In an Age of Loneliness, a Basement in Coeur d’Alene Becomes a Space of Belonging
In a time when, according to the U.S. Surgeon General, nearly one in two Americans report feeling lonely, and more than 70% say they lack a clear sense of purpose in their lives, according to Gallup, something remarkable is happening in the basements of Coeur d’Alene. For over a decade, more than 1,000 people have gathered — not to network, but to dream, to build and to belong.
Welcome to Coffee & Concepts, a space for the curious and courageous. A space where normal people are free to explore extraordinary ideas.
“I’m Jeff Spicer, and I’m here because I meet the most amazing people — truly lifelong friends.” Jeff is a video game designer and entrepreneur who helps others bring their gaming visions to life. He recently announced a new title, Mullet Cop: The Game, which immediately gained over 47,000 followers on X.com. As part of the build_ community, Jeff also leads a thriving gaming collective that supports new developers and fosters creative collaboration.
“I’m Dathan Seen. This is my third time here, and every time I’m here I meet someone new and find out about their superpower. It’s really cool.” Dathan drives in from Bonners Ferry — making a three-hour round trip — just to be in the room where sparks fly. He runs multiple small businesses up north and makes the journey because he knows it's worth it. He even brings his 13-year-old homeschooled son with him to experience the energy, the people and the conversations that spark possibility.
At the most recent gathering, people filled the room and after introductions were made the question was asked: What interesting breakthroughs in innovation or startups have you come across in the last two weeks? That’s when an accountant spoke up — and what followed was something none of us expected.
“Yeah. They managed to crystallize light,” he said, launching the room into a discussion that felt straight out of a sci-fi novel. He explained how researchers had created what they’re calling a "super solid" — essentially slowing down photons enough to form a solid state of light.
“The applications? Quantum computing, frictionless lubricants, even quantum storage media,” he said. “Haven’t read anything about reconstituting it as light, but at true zero, even a slight increase in temperature could release the photons again.”
He wasn’t a physicist — but that’s the point. In the basements of the build_ community, even accountants are allowed to have world-changing conversations.
The facilitator followed up with a smile and said, “Maybe I’m dumb enough to ask, ‘Can I swallow light?’ But maybe that’s the start of something new. Confidence in nonsense is the birthplace of creativity.”
The ongoing conversation continued with an MIT alum sharing a new adhesive he’s been developing for use in the health care industry. He asked for honest feedback, and the group offered insights, connections and potential pivots. Right after, a local Realtor shared that he’d just written his first fiction novel — and he wanted help turning it into a movie. The room lit up again with ideas, resources and encouragement.
This is the power of build_: a home for people who are curious, courageous, and ready to grow. Here, you're surrounded by others who want to see you win.
These aren’t just science fiction thought experiments. They’re the seeds of patents, startups and community-powered innovations. And it’s all happening because normal folks are given permission to think big.
From there, the conversation flowed — managing remote teams, turning books into films, developing better health care adhesives. Feedback was given. Steps were taken. Sparks became strategies.
And it’s not just one kind of crowd. At a recent AI Meetup, the room swelled with doctors, a toddler, data scientists, private equity professionals, retirees and teens — all shipping projects, exploring tools and helping each other. This is build_: diverse, cross-generational and unified by curiosity and a drive to build things that add beauty and value to the world.
This isn’t networking. This is connecting. This is belonging.
Coming Up
• Pitch Day with the founding CEO of Beats by Dre, Susan Paley, live in Coeur d’Alene. Press subscribers are invited for a private meet and greet May 30.
• Build Sessions with expert mentors, including an author of over 100 published books.
• Live Podcast with two brothers who received the foundational patents for delivering a point of interest to a mobile device.
• Veterans Meetup with retired military veterans who are building companies together
• Game Creators Meetup with local videogame and board game creators
Join the movement. Be part of the local community helping shape the future.
We are a community for dreamers and doers. We are your launchpad.
And we're not slowing down. build_ is preparing to launch an ambitious campaign to help the community launch 100 new companies in just three months; powered by AI, the wisdom of our members, and the strength of a deeply connected local network.
Let’s build_
View the calendar & RSVP: lu.ma/build_CDA
Become a member: BuildJournal.Club