• September 19, 2021

Coworking: A Treasure for Startups: Workspace and Community

Coworking is a way of working that is not only an opportunity to start a startup, but also to overcome the sadness of the entrepreneur. It is an inexpensive means of support and office space.

Sharing space and talent

Coworking is an emerging trend of a new work pattern. In addition to entrepreneurs, home-based professionals or independent contractors, or people who travel frequently, end up working in relative isolation. Coworking is the social gathering of a group of people, who still work independently, but who share values ​​and are interested in the synergy that can be generated by working with talented people in the same space.

Some coworking spaces were developed by nomadic internet entrepreneurs looking for an alternative to working in coffee shops and cafes, or isolation in freelance offices or at home. The ‘movement’ is spreading and more spaces are opening up in the US and in many countries around the world. The phenomenon is international and the term ‘coworking’ is even used in other languages, as in ‘© coworking spaces’ in French.

Coworking is growing rapidly

Estimates suggest that there were about 760 coworking venues in the US in 2011, almost 90% more than the previous year. The rise in coworking venues is driven by technologies like cloud computing and more women and freelancers in the workforce, as well as startups.

As Jane Hodges of the Wall Street Journal puts it: “Telecommuters, entrepreneurs, and the self-employed all face the logistical challenges of working alone. At home, workers face isolation and domestic distraction. At the corner coffee shop offering Free Wi-Fi, insufficient privacy, too few electrical outlets, and the annoyance of screaming latte orders throughout the day. “

Different coworking spaces have slightly different looks

Office Nomads in Seattle says, “Coworking is not a desktop rental business. It is not about printers or conference rooms. Coworking is about people. Coworking spaces bring freelancers together and provide them with a space in which they can work together. in community “.

New Work City in New York says much the same thing: “We are the gathering place for a community of like-minded people who need a place to work that is creative and social, and professional and conducive to work. Office space. No, it doesn’t rent desks. There are many businesses in New York City that offer these services, in fact, we are part of a coalition of them. Instead of renting desks, we offer memberships. “

Quickly in Austin, Texas, they say they “provide a creative environment for entrepreneurs that encourages collaboration. Through a workflow, superficial needs are met, giving you the freedom to find or nurture your passions. Innovation it is produced by collaborating with people with a shared purpose. “It is a coworking space with a growing community of freelancers, entrepreneurs and mobile workers who have grown tired of working alone.

For people on the go, coworking spaces exist everywhere

A ‘coworking visa’ is a new idea that allows active members of a space, when they travel, to use another coworking space, free of charge. Current participating spaces are located in 25 cities across the US, with a growing number in other cities outside the US Loosecubes matches free workspace venues with those who need them. They found that coworking can generate new jobs, partnerships, referrals, and friendships.

Co-working spaces can be had in all kinds of different pricing plans. Some are based on monthly arrangements and vary by intensity of use. Then there are often rentals as needed, by the day or week, or it could be just for the use of a conference room. Additional services may also be available, such as printing, copying, a postal address, or a storage locker. Offers generally include the use of coffee. Regus, the managed office space company, offers Businessworld, a membership card subscription service for its 1,200 locations.

Coworking directories will connect you

As coworking becomes a very normal practice, generally in cities, all over the world, directories appear so that you can always find a space on the move. Some directories are limited to geographic areas or countries. LiquidSpace is an example of a mobile app that connects people looking for a workspace with places that have room to share. High-end business centers, startup coworking spaces, hotels, and private spaces are listed.

The term coworking is not the only term that is used, but includes desksurfing, desktop time and shared desktops. The most widely interpreted terms as business centers, shared offices and even wifi cafes. Although the concept of wifi cafes will even extend to McDonalds, most of which have people working on their laptops these days. But they are not dedicated to work and do not lend themselves to long work use.

In corporate offices, the term hot-desking has been used for a long time, as companies reduce overhead. In fact, some of the coworking spaces are available to companies with spare space.

Specialized and sectorial coworking spaces

Specialized spaces are also increasingly common, with special facilities for architects, designers, the fashion industry, spaces with rehearsal rooms for performance artists. An organization called BioCurious recently opened a community biology lab in the California Bay Area. Chefs and artisan food manufacturers share kitchens. A kitchen incubator, also known as a culinary incubator, is a business incubator dedicated to early stage food wholesale, retail and catering businesses.

One of my MBA students with a new catering business works in the kitchen of the local Veterans’ Club. Another example in my state is the Vermont Food Venture Center, a shared-use kitchen incubator for producers of specialty and value-added foods. There are similar organizations in New York, North Carolina, Montana, and other states.

Pasadena Bioscience Collaborative is a non-profit organization created to support the growing biotechnology industry in the San Gabriel Valley. Promotes and supports startup formation by providing high-quality, low-cost WetLab space and access to shared equipment for early start-ups. My own website page on Venture Incubators and Accelerators offers other examples.

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