You may or may not be aware of a side project I’ve been working on for the past two years—it’s a co-working space called “DeskSpace.” The goal is to offer affordable workspace and a collaborative ecosystem for tech and creative startups in my hometown. It took me a year to secure private investments and complete the renovations. Before moving forward, let me show you some photos!
Actually, this is DeskSpace 2.0—you’re right, it’s not a brand-new project. We’re simply upgrading by moving from a smaller space to a larger one.
A bit of history
DeskSpace began as a shared workspace among a group of friends, each launching their own startup business back in 2017. It wasn’t an official co-working space, but more of a collaborative space, driven by the financial constraints a few of us were facing. As more people joined our small shared workspace, we named it DeskSpace—reflecting its simple setup of desks with no private rooms.
The pandemic temporarily left the space unoccupied, but as conditions improved, we established a company to manage DeskSpace and expanded into a larger location with private rooms at City Point Mall. This is what I’ve been working on—DeskSpace 2.0.
Social impact
Our shared goal—mine and my like-minded investors’—is to create a positive social impact in our city. As a former startup founder, I fully understand the difficulties of launching a new business, particularly in the tech and creative sectors, where value is often measured by experience and portfolio. Starting out can be challenging when you lack the portfolio to demonstrate your worth. Running your own office while struggling to generate sufficient revenue to keep things afloat is a tough cycle that needs to be broken, and I’ve committed to being the one to do it.
DeskSpace enables you to focus on your work and gradually grow beyond our space. We genuinely support your journey to becoming a successful startup and moving out of DeskSpace. Your success is our success.
Revitalizing aging and underutilized buildings
Another social impact I’m striving to achieve is the revitalization of aging and underutilized buildings and facilities. Our co-working spaces attract white-collar professionals, which helps retain existing businesses in the area and draws in new tenants. For instance, a new fashion store opened in the mall beneath DeskSpace just a few months after we began operations, proving that our concept is working.
Reusing existing buildings lowers environmental impact compared to new construction, reduces carbon footprints through sustainable practices, and extends the building’s life and purpose.
I also want to demonstrate that it’s possible to achieve something great while spending less and using more creative approaches. We actually spent less than anticipated when renovating DeskSpace, yet we’re still able to provide a highly functional and attractive office space for co-working and events.
Growth and sustainability
It will take some time to see if this idea fully succeeds, but so far, I’m seeing steady, progressive growth, which is a promising sign. If it works, I’d love to replicate this success in other cities, and even internationally. Unlike the lavish buyouts and extravagant renovations of companies like WeWork, we’re taking a different, and in my opinion, more sustainable approach. Our goal is to rejuvenate the city with more startups and events, gradually creating a snowball effect that leads to a more vibrant startup scene.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re interested in what we’re doing. You’re more than welcome to visit our co-working space, host your startup or event here, or reach out to discuss potential collaborations. We hope to see you soon!
Lastly, here’s the promotional video we created for DeskSpace.