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✊ Coworking impact.
🌱 So what’s in the WELL Rating for coworking — really? #
DeShawn Brown from Coworks, sat with Sam Pickering, Director of Sustainability for The Instant Group.
He had a list of questions, and Sam answered every single one, including "What makes it unique?", "Why does Coworking needs it own rating? ", and "How doable is this for indie operators?".
👉 Read this.
📰 Coworking news & views.
🥊 Indian network gets flack for poor sales script #
WeWork India faced criticism after a potential customer took to social media to complain about the "arrogant" and "intrusive" sales approach he experienced at their Gurgaon location, where excessive questions were used to "judge" him.
The post went viral, with many users sharing similar experiences. WeWork India CEO Karan Virwani issued a public apology, acknowledging the unacceptable sales tactics and promising immediate changes.
👉 Read this.
⛓️ If coworking is broken… #
A great post from Workbar CEO Sarah Travers shares her take on how coworking can help bridge the gap of over supply and outdated space to meet businesses’ evolving needs.
👉 Read this.
🏢 CBRE partners with Industrious for new NYC office #
Global real estate giant CBRE is incorporating flexible workspace into its new global financial headquarters in Manhattan. Partnering with Industrious, the flex workspace brand will manage and market an initial 2 out of 6 floors in total. CBRE employees will have access to Industrious’ adjacent space, amenities, and events. As time goes on, CBRE will have the ability to flex up or flex down allowing the firm to either take over some of the initial Industrious space for it’s own use or (less likely) offer up more to them. ICYMI: Since 2020, CBRE has held a 35% stake in Industrious, having invested $230M in the brand.
What is being described as a "fixed-flex-HQ strategy", this is an excellent example of further adoption of flexibility into enterprise workspace planning. HQs aren’t going away, per se, but they are getting smaller and more likely being found adjacent to or in partnerships with some amount of flexible workspace that may or may not be open to the public.
👉 Read this.
💰 German network launches crowdfunding campaign #
German coworking operator 1000 Satellites has launched a €1 million crowdfunding campaign to fuel its expansion plans and drive profitability.
The company, which has already secured over €360k, aims to open new locations in response to growing demand from corporate clients. They currently run a network of 12 spaces across Germany, and have revenues that doubled between 2023 and 2024 (to €7M). The crowdfunding campaign, launched on Jan 8th on Berlin-based Companisto platform, offers a minimum investment of €250.
👉 Read this.
😔 Coworking CEO Amit Banerji passed away at 45 #
Amit Banerji, the founder and CEO of Indian flex workspace provider Table Space passed away on Monday due to a cardiac arrest. He founded Table Space in 2017 after a successful career at Accenture, where he spearheaded the firm’s corporate real estate segment.
Ramesh Nair shares warm words about Amit and his impact. Our thoughts and wishes to his loved one and team as they grieve this tragic loss.
👉 Read this.
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💻 Coworking technology.
🤖 A CEO’s 2025 AI predictions #
Greg Isenberg, CEO of Late Checkout, predicts significant AI developments in 2025. Such as AI becoming mainstream through events like the Superbowl, potentially followed by an "AI-free" backlash. Key shifts include the rise of prompt interfaces, personalized AI experiences, and "outcome arbitrage" where AI replaces human tasks. Isenberg envisions voice AI revolutionizing user interfaces and a content crisis necessitating human curation. He foresees the emergence of micro-companies with significant revenue, AI-native retail brands, and a shift in education towards AI operation and creation. His predictions conclude with the obsolescence of linear software development, a decrease in code’s value, and the need to understand AI’s impact on asset valuation.
There a lot of ways that AI will be impacting the world of coworking and real estate from back end computing tasks, evolutions of UX and how users search for workspace, not to mention how buildings are being re-assessed.
👉 Read this.
🔧 The next evolution of coworking tech stack? Integrated ones. #
Berenika at Archie shares some resources for building an integrated tech stack—a group of coworking space tools that work together seamlessly to improve the experience for both members – and your team.
Keep an eye out for 2025 Undercurrents editions on both the New Revenue Stack and AI Agents – where the TWIC team will explore how technology, automation and revenue overlap with industry leaders.
👉 Read this.
📈 Coworking data.
📉 CMBS delinquency rate hits all-time high of 11% #
The delinquency rate for commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) has reached a record 11%, with a continued upward trend projected for 2025. This alarming statistic reflects the deepening crisis in the office sector of commercial real estate, particularly for older office buildings.
High vacancy rates in newer buildings allow companies to downsize and relocate, leaving older towers struggling to find tenants. This, in turn, leads to landlords defaulting on loans and facing difficulties refinancing or selling their properties. Despite discussions about return-to-office mandates, there has been no significant impact on occupancy rates, and experts predict that large tenants will continue to reduce their office space throughout the decade.
👉 Read this.
📈 REITs gain 4.9% in 2024 despite December headwinds #
Despite a challenging December, REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) delivered a total return of 4.9% in 2024. The FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs Index faced headwinds in the last month of the year, declining 8.0%. However, certain sectors within the REIT industry performed well, with specialty REITs leading with a 35.9% return. The broader market, represented by the S&P 500, also experienced a decline in December, falling 6.5%.
Why are we talking about REITs in a coworking newsletter? More on that soon…
👉 Read this.
🤝 Coworking market moves.
🇸🇪 Swedish brand expands franchise network #
Swedish coworking and flex workspace operator Quick Office has navigated a shifting market by closing two locations, and then opening two new ones in 2024.
CEO Pernilla Bos-Ytterbring acknowledges longer lead times for closing deals, but also notes increased demand despite growing competition. The company, which launched in 1999 and transitioned to a franchise model in 2010, now operates 12 locations primarily in Sweden. Looking ahead, Quick Office plans to expand its franchise network and connect with new partners to further grow its brand.
👉 Read this.
🇺🇸 Vibe spins off lab to boost local entrepreneurship #
Vibe Coworks has launched Matchstick Lab as a separate entity focused on supporting startups and businesses in Kitsap, WA. Alanna Imbach, Vibe’s founder, will lead Matchstick Lab, while Amber Sallay takes over as Director of Operations for Vibe. Both Vibe and Matchstick Lab have expanded their teams to support these new initiatives.
👉 Read this.
🇩🇪 Porsche invests in space for the over-50 crowd #
A new mixed-use building in Hamburg is catering to the growing demographic of people over 50 who aren’t ready for full retirement. The project combines co-living and coworking spaces with extensive wellness facilities, aiming to foster a vibrant community for this age group. The building, managed by The EMBASSIES with shareholder Porsche, features a café, bar, and event space to encourage social interaction and networking.
👉 Read this.
🇬🇧 Network announces Borough High Street location #
Runway East announced their newest location just 60 seconds from Borough Station, and 4 mins from London Bridge, will be opening on April 1st.
👉 Read this.
🏙️ Platform hires new CRO to spur CRE growth #
Proximity has appointed Mike Flanagan as its new Chief Revenue Officer. Flanagan brings 35 years of experience in commercial real estate amenities, having served as a Strategic Advisor for Arch Amenities Group and CEO of LifeStart. This strategic hire comes at a time of significant growth for Proximity, with millions of square feet under management and further expansion planned for 2025.
👉 Read this.
🎙 Coworking conversations.
At WorkSpaces, workplace strategist Phil Kirschner challenged corporate real estate leaders to reimagine the purpose of office spaces, sharing a vision for the future that goes beyond desk booking systems and hybrid policies, urging the audience to embrace bold ideas and meaningful transformation.
Emanuele Sisti, founder of Innovation Campus, a coworking brand with locations in Spain and Italy joined Jamie Russo on the Everything Coworking podcast.
Michael Kloppenburg of Avison Young joined the Flex Uncensored podcast to share insights from his journey from coworking member, to operator, broker to a trusted industry advisor.
Jamie and Gio debrief after the GWA Immersive conference in NYC on the Flex Uncensored podcast.
Bernie Mitchell and Emily Breder discuss stories to shape coworking in 2025, with a focus shifting from job-seeking to job-making.
Ryan Anderson chats with Frank Cottle on the Future of Work Podcast exploring how to create environments the truly support people at work through connection, comfort and community.
📆 Coworking events.
👩💻 Wi-Fi & Networking best practices #
isofy and officernd are hosting a deep-dive into Wi-Fi and networking essentials for coworking and flex spaces.
Discover how to choose the right internet connection, navigate key considerations for network hardware, and transform your network into a key part of an integrated operational platform—boosting automation, monetization, and member experience.
👉 Read this.
