Coworking is a way of working that is not only an opportunity to start a startup, but also to overcome the melancholy of the entrepreneur. It is an inexpensive means of support and office space.
Sharing space and talent
Coworking is an emerging trend for a new pattern of work. In addition to entrepreneurs, professionals who work from home 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 who are interested in the synergy that can occur when working with talented people in the same space.
Some coworking spaces were developed by Internet nomad entrepreneurs looking for an alternative to working in coffee shops and cafes, or seclusion in independent 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, such as ‘©spaces coworking’ in French.
Coworking is growing fast
Estimates suggest that there were about 760 coworking spaces in the US in 2011, almost 90% more than the previous year. The rise of coworking places is due to 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 freelancers face the logistical challenges of working alone. At home, workers face isolation and domestic distraction. At the corner coffee shop that offers Free Wi-Fi, insufficient privacy, very few electrical outlets, and the hassle of shouted latte orders all day.”
Different coworking spaces have slightly different takes
Office Nomads in Seattle says, “Coworking isn’t a desk rental business. It’s not about printers or conference rooms. Coworking is about people. Coworking spaces bring freelancers together and give them space in the that they can work together. in community.”
New Work City in New York says much the same thing: “We are the meeting place for a community of like-minded people who need a place to work that is both creative and social, and professional and conducive to work. No we’re an office space. We don’t rent desks. There are a lot of businesses in New York City that offer those services—in fact, we’re part of a coalition of them. Instead of renting desks, we offer memberships.”
Jointly based in Austin, Texas, they say they “provide a creative environment for entrepreneurs that fosters collaboration. Through one workflow, superficial needs are met, giving you the freedom to find or feed your passions. Innovation 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 traveling, to use another coworking space, free of charge. Current participating spaces are located in 25 US cities with a growing number in other cities outside of the US Loosecubes brings together places with free workspaces together with those in need. They found that coworking can lead to new jobs, partnerships, referrals, and friendships.
Coworking spaces can be had in all sorts of different pricing plans. Some are based on monthly fixes 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, such as printing, photocopying, a mailing address, or a storage locker, may also be available. 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 common practice, usually in cities, all over the world, directories are appearing so that you can always find a space on the go. Some directories are limited to geographic areas or countries. LiquidSpace is an example of a mobile app that connects people looking for workspace with places that have space to share. High-end business centers, trendy startup co-working spaces, hotels, and private spaces are listed.
The term coworking is not the only term in use, it includes desksurfing, desktime and shared desks. More widely interpreted terms such as business centers, shared offices, and even Wi-Fi cafes. Although the concept of wifi cafes will even spread 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 extended work use.
In corporate offices, the term hot-desking has long been used as companies cut back on overhead. In fact, some of the coworking spaces are made available by companies with surplus space.
Specialized and sectorial coworking spaces
Specialized spaces are also becoming more 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 makers share kitchens. A kitchen incubator, also known as a culinary incubator, is a business incubator dedicated to early-stage food caterers, retailers, and wholesalers.
An MBA student of mine with a new catering business works in the kitchen at the local Veterans Club. Another example in my state is the Vermont Food Venture Center, a shared-use kitchen incubator for value-added and specialty food producers. There are similar organizations in New York, North Carolina, Montana, and other states.
Pasadena Bioscience Collaborative is a nonprofit organization created to support the growing biotech industry in the San Gabriel Valley. Promotes and supports the formation of new businesses by providing low-cost, high-quality WetLab space and access to shared-use equipment for early start-ups. My own website’s page on Venture Incubators and Accelerators offers other examples
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