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, 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 who are interested in the synergy that can occur 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 or home offices. 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 ‘©spaces coworking’ in French.

Coworking is growing rapidly

Estimates suggest that there were about 760 coworking locations in the US in 2011, almost 90% more than the year before. The increase in coworking places is due to technologies like cloud computing and more women and freelancers in the workforce, as well as new companies.

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 orders for lattes all day.”

Different coworking spaces have slightly different takes

Office Nomads in Seattle says, “Coworking is not a desk rental business. It’s not about printers or conference rooms. Coworking is about people. Coworking spaces bring freelancers together and give them a space in the that they can work together. in community.”

New Work City in New York says much the same: “We are the gathering 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 many 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.”

Assembled in Austin, Texas, they say they “provide a creative environment for entrepreneurs that fosters collaboration. Through a seamless workflow, superficial needs are met, leaving you free to find or nurture your passions. Innovation happens as you collaborate.” 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, there are coworking spaces everywhere

A ‘coworking visa’ is a new idea that allows active members of a space, when they travel, to use another coworking space, for free. Current participating spaces are located in 25 US cities with a growing number in other cities outside of the US Loosecubes brings places with free workspace together with those who need it. They discovered 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 arrangements and vary by intensity of use. Then there are often rentals on an as-needed basis, by the day or by the week, or it could just be 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 usually 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, generally 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. The most widely interpreted terms such as business centers, shared offices, and even wifi cafes. Although the concept of wifi cafes will extend even 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 prolonged work use.

In corporate offices, the term hot-desking has been around for a long time, as companies make reductions in overhead costs. In fact, some of the coworking spaces are made available by companies with surplus space.

Specialized and sectoral 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 California’s 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 of the local Veterans Club. Another example in my state is the Vermont Food Venture Center, a shared-use kitchen incubator for specialty and value-added food producers. There are similar organizations in New York, North Carolina, Montana, and other states.

The Pasadena Bioscience Collaborative is a non-profit organization created to support the growing biotechnology industry in the San Gabriel Valley. Promotes and supports start-up formation by providing high-quality, low-cost 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.