SBDC Client Success Story: Remote.ly Launches in North Portland Mississippi District

The PCC SBDC Capital Access Team helped Oliver Alexander launch his dream business (Remote.ly) in the trendy N. Mississippi Avenue district of Portland. Oliver was finding it difficult to secure and finance a Class A commercial lease until he started working with Tammy Marquez-Oldham (PCC SBDC Director) and Noah Brockman (CAT Team Lead) who were able to connect him with the right people to help get his business off the ground in Portland, Oregon

What is Remote.ly? Remote.ly offers commitment-free workspace featuring guaranteed seating/outlets, free in-house barista, stunning views, and more - for just $20/day. For those who need space more often Remote.ly also offers private offices, monthly memberships, and hourly conference room rentals for small businesses. 

What inspired you to start Remote.ly? After being a student at the University of Oregon and then starting my first business, it became very clear to me that there was a real need for commitment-free workspace. The old options of $300/month for a co-working membership or working out of a coffee shop for $5 clearly didn't leave much of an intermediate option for remote workers who wanted a better experience but without the commitment.

Without Tammy and Noah's assistance, I simply wouldn't have opened my company on the timeline I was seeking. They got things done faster, they broke down barriers to introduce me to new connections, and most importantly, we worked together and accomplished my business's goals!

What have you done differently in your business since working with Tammy and Noah?  I've attended many more networking/social events that have tangential business importance since these types of meetings can really pay off sometimes. I used to avoid these types of social and networking events but Tammy and Noah showed me how valuable they can be.

How is your business doing now? We opened a couple of weeks ago and have been thrilled with customer responses to-date! Thanks SBDC for helping us get our financing ducks in a row and offer the best possible customer experience from day one.

What would you say to other small business owners thinking of working with the SBDC?  SBDC can be very helpful; there is nothing to lose by meeting with your local SBDC team and giving it a shot!

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