Wondering how to thank that coworking person who always seems to have everything (together)?
Hey all, I’m Cat Johnson, and if there’s one thing I love more than supporting coworking communities it’s supporting the people building coworking communities!
I recently wrote a little book called The Daily Co – a collection of thoughts, ideas and insights intended to inspire coworking space operators and community builders every day of the year.
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🎉 Coworking celebrations.
🎂 Innovation Labs turns 5 #
Congrats to Innovation Labs on their 5th anniversary. In that time, Hermione Way shares that they have opened 5 locations (including one in Kuala Lumpur) and supported 100s of businesses.
👉 Read this.
🎂 Brighton brand marks eight years of growth #
PLATF9RM celebrated its eighth anniversary with a community gathering that highlighted the workspace’s evolution beyond traditional office facilities into a thriving collaborative ecosystem.
👉 Read this.
🎂 Tally turns 4 #
Congrats to Jules Robertson, Laura Beales and the whole Tally Workspace team.
👉 Read this.
📰 Coworking news & views.
👏 Possibly the cheekiest coworking billboard (yet)? #
Industrious pull a superb marketing move, positioning a benefit instead of a feature, right over the golden arches.
Well played.
👉 Read this.
🎤 Make the most out of the next event you attend #
Emilie Lashmar, Director of GCUC UK, shares insights about the true value lying in unstructured networking moments rather than formal presentations at professional gatherings.
👉 Read this.
🙇♀️ Some wise words for tougher times #
Anna Trundle shares a fantastic piece that anyone running a small business (or coworking space) should read regarding persevering through tough times. Having chatted with many business owners as co-founder at Keep Co, Anna shares 5 points worth noting down. Whether you’re having a hard day, or one of your members are, this is a good guideline of how to talk about them, out loud, together.
👉 Read this.
💰 Office pod startup secures funding for workplace amenities #
A new wave of "office peacocking" – the trend of companies upgrading their workspaces with premium amenities to attract employees back to the office – has led to Belgium-based JUUNOO raising $6.6 million from existing investors. The company specializes in creating high-end, soundproof workspace pods that are increasingly being adopted by companies looking to differentiate their offices from competitors. The funding round reflects growing corporate investment in office amenities as organizations compete for talent in a hybrid work environment.
👉 Read this.
🇪🇺 Coworking spaces need to adapt to new EU invoicing rules #
The European Union’s mandatory e-invoicing regulations are prompting coworking spaces across member states to update their billing systems and processes to ensure compliance. Cobot digs into the transition that may affects thousands of coworking spaces, highlighting the different deadlines and requirements that apply across various EU countries, and making it clear why software automation is increasingly crucial for operational efficiency and compliance.
Note: Even if you’re not in the EU, but may be transacting with firms that are, these rules may apply to you too.
👉 Read this.
⚖️ Coworking industry considerations under Trump #
Katharine Chestnut from Alkaloid Networks shared some thoughts on potential upside and downside of the incoming Trump administration for coworking operators.
Her take is that potential changes to tax policies, immigration rules, and remote work regulations could significantly influence coworking space demand and operations. While some experts anticipate favorable business tax reforms, others express concerns about potential immigration restrictions that might affect the diverse professional communities typically found in coworking spaces. Additional uncertainty could also impact various industries and how they plan for labor and growth.
👉 Read this.
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💻 Coworking technology.
👯 New social app aims to connect coworking communities #
A unique approach to combatin loneliness is emerging through Pie, a social app (founded by Andy Dunn, who founded Bonobos) that’s specifically targeting coworking spaces and other professional communities in San Francisco. The platform differentiates itself from traditional networking apps by focusing on facilitating genuine in-person connections, using AI-powered matching to connect members based on professional interests and proximity.
Early trials have shown promising results and the firm has introduced a ‘creator fund’ to support people who are building IRL communities. (Pssst.. sounds like many coworking spaces could collab/explore this)
👉 Read this.
🚪 Is it ever worth investing in premium access control? #
There are a LOT of door access systems, platforms, apps and widgets for coworking spaces to consider. Vera Eftimovska from Kisi shares an in-depth look at what operators should be thinking about when assessing what kinds of access management systems they should put in place.
The post also includes checklists, a calculator and an overview of what else exists as you build out your flex (and often multi-tenant) space businesses.
👉 Read this.
📈 Coworking data.
📈 Office vacancy rates hit record levels nationwide #
The latest CommercialEdge (a Yardi company) National Office Report reveals unprecedented office vacancy rates across major U.S. markets, with some cities experiencing levels above 20% for the first time in recent history. Traditional office spaces continue to face challenges from hybrid work arrangements and economic uncertainties, while Class A buildings with premium amenities show stronger resilience in maintaining occupancy. The report highlights a growing disparity between older office stock and modern, amenity-rich buildings, with the latter commanding premium rates despite the overall market downturn.
👉 Read this.
🤝 Coworking market moves.
🇨🇿 Historic Brno hospital transforms into mixed-use development #
A landmark revitalization project is underway in Brno, Czech Republic, where the former Dornych hospital complex is being transformed into a dynamic mixed-use development. The ambitious project will incorporate a boutique hotel, modern residential units, and innovative coworking spaces while preserving the historic character of the original hospital buildings.
The coworking space will be run by Scott.Weber Workspace, the largest operator in the country and will have over 600 desks and a 500 sqm terrace.
👉 Read this.
🎉 CIC Rotterdam announces expansion plan #
Brooke Walis shares that Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) is set to expand its presence in Rotterdam’s historic Groot Handelsgebouw with an additional 1,135 square meters (approx 12.2k sqft) of space dedicated to premium offices and event facilities. The expansion reinforces CIC’s commitment to supporting the city’s growing innovation ecosystem and will provide additional resources for entrepreneurs and creative professionals. The organization is maintaining a waiting list for interested tenants and will showcase the expansion plans at their December community event.
👉 Read this.
👩 Women-focused network celebrates 6th location opening #
The Coven has expanded its presence with the launch of its newest franchised location in Marshfield, marking the network’s sixth coworking space. The grand opening, led by franchisee Marsha Bushman, showcased strong community support with participation from local business leaders and organizations during the launch events. The expansion demonstrates The Coven’s successful franchise model, which emphasizes community building and collaborative support systems for new location owners.
👉 Read this.
🇦🇺 Australian brand expands from Canberra to Sydney #
JAGA Workspaces, a Canberra-based coworking provider established in 2020, has announced its expansion with a new location in Sydney’s Surry Hills neighborhood. The expansion enables JAGA’s existing members to access both cities while maintaining their community connections, with the new space specifically designed to tap into Sydney’s diverse business ecosystem.
The company emphasizes that this Surry Hills location marks the first step in a broader expansion strategy aimed at building a nationwide network of collaborative workspaces.
👉 Read this.
💼 Coworking brand launches franchise opportunity program #
CoHo has announced the launch of its franchise program, marking a significant expansion strategy for the community-focused coworking brand. The company is seeking franchisees who prioritize community building and collaboration, emphasizing that their spaces offer more than traditional workplace amenities.
The expansion model focuses on finding partners who can replicate CoHo’s successful approach to creating connection-focused workspaces in new markets, with an emphasis on maintaining the brand’s community-first culture.
👉 Read this.
🇫🇷 IKEA opens up third coworking location #
Gustaf Sternhagen shares that Hej!Workshop, the coworking concept from IKEA has just opened it’s third location. Located in the Ingka Centers ItalieDeux location in Paris, the coworking space is being run by Morning, a local coworking operator and is co-located with 114 other shops including, of course an IKEA.
👉 Read this.
🎙 Coworking conversations.
Sarah Travers, joins Hector Kolonas on the official TWIC podcast to discuss her extensive coworking career, and what drove her strategic thinking that is leading to Workbar into it’s very own category of coworking.
Industry veteran Rupert Dean, CEO of X+Why, shares insights on the rapid evolution of the flexible workspace sector with Ben Wright of the Instant Group, highlighting the significant shift from traditional office leasing to more adaptable workspace solutions.
Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal cover IKEA’s trajectory from idea to $50B in annual revenue (in detail) on the Acquired podcast. Why is this here? Listen out for what they’re doing with Inkga Centers, and the warchest they have to deploy, and then see their own coworking brand Hej!Workshop.
Lee Ann and Jamie Willard, co-owners of W Executive Suites discuss their family-led flex space brand on the Flex Uncensored Podcast.
📆 Coworking events.
📈 Sustainable membership growth #
Join Antony Slumbers and other globally recognized speakers on this OfficeRnD hosted webinar to learn how green initiatives will drive you more membership.
👉 Read this.
📐 Workspace Design for Diverse Personalities #
Join the free IDEA Project Conversation w/ Lucy McInally on December 4th 2024.
What is a neurodivergent-friendly workspace?
What’s working in your coworking space? How does your community support diverse personalities?
Join Lucy McInally, an industry writer for the coworking sector and author of The Inclusive Coworker blog, to discuss the the various ways we can design our collaborative spaces to meet the needs of all of our members.
👉 Read this.
