Jason Widen: From Raleigh Founded to Blue Co., Building Community and Creative Coworking

Triangle Tweener Talks

What happens when a seasoned entrepreneur spots a gap in the market and decides to take a risk on something entirely new? For Jason Widen, it’s led him from founding Raleigh Founded, a cornerstone of the Triangle’s startup ecosystem, to creating Blue Co. – a flexible warehouse solution designed for service-based businesses.

In this episode, Jason shares his journey of building community-driven businesses, from his early days working at a ski resort to launching Raleigh Founded and now expanding his vision with Blueco. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to pivot, scale, and truly make an impact in your community, this conversation is packed with valuable insights.

Tune in to hear:

• How Jason’s early entrepreneurial experiences shaped his work ethic and future ventures.
• The story behind Raleigh Founded and its pivotal role in connecting Triangle entrepreneurs.
• Why Jason saw a need for Blue Co. – a flexible warehousing solution – and how it supports small businesses like plumbers, electricians, and moving companies.
• The lessons Jason learned from building and scaling businesses in hospitality, real estate, and co-working.
• Jason’s future vision for Blue Co. and his strategy for expanding across the Southeast.

Where to Find Jason Widen:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonwiden
• Blue Co.: https://www.bluecowarehousing.com/

Where to Find Scot Wingo:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/
• Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/
• X: https://x.com/scotwingo

In this episode:
(00:03:00) Jason’s early years and how a ski resort job sparked his entrepreneurial spirit.
(00:10:15) The start of Raleigh Founded, a co-working space that grew into a hub for Triangle entrepreneurs.
(00:18:00) The inception of Blue Co., a flexible warehouse solution for plumbers, electricians, and moving companies.
(00:26:30) Real-world lessons from Jason’s ventures, including the challenges of starting a restaurant and building a real estate empire.
(00:38:05) Scaling Blue Co. and Jason’s plans for expanding across the Southeast.

In the news:

• Going Against the Flow: Chris Heivly, Managing Director of The Startup Factory: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/going-against-the-flow-ch_b_10596620
• One-on-one: ‘Startup Whisperer’ Chris Heivly talks Raleigh-Durham Startup Week, Triangle’s success, new book: https://wraltechwire.com/2023/04/19/one-on-one-startup-whisperer-chris-heivly-talks-raleigh-durham-startup-week-triangles-success-new-book/

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Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Walk West.

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Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:

• Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/