Top 15 Brands Born in Coworking Spaces

Coworking spaces have become popular for freelancers, remote workers, startups, and companies who want to improve collaboration, creativity, and productivity while reducing costs. But what makes coworking spaces more interesting is that they are not just workspaces; they are also hubs that foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and community. As a result, many successful brands have started in coworking spaces and have grown to become global leaders in their industries. In this blog post, we will take a look at the top 15 brands that were born in coworking spaces and learn from their stories.

Uber

Uber, the innovative ride-hailing company that completely transformed the transportation industry, was founded in 2009 by Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp. Their vision took shape in a humble coworking space in the vibrant city of San Francisco. Since then, Uber has expanded its reach to over 600 cities around the globe, connecting millions of riders with convenient and reliable transportation options. With an impressive market value exceeding $90 billion, Uber continues to redefine how people move and experience the world around them.

Spotify

Spotify, the renowned music-streaming giant, was founded in 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. Their journey started in a humble coworking space in Stockholm called SUP46, where their passion for revolutionizing the music industry took shape. From those early days, Spotify has grown exponentially, captivating over 356 million active users across 178 markets worldwide. Today, it proudly holds the title of being the largest music-streaming platform in the world, connecting people from all corners of the globe with the power of music.

Airbnb

In 2008, Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia, and Nathan Blecharczyk founded Airbnb, a groundbreaking home-sharing platform that completely disrupted the traditional hospitality industry. This innovative concept took shape in a humble coworking space located in San Francisco. Since then, Airbnb has experienced phenomenal growth, expanding its reach to over 220 countries and regions with an impressive portfolio of over 7 million listings. Through its unique and transformative approach to travel, Airbnb has revolutionized the way people explore and experience the world.

Instagram

Instagram, the immensely popular photo-sharing app that revolutionized the way we communicate and share moments, was founded in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. The two innovative minds came together in a vibrant coworking space nestled in the heart of San Francisco. This dynamic startup environment fostered the birth of Instagram, empowering users to express their creativity and connect with others through captivating visuals. With its intuitive interface and powerful features, Instagram quickly garnered a massive following, amassing over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide. Today, it stands as a premier platform not only for individuals seeking to showcase their talents but also for influencers and businesses looking to engage with a vast and diverse audience.

Slack

Slack, the revolutionary team collaboration tool that completely transformed how we communicate and collaborate at work, was founded in 2013 by Stewart Butterfield and his highly talented team. The birthplace of this remarkable platform was a vibrant coworking space in the picturesque city of Vancouver known as the Railtown. Since its inception, Slack has gained immense popularity and now boasts an impressive user base of over 12 million daily active users. Not only that, but this incredible platform has also garnered a staggering valuation of over $15 billion, a testament to its undeniable success and impact in the world of modern workplace communication.

Basecamp

Basecamp, the renowned project management software that simplifies teamwork, was founded in 1999 by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. Their journey began in a vibrant coworking space in Chicago known as the 37signals. Since its inception, Basecamp has steadily grown to become a trusted platform with over 3 million users. It is highly regarded for its minimalist design and exceptional user-friendliness, making it a go-to choice for teams across various industries.

Indiegogo

Indiegogo, the renowned crowdfunding platform that empowers entrepreneurs and creators, was founded in 2008 by Slava Rubin, Danae Ringelmann, and Eric Schell. Their journey began in a vibrant coworking space in San Francisco, where they forged the vision and laid the foundation for their groundbreaking platform. Since then, Indiegogo has become a key player in the crowdfunding landscape, leveraging its innovative approach to help bring countless ideas to life. With an impressive track record, Indiegogo has successfully facilitated the funding of over $2 billion for more than 800,000 campaigns, making a significant impact on the world of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Hootsuite

Hootsuite, the renowned social media management tool that simplifies marketing, was founded in 2008 by Ryan Holmes in a vibrant coworking space in Vancouver known as the Bootup Labs. With its humble beginnings, Hootsuite has since become a global phenomenon, serving over 18 million users worldwide. Its exceptional platform has garnered the trust and loyalty of top brands such as IBM, Sony, and McDonald's, solidifying its position as an industry leader in social media management.

TransferWise

TransferWise, the innovative money transfer platform that revolutionized the industry with its low fees and competitive exchange rates, was founded in 2011 by Taavet Hinrikus and Kristo Kaarmann. Their entrepreneurial journey began in a vibrant coworking space in London called Level39, where they harnessed their vision and expertise to disrupt the traditional banking system. Today, TransferWise proudly serves over 8 million customers worldwide, facilitating seamless transactions totalling over $6 billion per month. With its user-friendly interface and commitment to transparency, TransferWise continues to empower individuals and businesses to transfer money across borders with ease and confidence.

Timehop

Timehop, the innovative app that allows users to nostalgically revisit their social media posts on the same date in previous years, was founded in 2011 by Jonathan Wegener and Benny Wong. Their entrepreneurial journey began in a vibrant coworking space in the heart of New York City, known as the General Assembly. Over the years, Timehop has grown exponentially, amassing a dedicated user base of more than 15 million individuals who delight in reliving cherished memories. With its remarkable success, Timehop has garnered recognition from the App Store, being featured multiple times as a testament to its popularity and impact.

Eventbrite

Eventbrite, the innovative ticketing platform that revolutionized event organization and participation, was founded in 2006 by Kevin and Julia Hartz and Renaud Visage. Their entrepreneurial journey started in a vibrant coworking space in San Francisco, where they transformed their vision into reality. Since then, Eventbrite has become a global phenomenon, powering over 4 million events across 180 countries. With its user-friendly interface and seamless ticketing experience, Eventbrite has facilitated over $15 billion in gross ticket sales, making it the go-to platform for event enthusiasts worldwide.

Square

Square, the innovative payment processing company, was founded in 2009 by Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey. Their vision was to empower businesses to accept credit card payments seamlessly using their smartphones. The company's humble beginnings can be traced back to a coworking space in San Francisco, where the founders laid the foundation for their revolutionary idea.

Since then, Square has experienced exponential growth and now boasts over 2 million active sellers. But Square's impact goes beyond payment processing. It has evolved into a comprehensive solution provider, offering software and support tailored to the needs of small businesses. With its unwavering commitment to simplifying transactions and enabling entrepreneurs to thrive, Square continues to reshape the landscape of commerce.

Cloudera

Cloudera, the innovative and visionary data management and analytics platform, was founded in 2008 by Mike Olson and his exceptional team. Their journey began in a humble coworking space in Burlingame called AWorkspace, where they laid the foundation for their groundbreaking ideas. With unwavering dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence, Cloudera has become the undisputed enterprise data cloud leader, serving over 3,500 customers worldwide. Their commitment to helping companies make more intelligent decisions has revolutionized the industry and continues to shape the future of data-driven innovation.

Birchbox

Birchbox, a popular subscription-based service, was founded in 2010 by Katia Beauchamp and Hayley Barna. The idea came to life in a vibrant coworking space called AlleyNYC, located in the bustling city of New York. With a mission to deliver personalized beauty products to customers, Birchbox quickly gained traction and now boasts over 1 million active subscribers. Not stopping at beauty, Birchbox has also expanded its offerings to include grooming and lifestyle products, catering to a wider range of needs and preferences.

General Assembly

General Assembly, the world-renowned education and career transformation platform, was founded in 2011 by Jake Schwartz, Adam Pritzker, and Matthew Brimer. Their vision was born in a vibrant coworking space nestled in the heart of New York City, aptly named General Assembly. Since its inception, General Assembly has empowered over 35,000 graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of work. Today, General Assembly continues to make waves by offering a wide range of online classes, corporate training, and upskilling programs, ensuring individuals and companies are well-equipped for the future of work.

Conclusion:

Coworking spaces have become more than just places to work; they are now hubs of innovation, entrepreneurship, and community. The brands that were born in coworking spaces have shown us that creativity and collaboration can lead to phenomenal success. We can learn from their stories that starting a company in a coworking space can provide access to resources, inspiration, and support that can help entrepreneurs and teams bring their ideas to life. The top 15 brands we have highlighted in this blog post should inspire us to dream big and work hard to achieve our goals.

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