Nathan Benjamin exudes collaboration, ingenuity and creativity...which are just three reasons why he and his new business, PlanetReuse, work so well in Kansas City’s new coworking space, bizperc.
PlanetReuse was launched in December of 2010 by Nathan and his partner, Willow Lundgren. The company stemmed from PlanetReuse, a three-year-old company that brokers reclaimed building materials and consults with designers, builders and owners to save money on projects and increase LEED.
The new company, PlanetReuse, has been developed to provide an online platform to help reuse centers-including the 750+ Habitat for Humanity ReStores nationwide-make reclaimed and surplus materials instantly accessible to homeowners online. According to Nathan, less than 5% of reuse centers in the U.S. have an online presence. Therefore, homeowners, contractors, and rental property onwers can't shop reuse centers as easy as they can Home Depot or Lowe's. Most give up and just buy new.
“We want to make national connections,” says Nathan. “We want to divert more materials from landfills, raise awareness about material reuse and connect consumers with available product. It's a great opportunity, but it's also challenging."
Some of PlanetReuse’s challenges have been solved. After moving into the bizperc coworking space, PlanetReuse has seen growth and success. The company was even announced as the winner of Pitch Big (which took place at Think Big Kansas City 2011). When announced as the Pitch Big winner, PlanetReuse won a few months of free office space at bizperc and other services provided by Think Big Partners.
The new company, PlanetReuse, has been developed to provide an online platform to help reuse centers-including the 750+ Habitat for Humanity ReStores nationwide-make reclaimed and surplus materials instantly accessible to homeowners online. According to Nathan, less than 5% of reuse centers in the U.S. have an online presence. Therefore, homeowners, contractors, and rental property onwers can't shop reuse centers as easy as they can Home Depot or Lowe's. Most give up and just buy new.
“We want to make national connections,” says Nathan. “We want to divert more materials from landfills, raise awareness about material reuse and connect consumers with available product. It's a great opportunity, but it's also challenging."
Some of PlanetReuse’s challenges have been solved. After moving into the bizperc coworking space, PlanetReuse has seen growth and success. The company was even announced as the winner of Pitch Big (which took place at Think Big Kansas City 2011). When announced as the Pitch Big winner, PlanetReuse won a few months of free office space at bizperc and other services provided by Think Big Partners.
“Working in bizperc gives us access to a collaboration of ideas and insight into entrepreneurship,” says Nathan. “The knowledge in this building is solid and easily accessible.” Nathan then added that winning Pitch Big and partnering with Think Big Partners has given them three key ingredients: exposure, investment opportunities and networking.
“There are so many opportunities for growth!” says Nathan. “Currently, we are in a $200 million industry. But in 10 years, it will be a $1 billion industry.”
This summer, PlanetReuse will be beta testing its platform in two Kansas City area stores. Currently, the company is actively seeking investors to scale nationally. Good luck, PlanetReuse!
Interested in working in a collaborative, inspirational and modern startup environment? Contact Sarah Snyder to schedule a tour of bizperc. 816-842-5244 or ssnyder@thinkbigpartners.com.
Written by Allison Way.
@AllisonThinkBig.
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