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Building Coworking Communities in Small Towns with Željko Crnjaković
Episode Summary
In this episode, Bernie chats with former Coworking Values Podcast co-host Željko Crnjaković, managing director of InspiraHub in Subotica, Serbia, about how coworking spaces can transform small towns into vibrant, connected communities.
Željko shares his journey from starting one of Serbia’s first coworking spaces to expanding InspiraHub into a dynamic hub for remote workers, entrepreneurs, and local events.
They discuss the challenges of growing coworking in smaller towns, the unique value of building a community-first approach, and why partnerships with local businesses are key to success.
Whether in a small town or a big city, this conversation is packed with insights into how coworking can drive economic and social change.
Timeline Highlights
[0:02] – Intro: Bernie welcomes Željko back to the podcast and sets the stage.
[0:42] – Željko explains what he’s known for and his many hats in coworking, video production, and mentorship.
[3:16] – The story of starting Serbia’s second coworking space in 2013.
[5:53] – Transitioning from small, personal coworking projects to partnering with InspiraHub.
[8:43] – Why coworking isn’t just about desks and Wi-Fi—it’s about education and community.
[11:41] – Strategies for finding members in small towns where coworking is a new concept.
[15:11] – The challenge of self-funding coworking spaces and the importance of partnerships.
[18:20] – Building a coworking community that retains long-term members in Subotica.
[24:33] – InspiraHub’s role in making Subotica attractive for remote workers and young families.
[28:40] – InspiraHub’s work in organising events to drive education, knowledge sharing, and community growth.
[32:29] – Reflecting on the partnerships, relationships, and micro-steps behind InspiraHub’s success.
Detailed Episode Breakdown
Željko’s Journey: Starting Small and Dreaming BigŽeljko recounts his first foray into coworking with a small, self-funded space born from his need for a better working environment.
He reflects on early challenges, from educating people about coworking to balancing costs with community building.
Partnerships and Community GrowthŽeljko shares how partnering with Inspira Group transformed the coworking landscape in Subotica.
He discusses the mutual benefits of private companies investing in coworking spaces to enhance local communities and retain talent.
Coworking in Small Towns: Challenges and OpportunitiesFrom guerrilla marketing to cold emailing freelancers, Željko dives into the creative strategies he used to build a thriving coworking community in a small town.
He emphasizes the importance of creating events and resources that meet the specific needs of the local population.
The Power of Events and EducationInspiraHub goes beyond desks and meeting rooms by hosting events and educational programs that drive community engagement.
Željko explains how these efforts have brought thousands of people through the doors and positioned Subotica as a hub for learning and collaboration.
A Vision for the FutureŽeljko discusses InspiraHub’s upcoming expansion and how the new space will offer more connections, education, and growth opportunities in Subotica.
He also highlights how coworking can solve the challenges of small-town living, including an ageing population and talent retention.
Links & Resources
* InspiraHub in Subotica, Serbia
* Inspira Grupa (Inspira group) main company page
* Željko’s LinkedIn post on the next phase of InspiraHub
* Subotica on Wikipedia
* “Solutium” - Željko’s Audio Video Agency
* Coworking Values Podcast on LinkedIn
* Join The Coworking Community Builder Cohort
* Register for European Coworking Day, May 2025
* Get Your Pass for the Workspace Design Show London 2025
* Join the 8k Members in the LinkedIn Coworking Group
* Connect with Bernie on LinkedIn
* Connect with Željko on LinkedIn
One more thing
Coworking brings communities together, helping people find and share their voices.Each episode of the Coworking Values Podcast explores the core values driving coworking: Accessibility, Community, Openness, Collaboration, and Sustainability.
These values aren’t just ideas—they shape the spaces where we gather, work, and grow.
We hope this resonates with you.If it does, please rate, follow, and share the podcast.Your support amplifies our reach, helping others discover how coworking can enrich lives, build careers, and strengthen communities.
Community is the key 🔑
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit coworkingvaluespodcast.substack.com
View all episodes
By Bernie J MitchellEpisode Summary
In this episode, Bernie chats with former Coworking Values Podcast co-host Željko Crnjaković, managing director of InspiraHub in Subotica, Serbia, about how coworking spaces can transform small towns into vibrant, connected communities.
Željko shares his journey from starting one of Serbia’s first coworking spaces to expanding InspiraHub into a dynamic hub for remote workers, entrepreneurs, and local events.
They discuss the challenges of growing coworking in smaller towns, the unique value of building a community-first approach, and why partnerships with local businesses are key to success.
Whether in a small town or a big city, this conversation is packed with insights into how coworking can drive economic and social change.
Timeline Highlights
[0:02] – Intro: Bernie welcomes Željko back to the podcast and sets the stage.
[0:42] – Željko explains what he’s known for and his many hats in coworking, video production, and mentorship.
[3:16] – The story of starting Serbia’s second coworking space in 2013.
[5:53] – Transitioning from small, personal coworking projects to partnering with InspiraHub.
[8:43] – Why coworking isn’t just about desks and Wi-Fi—it’s about education and community.
[11:41] – Strategies for finding members in small towns where coworking is a new concept.
[15:11] – The challenge of self-funding coworking spaces and the importance of partnerships.
[18:20] – Building a coworking community that retains long-term members in Subotica.
[24:33] – InspiraHub’s role in making Subotica attractive for remote workers and young families.
[28:40] – InspiraHub’s work in organising events to drive education, knowledge sharing, and community growth.
[32:29] – Reflecting on the partnerships, relationships, and micro-steps behind InspiraHub’s success.
Detailed Episode Breakdown
Željko’s Journey: Starting Small and Dreaming BigŽeljko recounts his first foray into coworking with a small, self-funded space born from his need for a better working environment.
He reflects on early challenges, from educating people about coworking to balancing costs with community building.
Partnerships and Community GrowthŽeljko shares how partnering with Inspira Group transformed the coworking landscape in Subotica.
He discusses the mutual benefits of private companies investing in coworking spaces to enhance local communities and retain talent.
Coworking in Small Towns: Challenges and OpportunitiesFrom guerrilla marketing to cold emailing freelancers, Željko dives into the creative strategies he used to build a thriving coworking community in a small town.
He emphasizes the importance of creating events and resources that meet the specific needs of the local population.
The Power of Events and EducationInspiraHub goes beyond desks and meeting rooms by hosting events and educational programs that drive community engagement.
Željko explains how these efforts have brought thousands of people through the doors and positioned Subotica as a hub for learning and collaboration.
A Vision for the FutureŽeljko discusses InspiraHub’s upcoming expansion and how the new space will offer more connections, education, and growth opportunities in Subotica.
He also highlights how coworking can solve the challenges of small-town living, including an ageing population and talent retention.
Links & Resources
* InspiraHub in Subotica, Serbia
* Inspira Grupa (Inspira group) main company page
* Željko’s LinkedIn post on the next phase of InspiraHub
* Subotica on Wikipedia
* “Solutium” - Željko’s Audio Video Agency
* Coworking Values Podcast on LinkedIn
* Join The Coworking Community Builder Cohort
* Register for European Coworking Day, May 2025
* Get Your Pass for the Workspace Design Show London 2025
* Join the 8k Members in the LinkedIn Coworking Group
* Connect with Bernie on LinkedIn
* Connect with Željko on LinkedIn
One more thing
Coworking brings communities together, helping people find and share their voices.Each episode of the Coworking Values Podcast explores the core values driving coworking: Accessibility, Community, Openness, Collaboration, and Sustainability.
These values aren’t just ideas—they shape the spaces where we gather, work, and grow.
We hope this resonates with you.If it does, please rate, follow, and share the podcast.Your support amplifies our reach, helping others discover how coworking can enrich lives, build careers, and strengthen communities.
Community is the key 🔑
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit coworkingvaluespodcast.substack.com