Coworking Spaces for Women Entrepreneurs: Best Options in India

The phenomenal growth of women business owners in India has been profound. From redefining industries, women are founding sustainable businesses and using innovation to establish scalable technology and creative companies. Women business owners are coming into high leadership positions with vision and confidence. Although women business owners have good access to opportunities, they face barriers to building networks so they can navigate their professional and personal responsibilities they can continue their work. Coworking spaces for women have enabled and continue to enable women business owners to benefit from entering a flexible workspace, as well as having access to supportive professional infrastructures. Coworking spaces are also developing new networks or communities that draw attention to women business owners, which creates valuable networks and support. Coworking spaces are allowing women to devote their time and attention to the outcomes in the businesses and enterprises they are involved in.

How Coworking Spaces are Important to Women

Coworking has shifted the way professionals view and approach their work. For female entrepreneurs, coworking spaces offer more than an office; they offer safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Recent research on women working in supported environments shows improvements in productivity, positive networks, and achieving a better work-life balance. The experience of women entrepreneurs in stay-at-home office formats is varied, so coworking spaces assist in normalising women's venture work. Coworking spaces are different from offices because they offer a hybrid space that lends easily to the women entrepreneur to come to work or scale up their business operations more easily, as an entrepreneur, a small group, or a start-up involved in transition.

Ideal Coworking Spaces for Women Entrepreneurs in India

In considering the ideal spaces for women with an entrepreneurial vision to co-work in India, it is sometimes much more than looking at the space or office infrastructure, and considering the values of safety, accessibility, mentorship, and community. Throughout India, many coworking operators came together to collectively advocate and start women-centric initiatives and centres to assist women prospects. Here are a few of the space examples;

● WeWork India - WeWork has international office standards of workspace and facilities in multiple cities, such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Gurgaon, with plans that will provide flexibility and inclusive facilities for women entrepreneurs to flourish.

● 91Springboard - 91Springboard is a leader in co-working in India, and is proud to provide networking and mentorship programs for women-led start-ups.  

● The Hatchery (Bengaluru) - The Hatchery is a co-working space that is woman-focused. The Hatchery includes a co-working space, workshops, connections to funding sources, and peer support groups.

● Wizdom Women's Hub (Delhi NCR) - The Wizdom Hub is a dedicated space for women professionals offering a collaborative co-working space based on safety, collaboration, and comfort to promote community and belonging.

The noted spaces are but a few of the spaces that are throughout India supporting women in their entrepreneurial journey.

Coworking Spaces for Women Entrepreneurs: Factors?

When researching coworking spaces for women entrepreneurs, there are many aspects that might influence their experience.

● Safety and Access - Women travelling or working later in the evening need working offices that are accessible and safe.

● Community Support - Spaces that build community, such as community organising spaces or groups of identity-aligned entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors, can provide possibilities for connections and collaboration.

● Flexibility of Plan - Well-priced and flexible plans and opportunities for growth can create environments where women entrepreneurs can work without endangering their financial security.

● Child-Friendly Amenities - Some co-working spaces are providing childcare assistance or are developing relationships with daycares, which is a positive attribute for women in business and mothers.

● Training and Mentorship - Having access to training, for example, funding workshops, or professional coaching, can be essential for women entrepreneurs working in co-working spaces.

Considering the different factors, women are able to find workspaces that will appropriately align with their operational needs and allow for future growth.

Coworking spaces for women: Impacting the larger picture.

The development of coworking spaces for women is not just benefiting the individuals; it is modifying the business landscape in India. It is widely known that women-led start-ups are a win-win for the economy, as women-led businesses tend to have higher profitability and sustainable growth over time. The Business Today publication points out that the prevalence of female-led businesses has greatly expanded in the last decade in India, with more than 13.5 - 15 million women business owners participating in the economy. Coworking spaces for women are providing a solution to this dilemma of inclusion by addressing the even larger barriers created by isolation, lack of resources, or lack of connections. By collectively creating an environment with women from which to work, they create a safe community of inclusion that supports and empowers each other to be a part of a work connection.

The Future looks Bright

The future of coworking and entrepreneurial space in India is based on inclusion. As more and more women enter the revolution of entrepreneurship in India, the demand for spaces that can accommodate women will grow. Analysts are already stating that open working spaces within the coworking space sector in India are likely to grow at a rate that could exceed 15% annually, with focused initiatives looking to contribute to that percentage of growth. As a result, companies and investors are starting to connect the dots of the benefits of diverse representation. Coworking operators are creating space and making steps towards an inclusive and innovative company business ecosystem, while championing women entrepreneurs.

Conclusion

Coworking spaces are not simply shared spaces. Coworking is a designed ecosystem of collaboration, creating new skills, empowerment, and growth. For women entrepreneurs, it is vital to find the coworking space that is the right fit for their needs, as this involvement has implications that can affect their space and collective needs while working. The best coworking spaces for women in India are ones that take into account and take on women's needs; they are inclusive and have a mentoring focus, which ties into women's professional needs, safety, and inclusionary needs. Whether added value services, networking, or flexibility, women's coworking spaces are now becoming the support scaffolding for entrepreneurs in India's ecosystem. Demand for inclusive cowork spaces for women is not just a fad. Not just a trend; they are shifting the dial towards inclusivity, as operators are prioritising inclusionary communities, which are shifting the momentum of work in India.