The coworking industry, while relatively young, has seen rapid growth and evolution. From its inception to its current global presence, certain spaces have been instrumental in shaping the trajectory of the coworking movement. Here's a look at some of these pivotal spaces:
- San Francisco Coworking Space - San Francisco, California, USA:
- Website
- Highlight: Credited as the first coworking space, it was opened by Brad Neuberg in 2005 inside the Spiral Muse feminist collective. Neuberg's vision was to provide independent workers a space to collaborate and create. Within a year, due to its immense popularity, it moved to the Hat Factory, becoming one of the pioneering 30 coworking spaces globally.
- Hat Factory - San Francisco, California, USA:
- Website
- Highlight: Following the success of the San Francisco Coworking Space, the Hat Factory became a beacon for the coworking movement, emphasizing community, collaboration, and a break from traditional office structures.
- Indy Hall - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA:
- Website
- Highlight: One of the earliest coworking spaces, Indy Hall focused on community-building and played a significant role in popularizing the coworking concept on the East Coast.
- C-base - Berlin, Germany:
- Website
- Highlight: Often considered Europe's first coworking space, C-base was a hub for tech enthusiasts and played a crucial role in fostering Berlin's tech and startup scene.
- The Hub (now Impact Hub) - London, UK:
- Website
- Highlight: Started in London, The Hub (now known as Impact Hub) emphasized social entrepreneurship. It has since grown into a global network of over 100 hubs.
- Parisoma - San Francisco, California, USA:
- Website
- Highlight: An early player in the San Francisco scene, Parisoma combined coworking with educational events, fostering a culture of continuous learning.
- New Work City - New York City, New York, USA:
- Website
- Highlight: One of NYC's first coworking spaces, New Work City was instrumental in promoting the coworking culture in one of the world's busiest cities.
- Betahaus - Berlin, Germany:
- Website
- Highlight: Located in Berlin, Betahaus quickly became a central hub for the city's creatives and entrepreneurs, offering a space to work and network.
- CoCo (now Fueled Collective) - Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA:
- Website
- Highlight: Playing a pivotal role in the Midwest, CoCo, now known as Fueled Collective, provided a space for startups, freelancers, and businesses to collaborate.
- The Jelly Movement - Various Locations:
- Highlight: Not a physical space, but a movement where freelancers would gather in someone's home to work together for a day. It played a significant role in popularizing the idea of shared workspaces.
These spaces, along with countless others, have been instrumental in shaping the coworking industry. They've provided platforms for innovation, fostered communities, and challenged traditional notions of what a workspace should be.
