The true magic of coworking is the power of working alone, together.

In this episode, Marc Navarro sits down with Fernando Mendes, a pioneer of the coworking movement in Portugal and co-founder of Cowork Lisboa. Fernando shares the unfiltered story of pioneering Portugal's flexible workspace scene since 2010 and why he believes the current trend of "mainstreamization" is a threat to the movement’s original magic.

Key topics & timestamps:

2:18 The origins of Cowork in Lisbon (2009–2010)

2:34 Lessons in speed: "If you want to do something, do it fast"

3:10 The role of partnership and honest design feedback

5:04 Identifying the coworking "vibe" when no one in Portugal was watching

7:17 Evolution from designer to "community gardener"

8:31 The importance of first members: The story of Antonio and Isabelle

11:47 The magic of "working alone, together"

12:15 The domestication and professionalization of coworking spaces

14:55 Why coworking thrives during times of uncertainty

16:03 The debate on niche coworking vs. diverse communities

19:12 Coworking as the "Third Place" (neither home nor office)

20:51 The end of Cowork: Rent hikes and closing right before the pandemic

25:33 Being "seduced" back: Launching a new space with Miguel and Paul

27:46 The Incubatriz concept: A "pushing space" that isn't an incubator

29:07 Lessons from failure: Why coworking spaces are not replicable

Guest: Fernando E. de Pina Mendes, co-founder of Cowork Lisboa

Host: Marc Navarro
Produced by: Spacebring

How has the coworking industry changed since 2017? Maria Montis Kramer, COO of Loom (Merlin Properties), joins host Marc Navarro to discuss the evolution from a "cool" niche to a serious real estate player.

They dive into the biggest operational challenges facing owners today: managing high staff turnover (especially in host roles) and meeting the sophisticated demands of new corporate clients. This is a must-listen for any coworking operator focused on scaling business and maintaining service quality.

Guest: Maria Montis Kramer, Chief Operations Officer at Loom

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-montis-kramer-8195b41/

• Loom: https://loom.es/

• Merlin Properties: https://www.merlinproperties.com/

Host: Marc Navarro

Produced by Spacebring

In the increasingly crowded flexible workspace market, the biggest risk is becoming interchangeable—a commodity. So how do you build a business that can't be easily replaced? According to Tamara Giménez, founder of the 15,000m² Teamworks Coworking empire, the answer is simple but profound: stop being a supplier and start being a partner.

In this powerful conversation with host Marc Navarro, Tamara breaks down the philosophy that has been the engine of her incredible growth. She reveals how this mindset led her to make a bold decision during the 2020 lockdown—sharing the financial burden with her members—which resulted in unprecedented loyalty and success.

This isn't just a success story; it's a strategic guide to building a resilient, high-value coworking brand in any market.

Tune in to discover:

• The partnership philosophy: What it truly means to move from a transactional relationship to a collaborative one with your members.

• The ultimate case study: How the "partner" mindset guided Teamworks through the pandemic, turning a potential catastrophe into a competitive advantage.

• Beating the commodity trap: Actionable strategies to differentiate on service and flexibility when everyone else is competing on price.

• Winning high-value clients: How to embody partnership to attract and retain large companies with complex needs.

If you're ready to transform your member relationships and build a more sustainable business, this episode is your blueprint.

Find out more:

Guest: Tamara M. Giménez

• Tamara M. Giménez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-m-gimenez/

• Teamworks website: https://teamworkscoworking.com/

• Forbes feature: Read about Teamworks' $2.5M journey

Host: Marc Navarro

• Website: https://marcnavarro.com/en/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcnavarro/

Producer: Spacebring coworking space management software Learn more and book a demo today!

Think you have to be the cheapest option to offer flexibility? Think again.

Mark Goldfinger, the guy running Mindspace in the US, sat down with us to explain why their "white glove" approach is worth every penny.

He gets into the details of creating a vibe that keeps people working, hiring staff that actually care, and having the guts to tell a client that yes, month-to-month costs more. It's a refreshingly honest take on what it really takes to succeed in the flex space world today. If you're a coworking space owner, you'll want to hear this.

Guest: Mark Goldfinger | General Manager, USA @ Mindspace 

Host: Marc Navarro 

Producer: Spacebring | Coworking Software

What if you could scale the impact of your coworking community beyond your four walls… and get the government to fund it? 

In this episode, our host Marc Navarro is talking to Jenny Poon, the award-winning entrepreneur and founder of Phoenix's first coworking space, CO+HOOTS. When the pandemic hit, Jenny didn't just pivot; she built a whole new model.

She shares the story behind HUUB, a platform that connects small businesses with government funding and expert help, completely changing the game for public-private partnerships.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The "hub and spoke" model for a coworking space community that doesn't rely on a physical building.

• Jenny's 5-step playbook for getting city officials to believe in (and fund!) your vision.

• How to use data and human stories to prove your impact and unlock major opportunities.

This conversation will fundamentally change how you think about community, scale, and the future of your coworking space. Tune in!

• Connect with Jenny Poon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennypoon/

• Discover more from host Marc Navarro: https://marcnavarro.com/

• Learn more about CO+HOOTS coworking space: https://cohoots.com/

• Learn more about HUUB: https://www.joinhuub.com/

• Learn about Spacebring’s coworking space management software: ⁠https://www.spacebring.com/

Ready to think differently about coworking? In this special episode, our host, Marc Navarro, connects with María Santos Peña from Magma Espacio to talk about how coworking spaces really hit their stride outside big cities.

They're fresh off their "Sustainable coworking in small cities" session at CWSC 2025, and they're sharing practical ideas, surprising discoveries, and how to build strong communities in unexpected places.

You'll also get a look behind the scenes at how CWSC puts together its fantastic content and smooth operations. If you run a coworking space and are looking for new ideas and proven ways to grow, you'll want to hear this one!

Ready to think differently about coworking? In this special episode, our host, Marc Navarro, connects with María Santos Peña from Magma Espacio to talk about how coworking spaces really hit their stride outside big cities.

They're fresh off their "Sustainable coworking in small cities" session at CWSC 2025, and they're sharing practical ideas, surprising discoveries, and how to build strong communities in unexpected places.

You'll also get a look behind the scenes at how CWSC puts together its fantastic content and smooth operations. If you run a coworking space and are looking for new ideas and proven ways to grow, you'll want to hear this one!

• Learn more about Magma Espacio: ⁠https://www.magmaespacio.es/

• Discover more from host Marc Navarro: ⁠⁠https://marcnavarro.com/⁠ ⁠

• Explore the CWSC: ⁠⁠https://coworkingspainconference.es/⁠ ⁠

• Learn about Spacebring: ⁠⁠https://www.spacebring.com/⁠

What's really going on in the coworking industry? Marc Navarro sits down with Uri Iskin of HIT to talk about the stuff that usually stays behind closed doors. They get real about the challenges of working with landlords, the complicated world of brokers, and what the future actually holds for flexible workspaces. A refreshingly honest conversation.

• Learn more about HIT coworking: https://hitcowork.co/
• Discover more from host Marc Navarro: ⁠https://marcnavarro.com/⁠ 
• Explore the CWSC: ⁠https://coworkingspainconference.es/⁠ 
• Learn about Spacebring: ⁠https://www.spacebring.com/⁠

What's really going on in the coworking industry? Marc Navarro sits down with Uri Iskin of HIT to talk about the stuff that usually stays behind closed doors. They get real about the challenges of working with landlords, the complicated world of brokers, and what the future actually holds for flexible workspaces. A refreshingly honest conversation.

• Learn more about HIT coworking: https://hitcowork.co/

• Discover more from host Marc Navarro: ⁠https://marcnavarro.com/⁠ 

• Explore the CWSC: ⁠https://coworkingspainconference.es/⁠ 

• Learn about Spacebring: ⁠https://www.spacebring.com/⁠

Hear the untold story of CWSC. Founder Manuel Zea shares his challenges and triumphs, just in time for the Madrid conference.

• Learn more about CWSC: https://coworkingspainconference.es/
• Discover Marc Navarro: https://marcnavarro.com/
• Discover Spacebring: https://www.spacebring.com/