Why Coworking Spaces Are Networking Goldmines for Founders

Coworking spaces have transformed the way entrepreneurs and startup founders work. Founders are finding energy, ideas, and valuable connections by working shoulder-to-shoulder with other professionals in shared offices. In every corner of the world – from Silicon Valley to Ho Chi Minh City – they’re the connection hub for tomorrow’s business breakthroughs.

Modern coworking spaces foster a vibrant community atmosphere where entrepreneurs can easily network and share ideas.

Let’s explore how coworking spaces create networking opportunities that help founders succeed. We’ll look at some famous companies that began in coworking spaces and thrived, and then break down why these shared work hubs are so beneficial for startups. By the end, it will be clear why a coworking space could be the perfect place to grow your venture – and we’ll highlight how The Sentry is building such a community in Ho Chi Minh City.

8 Famous Companies That Began in Coworking Spaces

It might surprise you to learn that several household-name companies actually started in coworking spaces. 

These success stories show how the collaborative environment and affordability of coworking can nurture a tiny startup into a global phenomenon. 

Let’s look at eight notable examples:

1. Instagram

In 2010, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger were working out of a San Francisco coworking hub called Dogpatch Labs when they launched Instagram. The flexibility and low cost of the space allowed them to focus on building their photo-sharing app. 

On launch day, Instagram’s popularity exploded – by 9 a.m. their servers crashed from the traffic, and by the end of the first day 25,000 people had signed up. 

Thanks to that fast start (and perhaps the creative energy of their coworking surroundings), Instagram grew to over a billion monthly users and was later acquired by Facebook for $1 billion. 

Not bad for two young founders working out of a shared office!

2. Indiegogo

Indiegogo, one of the world’s largest crowdfunding platforms, also has coworking in its origin story. 

The company’s founders – Slava Rubin, Eric Schell, and Danae Ringelmann – started Indiegogo in a San Francisco flexible office space and have credited the support of the coworking community with helping make their idea a reality. 

Since its 2008 launch, Indiegogo has facilitated over $1.5 billion in funds raised for creative projects and startups around the world. 

It’s a great example of how the connections and resources available in a shared workspace can give founders a boost in the early days.

3. Uber

The idea for Uber – an app to solve taxi headaches – was born in San Francisco, and the Uber team got to work building it in coworking spaces in both New York City and San Francisco. 

Back in 2011, co-founders Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp, along with a team of six others, worked out of a tech-focused coworking hub called RocketSpace. 

Being surrounded by other ambitious startups created an inspiring environment as they developed their ride-sharing platform. Uber’s humble desk space in a shared office didn’t hold it back at all – today, Uber operates in around 80 countries and has been valued in the tens of billions of dollars. 

It’s a prime example of a startup using the networking-rich setting of coworking to grow into a global giant.

4. Wise (formerly TransferWise)

Money-transfer heavyweight Wise got going in 2011 on a pair of hot-desks inside an Old Street coworking hub in London’s “Silicon Roundabout.” That close-quarters setup let founders Taavet Hinrikus and Kristo Käärmann test early code with other fintech tinkerers and reel in their first beta users without blowing cash on real estate.

The gamble paid off fast. When Wise hit the London Stock Exchange in 2021 via a rare direct listing, it opened at £8.75 billion ($11 billion)—the biggest UK tech float on record.

Wise kept the momentum. The company now helps about 13 million customers move £118 billion a year, which it says shaved £1.8 billion in hidden fees off traditional bank charges. In 2025 it even upsized to an 83-thousand-square-foot HQ around the corner from its old desks, but the team still name-drops those scrappy coworking days at every town-hall. 

5. Wanderfly

Not every startup that flourishes in a coworking space becomes a household name – some end up getting acquired by larger companies. Wanderfly is a great example. 

In 2011, Christy Liu and her three co-founders were running their travel inspiration startup from a coworking space called Projective Space in New York City. 

Wanderfly’s website helped people discover new travel experiences based on budget and interests. The collaborative setting gave the team exposure to other entrepreneurs and ideas in the travel tech scene. 

In just one year, Wanderfly was bought by TripAdvisor, proving that even a small coworking-born startup can catch the eye of industry leaders.

6. Timehop

Jonathan Wegener and Benny Wong created Timehop in 2011, initially named 4SquareAnd7YearsAgo, at a coworking space in New York City shortly after a Foursquare hackathon. 

They later consolidated PastPosts.com and And7YearsAgram into Timehop, relaunching it as a nostalgia app that resurfaces past posts and photos on the same calendar day in later years.

Wegener has often praised the environment, saying the coworking setup helped give the startup a launchpad and connected him to New York City’s tech community. 

By March 2025, Timehop boasted over 20 million users, making it one of the more visible memory apps globally.

7. Brllnt (formerly Brilliant Communications)

Siblings Jonathan Smalley and Melanie Charlton founded Brilliant Communications (later branded as Brllnt) after relocating to WeWork in Washington, D.C., stepping away from working at home. 

That shared workspace transformed their trajectory and brought them hundreds of clients, collaborators, and exposure. Within a year, the company had nearly quadrupled in size and even acquired a neighboring firm. 

This story is a prime example of how coworking space can do more than just save rent, it can fuel literal business growth through connections and visibility

8 ZipRecruiter

ZipRecruiter began in 2010 when Ian Siegel, Joe Edmonds, Ward Poulos, and Will Redd set up shop in Coloft, a Santa Monica coworking space, aiming to solve the headache of posting to multiple job boards. 

That first hot desk came with free Wi‑Fi, meeting rooms, and a network of other tech founders—and within a few months they’d landed their first paying customers. 

Early traction helped them raise $63 million in funding, and as of 2018 their platform served 1.5 million businesses and 430 million job seekers, making ZipRecruiter the #1 hiring solution in the U.S. 

All of that momentum traces back to those initial coworking‑space pitch sessions and partner introduction.

These examples – from photo-sharing apps to ride-sharing services – show that coworking spaces can be the cradle of the next big startup. When founders work in a dynamic shared environment, they’re not just cutting costs; they’re plugging into a network of ideas and opportunities.

Why Coworking Spaces Are Ideal for Founders

Coworking spaces offer a range of benefits that make them particularly appealing for founders. Here’s a closer look at why they’re such a great fit:

Cost-Efficiency

Launching a startup is expensive, but coworking spaces provide a budget-friendly alternative to traditional offices. Membership fees typically include desk space, high-speed internet, printing services, and meeting rooms, allowing founders to keep overhead low while maintaining a professional workspace.

Flexibility

Startups evolve quickly, and coworking spaces accommodate this growth. Founders can start with a hot desk, move to a dedicated desk, or upgrade to a private office as their team expands. This scalability ensures businesses can adapt without the constraints of long-term leases.

Networking Opportunities

Coworking spaces are bustling with professionals from various fields, creating a natural environment for networking. A casual chat over coffee can lead to a collaboration with a web developer, a referral to a potential investor, or advice from a seasoned entrepreneur. These connections can be game-changers for startups.

Access to Expertise

Many coworking spaces host workshops, seminars, and networking events where founders can learn from industry experts and share knowledge with peers. This access to expertise helps startups stay competitive and informed about the latest trends and strategies.

Community Support

Entrepreneurship can be isolating, especially for solo founders. Coworking spaces foster a sense of community, offering emotional and professional support. Being surrounded by like-minded individuals who understand the challenges of starting a business can boost motivation and resilience.

Business Tools and Amenities

Coworking spaces come equipped with everything a startup needs, from high-speed Wi-Fi to ergonomic furniture and fully equipped meeting rooms. These resources allow founders to focus on their work without worrying about setting up or maintaining an office.

Discover Your Community at The Sentry

If you’re looking for a coworking space in Viet Nam that understands the needs of founders, look no further than The Sentry. We provide a supportive and inspiring environment where you can connect with other entrepreneurs, grow your network, and take your business to the next level.

At The Sentry, we believe that the right workspace can make all the difference. That’s why we’ve created a space that is not only functional and professional but also warm and welcoming. We’re more than just a collection of desks, we’re a community of innovators, creators, and dreamers.

Come and see for yourself what makes The Sentry special. 

Visit our solutions to learn more about us and book a tour.

Your next great idea, your next collaborator, your next big break it could all be waiting for you at The Sentry.