Eelke and I are in the process of investigating office space options in Delft to form a coworking space of some sorts. Eelke currently is somewhat more urgently looking for living quarters, having recently returned from Berlin.

For the coworking space we want to have a 20-25m2 office (space to be negotiated) in Delft’s center where we can both go every day to keep our semblance of office hours, exchange ideas and create a space where people can find us.

I’m aiming for 2-4 people in the office to start with, preferrably with some fixed people but with some flex spaces as well. If that goes well, we can always expand.

If you know of anything suitable or if you are interested in joining us get in touch. We think it can be a lot of fun and add to our creativity and productivity.

Running a business isn’t too difficult if you respect some basic rules. Rule number one: you have to offer potential customers something they need. If you do the math well, exploit your network, practice some good marketing and have a bit of luck, you will probably succeed.

Nevertheless, 99% of all web start-ups die before they fly. That figure is higher than in any other industry. Why is that? Because most web start-ups don’t offer something customers actually need. Many people in the web 2.0 scene seem to disregard this.

I can see why. It’s relatively cheap to build web sites and with a potential worldwide market the prospects are extremely positive. Entrepreneurs, investors and enthusiasts - they all get carried away by the figures.

But if you don’t manage to tap into that worldwide market, it’s a whole different game. It’s not just bad for investors; it might blow up the industry once more (remember bubble 1.0?).

That’s why I believe we all need to be a bit more critical. Virtual communities might be the future of the web, but this doesn’t mean that any community will stand a chance, let alone be profitable. In the end, thinking of a good business model first is cheaper than just building web sites. It will pay off in the long run.

This Friday we will be having a blogwalk in Amsterdam (the eleventh such edition) and I am happy to be participating.

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