Oh my gosh for realz? Ok.. here it is!
Tell Me
What is it you believe?
Do you know?
Is it illusive?
And does it go round?
Tell me
Have you seen how to believe
The power
It can move
Why do you believe?
Because I fear what's on the other
I don't want to live in a world
Where everything is meaningless
I don't want to die in a world
Where nothing mattered
So better to believe?
To sit on this throne of lies
That I've built
And now
Climbing down
Shedding slowly
Painfully
Tell me
What do you believe?