- Co-working spaces have become a hub for collaboration, networking, and innovation, with many entrepreneurs using these spaces to exchange ideas, seek feedback, and even find potential customers.
- Over 35,000 co-working spaces are operational around the world.
- Such spaces also offer a variety of amenities, such as high-speed internet, conference rooms, and printing facilities, that can help businesses operate more efficiently.
Today, there are over 35,000 co-working spaces in operation. Thousands, if not lakhs, of businesses have for-gone traditional offices and shifted operations to such spaces. So, what exactly is a co-working space? It is a shared working environment where individuals from different companies or professions work independently or collaboratively in a shared space. It provides a flexible and affordable alternative to traditional office spaces or working from home.
In a co-working space, people typically rent a desk, a dedicated workspace, or a private office for a specific duration, whether it’s a few hours, days, or months. These spaces are equipped with amenities such as desks, chairs, internet connectivity, meeting rooms, communal areas, and sometimes even additional services like printing facilities, refreshments, and networking events.
The wide adaptation of such spaces shows the clear genesis of an upcoming, thriving industry. These spaces hold massive coverage of around 521 million square feet, helping entrepreneurs, startups, and others to access workspace, amenities, and, of course, a similar supportive community.
This emerging sector is mainly the result of a change in working culture, such as a rise in demand for work flexibility, an inclination towards a collaborative work environment, cost-effective options, and freedom from office maintenance costs and care.
“To gain a better understanding of the benefits of co-working spaces that startups are availing of, we had a conversation with Mr. Mahesh Prajapati of Insta Citi, a co-worker at AIC-BIMTECH”. According to him, “Co-working provides ample opportunities to be surrounded by like-minded individuals. It helps me stay motivated and learn from my peers who sit alongside me. They often offer unique perspectives that I might have missed otherwise. In addition, it provides me with valuable feedback on my products.”
It might interest you to know that the concept of Business Incubators or Accelerators as we know them today, actually resulted from the incremental evolution of co-working spaces. The first such space, Stanford Industrial Park, was made operational in 1951. From shared office spaces, the concept evolved into business assistance, providing mentorship, networking, and funding along with business development and growth programs.
Coming back to co-working spaces, they also offer a unique opportunity for startups to find their first customers. As there are often many startups and entrepreneurs working in co-working spaces, it is easy to keep yourself motivated and stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in your industry. Such spaces also provide a great platform for solving problems and discussing challenges with peers. As there are often people from different backgrounds and industries working in the same space, you can get a fresh perspective on your business challenges and receive feedback from people who have been in similar situations.
Another major advantage of co-working spaces for startups is that they provide a hassle-free work environment. Setting up an office can be a time-consuming and expensive task, requiring businesses to deal with issues such as electricity, interior design, and beverages, to name a few. However, in a co-working space, all of these concerns are taken care of, allowing startups to focus solely on their work. This can be especially beneficial for those just starting out, as it allows them to avoid the stress and distractions that can come with setting up and maintaining a traditional office. By taking advantage of the amenities provided by co-working spaces, startups can create a productive and efficient work environment without the added stress and expense.
Mr. Nitish Gupta, CEO of Atheria Co-working, said in a discussion about the types of tenants in his co-working space. “Post COVID we have seen the demand for office space increase both for enterprises and start-ups. Earlier the ratio of startups occupying our space was more, however with the organizations realizing the benefits of co-working/managed spaces and the need to get workforce back to offices we see a huge demand. They focus on running their business and leave the operations to us. We have seen startups growing from size of 2-50 in our space alone.”
With the rising popularity of co-working spaces, it becomes crucial for entrepreneurs and small business owners to consider the advantages of operating within these environments. From gaining access to professional workspaces to the potential for networking and collaboration with industry peers, co-working spaces offer a wide array of benefits that can contribute to the success of startups.
Co-working spaces have become a significant component of the contemporary business landscape, delivering a flexible, cost-effective, and collaborative work setting for entrepreneurs and small business owners. By harnessing the opportunities provided by co-working spaces, startups can discover their initial customer base, maintain motivation, and address challenges with the support of an encouraging community.
It may interest you to know that AIC-BIMTECH has a co-working facility of its own. You may get more details at: Coworking@AIC-BIMTECH. To join the co-working space at AIC-BIMTECH, please drop a mail to Team AIC-BIMTECH or call us @ +91- 8383997616.
Author
Nirupam. K. D
Nirupam is a doctoral scholar at IIT Jodhpur, pursuing her PhD in Innovation and Entrepreneurship with a focus on entrepreneurial support ecosystem. She is also working as a Research Associate at the Atal Incubation Centre, BIMTECH and aspires to be a thought leader in the business incubation space. She has done her masters in Business Administration from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai and has a diverse skill set of human resource management, training, content creation, research and analytics.