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JUMPSTART
JUMPSTART
WHAT’S MISSING FROM HONG
KONG’S COWORKING SCENE?
By Yana Robbins
If you are running a
coworking space or
thinking of opening a
new one, you need to
ask yourself this one
important question
– what can you offer
that makes you
different?
NICHE COWORKING SPACES
As Hong Kong’s coworking scene
continues to grow (it grew to nearly
30 new spaces in 2 years, wow!),
old and new spaces alike will face
greater competition and will need to
look for ways to innovate. Innovating
is about rethinking all the existing
rules of work, combining old and
new in unexpected ways, and about
being aware of the changing needs of
workers in the 21st century.
If you are running a coworking space
or thinking of opening a new one, you
need ask yourself this one important
question – what can you offer that
makes you different?
Here are some of the most
interesting coworking trends happening
at the moment, across the globe.
COWORKING SPACES WITH DAYCARE
“Being at work means being away from
your toddler, unless that is you combine
the office and childcare.” Fast Company,
Jan 2014
In recent years, considerable
importance has been placed on
achieving harmony between raising a
Experts
family and having a career. Coworking
spaces with childcare areas are, as
a result, proving to be increasingly
popular, not least because they help
improve the work/life balance of busy
parent-entrepreneurs. There are now
a number of such places around the
world that popped up in recent years.
• Officreche.com, UK
• Third Door, UK
• Rockzipfel, Germany
• 47Ronin, Japan
• NextSpace, US
COWORKING SPACES WITH ON-SITE
ACCOMMODATION
While most business can be managed
online, there will inevitably be
occasions where travel is necessary.
Coworking spaces that provide on-site
accommodation offer a wonderful
perk for entrepreneurs who don’t
want to commute far after a long day
at the office.
• 47Ronin, Japan
One of the most exciting trends that
the world is seeing at the moment
is the rise of entrepreneurs who are
turning their hobbies and unique skills
into businesses. Often, however, these
workers don’t have a large startup
budget, and will be actively seeking
space where they can develop their
business without investing in working
space of their own. Crafties and Dim
Sum Labs definitely have the right
idea! Here are some examples niche
coworking models around the world:
• Eco-friendly and sustainable
coworking spaces – GreenSpaces,
New York, Denver, Colorado.
• Women-only coworking spaces
– InGoodCompany, New York.
HeraHub, San Diego.
• 3-D coworking Space – Mak3d
is a a coworking space for 3-d
designers.
• Coworking space with religious
flair, run by a pastor in Minnesota,
called Lydia’s Place. Their tagline is
“god works in collaborative ways”
– brilliant! Pastor Scott Simmons
“sees a unique alignment between
this emerging cooperative work
culture and the mission and goals
of people of faith.”
COWORKING SPACES WITH
INCREDIBLE PERKS
Many entrepreneurs will agree that
wanting a better quality of life is why
they went into entrepreneurship in the
first place. Here are some examples
of coworking spaces that are adding
incredible ‘extras’ to improve the
quality of life for their members.
• Fitness + coworking. Brooklyn
Boulders - this space in
Massachusetts, USA, has an on-site
gym and a climbing wall.
• Video blogging studio, dry
cleaning services, massage day.
Free Range, Chicago. Wonder if
they got these ideas from Google?
• Height-adjustable desks from
Awesome HQ, New Zealand.
• Coworking + yoga? Both are hot
items at the moment, so why not
combine them? Bread and Yoga,
Manhattan.
• Highly-exclusive (read expensive!),
luxury coworking space with
on-site restaurant and posh
environment. $1,600 USD.
Neuehouse, New York. They plan
to open 20 locations around the
world by 2020.
• On-site infinity pool. Pack your
bags and move to Singapore to join
HiredTurf.
• Organic garden with vegetables in
Brussels, Belgium at Factory Forty.
• Meditation and massage room, at
CityCoHo, Philadelphia.
PET-FRIENDLY COWORKING SPACES
Many workers don’t like leaving their
four-legged friends alone at home
while they go out to work, a fact
that is definitely being recognized by
coworking spaces. Wouldn’t it be nice
to bring your pet to work with you? “I
really think more offices should be petfriendly as it really improves the vibe
of the place—gives the place more
life and a fun attitude!” David Walker,
Conjunctured.
“In June, Trupanion launched a )