Coworking spaces have become a popular option for entrepreneurs and small business owners looking for affordable and flexible office solutions. Beyond just providing a workspace, these shared spaces can also foster creativity, collaboration, and community. In fact, many successful businesses have gotten their start in coworking spaces. In this blog post, we'll take a look at some inspiring stories of businesses that began in coworking spaces.
Instagram, the popular photo-sharing app, was founded in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. The two met while working at a startup incubator in San Francisco called Dogpatch Labs, which provides shared office space and entrepreneurial resources. At the time, Systrom and Krieger were working on a different project. Still, they focused on creating a photo-sharing app after noticing the success of similar apps like Hipstamatic. After launching the app, Instagram quickly gained popularity and was acquired by Facebook in 2012 for $1 billion.
Uber
Uber, the ride-sharing app, was founded in 2009 by Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp. The idea for the app came to Kalanick and Camp while they were attending a tech conference in Paris. They were having trouble finding a taxi, so they came up with the idea of an app that would connect riders with drivers. They initially worked on the app in Camp's living room but eventually moved to a coworking space in San Francisco called RocketSpace. There, they were able to collaborate with other entrepreneurs and receive mentorship from experienced tech leaders. Today, Uber is valued at over $80 billion and operates in over 900 cities worldwide.
Dropbox
Dropbox, the popular file-sharing and storage service, was founded in 2007 by Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi. The two met while attending MIT and initially worked on the project in Houston's apartment. However, they soon moved to a coworking space called Dogpatch Labs in Cambridge, MA. There, they were able to receive mentorship and feedback from other entrepreneurs, which helped them to refine their products. Today, Dropbox has over 700 million registered users and is valued at over $12 billion.
Hootsuite
Hootsuite, the social media management platform, was founded in 2008 by Ryan Holmes. The idea for the platform came to Holmes while he was running a digital agency and struggling to manage multiple social media accounts for clients. He initially worked on the project from his home office but eventually moved to a coworking space in Vancouver called Bootup Labs. There, he was able to receive mentorship and connect with other entrepreneurs in the tech industry. Today, Hootsuite has over 18 million users and is used by businesses of all sizes to manage their social media presence.
Warby Parker
Warby Parker, the online eyewear retailer, was founded in 2010 by Neil Blumenthal, Dave Gilboa, Andrew Hunt, and Jeffrey Raider. The four met while attending business school at the University of Pennsylvania and initially worked on the project from their apartments. However, they soon moved to a coworking space in New York City called General Assembly. There, they were able to connect with other entrepreneurs and receive mentorship from experienced business leaders. Today, Warby Parker is valued at over $3 billion and has disrupted the traditional eyewear industry with its direct-to-consumer business model.
Conclusion
These stories are just a few examples of the many successful businesses that have gotten their start in coworking spaces.
If you're an entrepreneur or small business owner looking for a supportive and collaborative environment to grow your business, consider checking out a coworking space near you.
At the 7030 Centennial Center, we offer affordable office solutions, a vibrant community of entrepreneurs, and resources to help your business succeed. Click here to schedule a free tour and see how we can help you take your business to the next level.
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