If you’ve spent any time inside The Haven—whether at a member happy hour, an early-morning coffee meetup, or just tucked away working in The Refuge—you’ve probably felt that quiet hum of possibility. Guess what? That’s what happens when people feel like they belong.
This is the kind of energy you can’t manufacture. It comes from being in a space where people are genuinely rooting for one another and not competing for a limited slice of the proverbial pie. And honestly? That feeling is the heartbeat of entrepreneurship.
Not the pitch decks.
Not the hustle.
Not the perfectly crisp LinkedIn summaries.
It’s the community. Real, inclusive, and expansive. It’s limitless and focuses on an abundance mindset rather than scarcity.
Why we need equitable entrepreneurship
Here’s the truth: entrepreneurship has never been a level playing field. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ founders, and folks from marginalized backgrounds have historically faced higher barriers.
- Less access to capital
- Smaller networks
- Fewer mentors
- A wage gap that can follow for a career’s entirety
However, while these barriers are real, so is the impact that underrepresented entrepreneurs have when given the chance to thrive.
LinkedIn’s Economic Graph recently reported that women alone add over $3.1 trillion to the U.S. economy every year. Let that sink in: trillion, with a T.
Women-founded companies have grown at nearly twice the rate of male-founded companies in the last five years. And companies with gender-diverse leadership? They’re 21% more likely to outperform financially. In other words, when women rise, the economy rises with them. When underrepresented entrepreneurs have access to opportunity, everyone benefits.
This is why inclusivity is so much more than a feel-good value at The Haven. It’s not a marketing tactic or an actionless mission statement. Instead, it’s a strategy rooted in community and economics. And, honestly, a vision for what Bend can become.
How we’re supporting our mission
The Haven’s fellowship program was born out of this belief. By offering scholarships for coworking access to underrepresented founders, we’re providing a seat at the desk with access to networks, mentorship, visibility, and support. We’re committed to fostering the kind of intangible confidence that grows when you spend your days surrounded by encouragement instead of isolation.
Consequently, the Fellows go on to hire local talent, launch new services, collaborate with nonprofits, and contribute to Bend’s creative and economic heartbeat.
And that ripple keeps growing. When a space is intentionally inclusive, people notice. Nonprofits find a home here, community groups hold meetings here, TEDxBend relaunched here, and conversations about affordability, equity, and the future of work happen around our tables every week.
We’re committed to local
The Haven sources from local small-owned businesses, partners with organizations like the Bend Chamber to advocate for housing access, and offers discounted memberships to nonprofits doing meaningful work across Central Oregon.
This is what community looks like. Sharing space and sharing purpose. When one of us thrives, we all feel it. When someone has a breakthrough, lands a client, scales an idea, or finds their footing again after a tough year, the energy shifts for all of us.
If Bend is going to continue growing in a way that feels intentional, equitable, and sustainable, it will happen because we chose to invest in the people who have traditionally been overlooked. Because we chose to build tables long enough for everyone to sit at. And, we believe that belonging is not a perk—it’s the foundation.
Here’s the best part: we’re just getting started.
Apply for a Fellowship scholarship or sign up for a trial membership and see if coworking is right for you.
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