I was dead wrong about coworking spaces in Austin...

For like 2 years I thought coworking spaces were just overpriced coffee shops with fancier desks. But last month my AC went out at home and I grabbed a day pass at Capital Factory downtown. Ended up having three solid conversations with people who actually needed my services. The networking value was way higher than I expected. Has anyone else had a surprise turnaround on something they were skeptical about?

3 comments

3 Comments

jade_jenkins4d ago

Did you read that study about how Austin's coworking spaces actually have higher networking rates than most cities?

mary_west4d ago

Ended up having three solid conversations with people who actually needed my services" - see, that's the thing though, you got lucky. Capital Factory is one of the better spots in Austin but most coworking places aren't like that. They're just full of people on Zoom calls or freelancers trying to avoid their kids. I tried WeWork for a month and barely talked to anyone. The setup matters a lot, not all coworking spaces have that community vibe where people actually want to connect. Some are just lonely desks in a row.

linda_dixon494d ago

Yeah "lonely desks in a row" sums up my WeWork experience too. It's rough when you pay for community vibes and just get an overpriced quiet room.