Vast Coworking’s Private Equity Carve-Out: What It Means for Growth, Consolidation & Coworking 4.0

Host Hector Kolonas interviews Jason Anderson about major news at Vast Coworking Group: after years of planning, Vast is being carved out from United Franchise Group and backed by New State Capital Partners, with Anderson’s team staying in place and UFG continuing to provide some transition services.

More links, context, and show notes at https://TWIC.co/vastpe

Anderson explains the rationale for private equity—its need for resources to compete with players like Regus, Industrious (CBRE-backed), and WeWork (Yardi-backed)—and frames market timing through his “Coworking 1.0–4.0” view, culminating in enterprise “flex-first” adoption after the pandemic.

They discuss Vast’s growth to about 215 locations, how new resources will strengthen branding, marketing, and staffing rather than fund a single immediate spend, and why further consolidation is likely, including acquisitions and conversions of independent operators into Vast brands while keeping Vast focused on franchising rather than corporate-owned locations.

00:00 Welcome and Setup

00:44 Vast Origin Story

02:00 Why Private Equity Now

04:41 Coworking 4.0 Explained

10:08 Big Money Signals

15:54 Deal Terms and Use

20:03 Consolidation Plans

22:56 Landlord Solutions

25:44 Franchise or Corporate

26:05 Conversions and Resales

30:24 Wrap Up and Thanks

Virtual Office Revenue, Systems & Tech Debt, and Coworking Industry Deal Flow | This Week in Coworking (Week 10)Hector Kolonas and co-host Juan Hilario recap a busy Week 10 in coworking, including takeaways from GWA Immersive in Dallas and why operators say virtual offices are critical to profitability. Juan explains how Alliance Virtual Offices drives partner revenue (targeting $2,000–$3,000/month by month 12, varying by market), handles sales, compliance, support, and adds meeting room/day pass bookings via an app with real-time calendar integrations through Syncaroo (Yardi, Nexudus, OfficeRnD). They discuss operational guidance from Andrew Runnette on reducing overreliance on always-on staff through documentation and escalation rules, plus Juan’s leadership tip to have teams propose solutions. Jana Greer’s tech lessons cover adoption time, avoiding over-customization, scaling with a plan, and building MVPs to reduce technical debt. Industry news includes private equity moves around Vast/United Franchise Group and essensys, franchise expansion by the Priddys in Dallas/Plano, an Austria merger (your office and Vision Decision), Blackstone’s investment in a London members club, 25N’s Dallas expansion, and APAC updates from YoCo, JustCo, and WOTSO.00:00 Welcome From Dallas00:49 Week 10 Agenda01:38 Alliance Virtual Offices Sponsor02:14 Virtual Office Revenue Math05:36 App Booking And Integrations07:58 GWA Immersive Takeaways09:12 Breaking People Dependence14:54 Tech Pitfalls And MVPs20:11 Vast Deal And Private Equity24:52 Expansions And Global Moves25:58 Events And Wrap Up

Host Hector Kolonas interviews Tonya Surman about founding the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) in Toronto in 2004 as a shared space for small nonprofits before the term “coworking” existed, initially offering shared resources and “virtual tenancy.”

Surman recounts CSI’s growth from 14 organizations to hundreds across multiple locations, including buying a 36,000-square-foot building in 2010 using a city loan guarantee and community bonds. More links and details in the show notes at https://twic.co/23yearsShe discusses tensions around credit for coworking’s origins, emphasizing CSI’s mission of social impact and relationship-building over branding. Surman details CSI’s financial challenges—rapid expansion, never fully breaking even, COVID member losses, rising interest rates, and selling a building to the City of Toronto for an Indigenous homeless shelter—leading to consolidation, community-financed debt, and finally reaching profitability. She argues coworking’s enduring value is belonging and relationships, warning that scaling can undermine humanity.Chapters00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro00:45 CSI Origins in 200404:28 From Shared Space to Growth06:53 Who Gets Credit for Coworking10:40 What Changed and What Stayed True13:53 Niches and Transactional Spaces16:44 CSI Financial Rollercoaster24:12 Finding the Sweet Spot27:34 Future of Coworking29:53 Closing Thanks

Massive Multi-Location Coworking Deals: Preferred Office Network's Success StoryIn this episode of 'This Week In Coworking,' host Hector Kolonas speaks with Caroline Hecht and Tara McCoy about one of the largest multi-location coworking deals ever seen. In a single transaction, Preferred Office Network successfully placed 552 teams across the U.S., generating $2 million in new monthly revenue for 150 of its partners. Get more insights and links at https://TWIC.co/30daysCaroline and Tara discuss the company's history, how they secure and manage large-scale deals, their unique business model centered on flexibility, and their global expansion efforts. Find out how Preferred Office Network helps enterprise clients with turn-key coworking solutions and the backstory behind their outstanding success.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:40 Background of Preferred Office Network02:54 Evolution and Growth of Preferred Office Network05:25 Client Needs and Service Offerings07:44 Marketing and Client Acquisition Strategies11:44 Joining the Preferred Office Network14:35 The Big Multi-Location Deal24:20 Future Plans and Global Expansion30:23 Conclusion and Farewell

From Coffee Shops to Coworking: Jaime Munoz's Journey to Ownership of CO+HOOTS In this episode of This Week In Coworking, host Hector Kolonas sits down with Jaime Munoz, the new owner and operator of CO+HOOTS, a prominent coworking brand with locations in Phoenix, downtown Mesa, and a project in Atlanta, Georgia.

Jaime shares his inspiring journey from working in the coffee industry to becoming a community manager at CO+HOOTS, eventually rising to sole owner.

He discusses the transition process, the mentorship from the previous owners, and his vision for the future of CO+HOOTS, including potential expansions and community-building initiatives. Jaime also offers valuable advice to those looking to join the coworking industry and emphasizes the importance of overcoming personal fears to achieve one's dreams.

More links and show notes at https://TWIC.co/Munoz

Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:34 Jaime Munoz's New Role at COHOOTS01:31 Jaime's Journey to Coworking03:34 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome04:26 The Transition Process06:37 Challenges and Learning Experiences13:15 Future Plans for COHOOTS15:52 Encouragement and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the This Week In Coworking podcast, host Hector Kolonas and guest Mike LaRosa dive into the evolving landscape of coworking spaces. See this week's newsletter at https://thisweekincoworking.com/week-05-2026/They discuss the differences between various coworking models, like 'work clubs' and 'neighborhood clubs,' the continuous evolution of workspace needs, and the increasing role of tech and data in coworking. The conversation extends to how LinkedIn addresses data challenges, the potential of AI in workspace management, and industry insights from a TEDx talk on sustainable growth without venture capital. The episode is packed with rich industry knowledge, including Syncaroo's recent newsletter highlights and an exploration of how coworking integrates into different types of buildings.00:00 Welcome Back to This Week In Coworking00:52 Sponsor Shoutout and Gratitude01:59 Diving into This Week's Newsletter02:06 The Evolution of Coworking Spaces08:00 The Importance of Vibes in Coworking10:05 Exploring Nap Boxes and Other Amenities10:40 Coworking in Different Buildings16:18 LinkedIn's Data Strategy and AI22:46 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Episodes

Join Hector Kolonas and Kristina Schneider from Cobot (https://twic.co/cobot) as they dive into the latest industry updates in the weekly recap for This Week In Coworking. 🗞️ Follow along by popping open the Week 4 newsletter at https://twic.co/2026/04This episode covers exciting developments shared by Cobot, AI-powered operating systems, the importance of building community, and strategies for industry growth. Discover how AI and emerging technologies are shaping coworking spaces, and explore ways to foster stronger community and operational efficiency. Tune in for insightful discussions and practical advice for anyone in the coworking industry.00:00 Welcome and Introductions00:36 This Week's Newsletter Highlights01:35 Cobot's Recent Developments06:45 AI in Coworking13:59 Building Community in Coworking Spaces18:22 Empathy-Driven Sales Strategies22:40 Reflecting on Past Predictions31:12 Conclusion and Farewell