Introduction
Startups are an important audience for coworking spaces. They bring energy, innovation, and a culture of collaboration that strengthens your community. But attracting startups requires more than just offering desks and Wi-Fi. As a coworking operator, you need to create an environment where founders, freelancers, and small teams thrive.
What Do Startups Look For in a Coworking Space?
Startups are increasingly seeking coworking and flexible office spaces: in a survey of business leaders, 59% of companies planning to grow their workspace over the next two years say they’ll opt for coworking or flexible workspaces rather than traditional leases. This doesn’t just mean open-plan layouts, but also spaces where members share values and see potential for partnerships. Startups want to be surrounded by people who inspire them: other entrepreneurs, freelancers, and like-minded professionals who bring fresh ideas to the table.
Equally important is flexibility. Startups often deal with uncertainty, so adaptable contracts, scalable memberships, and the ability to add or reduce seats quickly make a big difference.
How Can Space Design Attract Startups?
The design of your coworking space is more than just aesthetics, it signals who belongs there. Creating matching environments and inclusive spaces helps startups feel that your coworking community reflects their values. For example, designing with inclusivity in mind benefits not only neurodivergent coworkers but the entire community. You can read more in our guide on creating neurodivergent-friendly coworking spaces.
Practical design also matters. Startups benefit from layouts that combine focus areas with collaborative zones, meeting rooms, and shared common spaces where spontaneous conversations can happen.
Building a Startup-Friendly Community
Startups don’t join coworking only for the desks, they join for the people and collaboration that coworking spaces foster. As an operator, you can create value by creating a culture where collaboration and support come first. Host pitch nights, demo days, or informal networking events where freelancers, entrepreneurs, and startups can meet.
Partnerships are another way to strengthen your offering. Collaborating with local universities, accelerators, or business hubs makes your space more attractive to early-stage founders looking for connections and resources.
What Services and Amenities Win Startups Over?
How Can You Market Your Coworking Space to Startups?
Short answer: show your role in the local startup story, then amplify it online with consistent proof.
- Position your space within the broader ecosystem. City-level guidance from StartupBlink emphasizes telling clear stories about your local strengths and networks: adapt that lens for your space by highlighting your community, events, and outcomes.
- Publish quick wins: member milestones, launches, and partnerships.
- Keep event pages, photo galleries, and testimonials current to show social proof.
If you want to get up-to-date tips about marketing trends in coworking spaces, subscribe to our Coworking Marketing Weekly Newsletter:
Conclusion
Startups are drawn to coworking spaces that align with their values, support their growth, and provide a community of peers to collaborate with. By focusing on matching design, creating opportunities for networking, and offering services that go beyond desks, you can make your space the natural choice for entrepreneurs and freelancers alike.
If you’re ready to make your space more attractive to startups, let Cobot help you manage the daily operations, so you can focus on building the community. Start your free 30-day demo today.