Weekly Coworking Recap: Franchise Moves, AI Developments, and Coworking Insights

In this week's episode, hosts Mike LaRosa and Hector Kolonas recap notable happenings in the coworking industry. They discuss the hectic week that led to 35 items in their newsletter, touching on back-to-work trends, AI advancements, and market moves. 

Follow along with Week 33’s newsletter at https://thisweekincoworking.com/week-33-2025/

Highlights include parallels between coworking and the hotel industry, the importance of non-traditional deal structures, and leveraging digital mail services. They dive into franchise news, including Blush Cowork joining The Coven and Office Evolution's expansion into Canada. They also spotlight new and reopening coworking spaces like BLANKSPACES in Santa Monica and Switchyards in Houston. The episode wraps up with insights into AI's impact on coworking spaces and the potential of local AI training to revolutionize the industry.

00:00 Introduction and Weekly Recap

01:22 Sponsor Shoutout and Congratulations

02:28 Hotels and Coworking: A Deep Dive

07:00 AI Innovations in Coworking

16:52 Franchise and Market Moves

21:44 Closing Remarks and Announcements

In this week's coworking recap, hosts Mike LaRosa and Hector Kolonas are joined by guest Shane Lee from Vast Coworking to discuss franchise developments, industry trends, and emerging technologies. 

Follow along with Week 31’s newsletter at https://thisweekincoworking.com/week-31-2025/

The episode covers Vast Coworking's partnership with DenSwap to streamline coworking space transactions, celebrates OfficeRnD's 10th anniversary along with their founder’s big promotion, and highlights Africa Works' ranking as Africa's fifth fastest-growing company. Insights from Yardi's commercial real estate data and challenges in engaging enterprise clients are also discussed. Additionally, the potential of AI agents to optimize coworking operations is explored.

00:00 Introduction and Weekly Recap Overview

01:04 Special Guest: Shane Lee from VAs Coworking

01:48 VAs Coworking and Den Swap Partnership

02:22 Franchise Expansion and Opportunities

07:43 Celebrations and Achievements in Coworking

11:36 Insights from the Leasing Market

19:42 Engaging Enterprise Accounts

24:52 AI Agents in Coworking Management

27:35 Conclusion and Closing Remarks

Exploring Coworking Insights: Breaks, Funding, and Industry InnovationsIn this episode of 'This Weekend Coworking,' hosts Hector Kolonas and Mike LaRosa cover essential coworking industry updates. Follow along with Week 30’s newsletter at https://thisweekincoworking.com/week-30-2025/They discuss strategies for taking breaks, a significant $20 million funding round in the industry, a Romanian firm's new categorization of coworking spaces, ad revenue opportunities from digital signage, and ideas for celebrating International Coworking Day.00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:34 Weekly Highlights and Personal Updates01:22 Sponsor Spotlight: Syncaroo02:20 Taking Breaks and Mental Health Tips04:21 Market Study on Coworking Spaces09:27 Kadence’s $20 Million Raise13:26 Revenue from Digital Signage Ads21:48 Celebrating International Coworking Day23:25 Conclusion and Sign-Off

In this episode of our Unpacking APAC: Australia mini-series, host Tashi Dorjee, a startup enthusiast and head of Flex for Australasia at JLL, chats with Ashneel (Ash) Sharma, a senior customer success manager at OfficeRnD, about the evolving dynamics of flex workspace tech. We learn about Ash's journey from corporate real estate to PropTech, explore the impact of AI and data on workspace optimization, and discover innovative ways coworking operators are navigating through challenges in a post-COVID world. From private offices to event spaces, this episode is packed with insights into maximizing revenue and enhancing member experiences in today's flex workspace industry.Learn more about the Unpacking APAC miniseries at https://twic.co/apacThis pilot miniseries was brought to you by ⁨essensys⁩, officernd⁩ , and ⁨Syncaroo⁩

Hector Kolonas introduces our first phase of Coworking People.

See the full list at https://TWIC.co/people

Join us in building personal brand profiles at https://TWIC.co/creators

In this episode of the Unpacking APAC miniseries, host Tashi Dorjee sits down with Kasia Stelmach, the New South Wales Manager at tech coworking hub, ⁨Stone & Chalk, and flex workspace strategist and community consultant.

This discussion is part of our Unpacking APAC: Australia mini-series.

Get more info about the miniseries and other episodes at https://unpackingapac.com

Officernd, Essensys, and Syncaroo are presenting sponsors of this miniseries.⁩

They discuss the evolution of coworking and flex spaces, touching on the history from cubicles to dynamic work environments.

Kasia shares insights on how the design and purpose of workspaces have shifted over the decades and the critical role these spaces will play in the future of work. They also examine the broader social and economic implications of flexible spaces and how these environments foster innovation and collaboration across various industries.

Tune in to explore the fascinating journey of coworking and the exciting possibilities lying ahead!

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Host Introduction

00:21 Sponsor Messages

01:01 Guest Introduction: Kasia Stelmach

01:20 Discussion on Flex Workspace Evolution

01:27 Camera Choices and Tech Talk

02:21 The Future of Workspace Design

12:14 Elastic and Malleable Workspaces

16:34 Impact of Working from Home and Future of Flex Spaces

19:33 Balancing Remote and On-Site Work

20:57 The Rise of Libraries as Workspaces

22:58 Economic and Social Impact of Flexible Workspaces

25:10 The Role of Flex in Urban Development

32:16 Stone & Chalk: Nurturing Tech Innovation

38:11 Closing Thoughts on the Future of Workspaces

Exploring Sustainability in Commercial Real Estate with Paul Nellist at KobaJoin us on This Week In Coworking podcast for an insightful chat with Paul Nellist from Koba.

Paul shares his extensive journey in commercial real estate, from his early days with Savills to his leadership roles at Standard Chartered Bank, CBRE/Hana, and now Koba.

Discover the transformative impact of technology in the industry, the crucial role of sustainability, and Koba's innovative approaches to creating eco-friendly workspaces.

Learn about the challenges and successes of implementing sustainable practices and get inspired to push the boundaries in your own operations. Don't miss this episode packed with valuable insights and industry trends!

See more show notes and links at https://twic.co/nellist

Chapters:00:00 Welcome and Introduction00:38 Paul Nellist's Career Journey04:40 Changes in Flex Space and Coworking06:15 Challenges and Constants in Real Estate08:55 Mergers, Acquisitions, and Strategic Plays12:15 Koba's Mission and Sustainability Focus18:40 Repurposing Coffee Grounds for Sustainability19:30 Building a Culture of Sustainability20:01 Engaging with Potential Occupiers24:19 The Importance of Transparency and Data25:31 Innovative Sustainable Practices27:17 Challenges and Partnerships in Sustainability29:39 New London Location and Future Plans35:25 Advice for Other Operators

In this week's episode of 'This Week in Coworking' podcast, Hector and Mike dive into current trends in the coworking industry from this week’s newsletter. 

Follow along with Week 26’s newsletter at https://thisweekincoworking.com/week-26-2025/

This recap focuses on the diversification of coworking spaces across various sectors and regions, cross-border hiring tips, and the need for tech standardization among coworking operators. They also discuss interesting initiatives such as IWG’s partnership to integrate lab spaces, Bamboo's educational incubation spaces, and coworking spaces in nursing homes. The episode highlights insights from a recent survey of 200 coworking operators, spotlighting their biggest operational challenges and desired tech solutions. Furthermore, they announce new features for their patron members and celebrate milestones by Gravitate Coworking and Workbox.

00:00 Welcome and Weekly Overview

00:41 Highlights

01:16 Introducing TWIC Explorer

02:17 Diving into “niche”-ification

04:03 Niche Coworking Spaces

06:52 Coworking in Nursing Homes

09:25 Cross-Border Hiring Insights

11:12 Tech Standardization Challenges

21:15 Celebrating Milestones and Wrap-Up

In this episode of Unpacking APAC: Australia Tashi Dorjee hosts an in-depth conversation with Sean Lucas, SVP and Head of APAC for Essensys.

Together they unpack the dynamics, and tech considerations, of flexible workspaces in Australia and the broader APAC region. This season of UnpackingAPAC: Australia is sponsored by OfficeRND Flex, Syncaroo, and  essensys .

See all the episodes at https://UnpackingAPAC.comThe discussion covers the evolving role of technology in commercial real estate, the importance of seamless digital experiences, and how the industry is adapting to greater demands for flexibility in the wake of COVID-19. They also delve into the parallels between the real estate and hospitality industries regarding tech adoption and user experience. Whether you're a real estate professional or tech enthusiast, this episode offers valuable insights into the future of flexible office solutions.00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome00:21 Sponsor Messages01:01 Guest Introduction: Sean Lucas01:24 Discussion on Macroeconomic Climate and Flexibility03:54 Technology in Real Estate04:54 Challenges and Solutions in Tech Adoption07:43 Seamless User Experience in Real Estate10:50 Spec Suites and Flex Spaces20:32 Case Study: Rapid Growth in Flex Space21:38 The Challenge of Rapid Expansion22:29 Flexibility in Leasing Solutions23:02 Global Trends in Flex Spaces23:58 The Role of Technology in Real Estate27:20 Adoption of Technology in Other Industries33:59 The Importance of Trust in Technology36:15 Comparing Hospitality and Commercial Real Estate37:51 Concluding Thoughts and Future Outlook40:08 Future of Coworking Spaces in Hotels

In this episode of 'This Week in Coworking,' host Hector Kolonas introduces Emiliano and Shannon Lerda, the founders of Elevator Spaces, a co-warehousing company focused on elevating small businesses that need warehousing type spaces for their physical goods businesses.

Get the full shownotes at https://twic.co/warehousing

They discuss their journey from running an e-commerce pet supplies business from home to creating a unique shared space solution that combines elements of coworking and warehousing.

The conversation covers the challenges they faced, their business model, key cost drivers, and the importance of community in their spaces. They also delve into the logistics support they offer, their expansion strategy, and the role of coworking technology in their operations.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:12 Meet Emiliano and Shannon Lerda

00:28 What is Elevator Spaces?

02:16 The Journey to Co-Warehousing

03:54 Challenges and Solutions in Co-Warehousing

06:57 Understanding Co-Warehousing Costs

10:50 Services and Offerings

14:58 Choosing the Right Location

23:24 Business Model and Expansion

26:29 Technology in Co-Warehousing

27:33 Conclusion and Future Plans