91springboard, one of the India's largest co-working communities that recently launched its 15th co-working space hub in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex (fourth alone in Mumbai), has introduced open spaces focused on socialisation as well as independent offices for professionals from diverse fields.

"The 400-seater co-working office space is a place for everyone - interiors with a minimalist but futuristic theme, space-optimising office furnishings, hi-speed internet, conference and meeting rooms, cafes, locker facilities, game zones, a separate networking space, a lounge with sofas and all other facilities that the Silicon Valley startups enjoy," says 91springboard CEO Anand Vemuri.

Covering an area of 18,000 square feet, 91springboard BKC hub's close proximity - just 6km - from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport makes it a hot destination for professionals. "We have established 15 hubs in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Goa, and many more are in the pipeline," he added.

OneCoWork, which has three co-working office spaces across Delhi, recently marked its foray into Bengaluru by opening a new co-working hub that can house up to 257 professionals. Located in Koramangala, the centre provides ultramodern features like sleeping pods, gaming lounges, and block labs (aimed at blockchain-based collaborative research and development expeditions) among others. "Our Bengaluru facility features some of the latest hi-tech additions to co-working spaces," Himanshu Bindal, Founder of OneCoWork.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL

So why are co-working spaces ideal not only for solo entrepreneurs but also large corporations? "A new self-owned and operated office requires businesses to take care of everything from identifying the preferred site, conducting lease and purchase negotiations, and procuring equipment to maintaining infrastructure, hiring housekeeping staff, and setting up tech facilities," says Pranay Gupta, Co-founder, 91springboard, adding that these are major financial commitments for not only emerging startups but also for established companies. He says co-working space saves time and resources in a cost-effective way.

Sudeep Singh, Chief Evangelist at GoWork, says initially a co-working space was believed to be an option for bootstrapped entrepreneurs running on a tight budget but now established business are walking the co-working road, thanks to the variety of amenities and unique working environment being provided at co-working space. "Easy-to-customize spaces are the growing demand and allow businesses to develop their workspace according to the business needs," says Sudeep. GoWork's facility in Gurgaon, which the company claims to be the largest in the world, is spread in an area of 4.5 lakh sq feet and can house up to 8,000 people.

PERFECT SPOT FOR NETWORKING

A co-working space comprises like-minded individuals from different domains under one roof, which can also be a perfect spot for entrepreneurs looking up to build up network. How can a co-working space help in networking? "The biggest benefit of a co-working space is that it facilitates seamless business networking, which is crucial for growth. At a co-sharing place, professionals from different business domains work together that can organically lead to collaboration opportunities, which mutually benefit everyone," says 91springboard's Pranay.

GoWork's Chief Evangelist Sudeep Singh says startups, SMEs and corporate are the key drivers of co-working, which mutually benefit each other. "Corporate houses look for entrepreneurs for quick solutions and technical expertise, which lead to a fair exchange of business and commerce among both the parties."

Anuj Sharma, founder of Localguy, a Himachal-based online experience-sharing startup that caters to the unorganised sector and enables micro-entrepreneurs in Tier-II and Tier-III cities to connect directly with travellers, says co-working spaces are the best for bootstrapped companies focusing on cost management, product design, and application. "I worked on my prototype from the Nasscom facility in Noida, a co-working space. I was selected under Nasscom's 10,000 Startups Programme, and I also got assistance from experts that helped me build a strong network. Once you're in such a zone, you meet people from different walks of life. You can cash in on their experience to address your challenges," says the 28-year-old entrepreneur.