In the initial years, many start-ups/SMEs end up either in some residential apartment/some old commercial building or standalone buildings due to availability of limited funds. While entrepreneurs feel the need to connect, collaborate, and focus on core work while growing the business, these spaces come with rigidity/no corporate branding/no corporate ambiance, with lack of spaces to collaborate and network. Most SMEs want to provide the same workspace experience to their employees as large organizations do. However, they do not have the resources to provide for amenities such as themed restaurants, recreation centres and vibrant workspaces designed for the millennium workforce. This is where shared working spaces come into picture. They have become the current trend among start-ups, helping them cater to their new-age workforce that includes millennials and the next gen. Collaborative spaces, relaxation rooms, and instant food and drink options are their ideas of what office spaces should be.

Start-ups now have the flexibility to start with just a few seats in a co-working space and seamlessly transit to a dedicated office space which can be customized as per their needs. In-fact, every start-up envisions having a dedicated office space where they can have the freedom over their interiors allowing them to simply own the space. Here is why an office space is a vital cog that helps start-ups establish themselves.

1. Stakeholders and Impact: The workspace has moved beyond the traditional ways to a space which caters to multi

stakeholders. The office space will act as a first point catalyst to attract talent, generate business and eventually grow. Workspaces empower start-ups to invest more in the business by reducing CAPEX and enable to leverage advantage of Economies of Scale and Network of Buildings. It is Important that they focus on things that matter to their business by investing in growth than daily operations. Office spaces have also started partnering for different services, thus fulfilling the needs of start-ups in terms of recruitment, finance & accounting, legal, digital media and PR. Many office spaces have even started helping them nurture and grow their business to the next level.

While entrepreneurs feel the need to connect, collaborate, and focus on core work while growing the business, these spaces come with rigidity/no corporate branding/no corporate ambiance, with lack of spaces to collaborate and network

2. Culture and Brand: The office space has evolved from traditional places that lacked growth options to smart, flexible, and connected work spaces that offer space as a service that grows with companies. The new-age, technoflexi workspaces are customized according to company's preferences, brand value, and ethos. Office spaces are now offering interiors designed to reflect the company’s background and its demography.

3. Community and Employee Benefits: Office space is the beginning, not an end in itself. They are now a complete ecosystem of community where employees can connect, create and collaborate, allowing for the growth of both employees and companies. With amenities such as open terrace cafeterias, gyms, reception desk, designated lounge areas, phone booths, and breakout areas, office spaces have become a playground for start-ups to create or reinvent the wheels of success. Partnered spaces like training rooms, conference rooms and boardrooms based on pay-per-use model, help companies use the same space to allocate it for employee.

4. Flexibility and Scalability: Corporates look at a right business environment to thrive by providing space to grow with key drivers like scalability and flexibility, which help them expand in the same location without undergoing the hassle of searching and shifting to new office spaces. Start-ups can also avail the pay-as-you-grow model offered by modern workspaces which helps in the efficient allocation of funds.

As workplaces have evolved over time and offer more than just space, we can clearly see them as a vital cog in the establishment of start-ups.