11 New Coworking Spaces to Check Out in Metro Manila
Check out the freshest options for freelancers.
(SPOT.ph) Telecommuting is no longer the unconventional concept it once was; it's the better and cooler way to work. And it makes sense, with increasing connectivity, the myriad of jobs that can be done remotely, and the nasty city commute we all just want to avoid. Coworking spaces are no longer just for lonesome freelancers. The past few years have seen more small businesses with their skeletal teams take advantage of these spaces and the perks they have to offer. Coworking establishments have gone from providing the standard desks, high-speed Internet, and unlimited coffee to going above and beyond with their networking events, business solutions, and unique aesthetics.
We give you an update on the newest coworking spaces to open their doors in Manila. Read on and spice up your telecommute at these spots.
SocialSpace Coworking
G/F CTP Alpha Tower, Investment Drive, Madrigal Business Park, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Contact: 359-0875, 0956-443-9059
E-mail: socialspacecoworking@gmail.com
www.socialspacecoworking.com
Open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Monday to Friday) and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Saturday)
Since opening in May, SocialSpace Coworking has added a touch of fun and creativity to the
Rates: A half-day coworking pass costs P300 (four hours), while an all-day pass is at P500 (eight hours). Monthly,
Ignition Venture Studio
North Penthouse, Marajo Tower, 312 26th Street corner 4th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City
Contact: 944-6200
E-mail: contact@ignition.biz
www.ignition.biz
Open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Monday to Friday)
Four-month-old Ignition Venture Studio promises to be more than just a coworking space. As CEO Paolo Villonco puts it, their “coworking [service] is about 5% of the business.” Inspired by Villonco’s days at Stanford and its Venture Studio, Ignition aims to be the one-stop shop for everything business and to bridge the gap between tech, finance, and creatives. Beyond workspace solutions, Ignition offers an array of services to fulfill all of an entrepreneur’s needs and help their ventures take off: Business consulting and registration, accounting, bookkeeping, and intellectual property protection, to name a few. Workshops and networking events are a regular here, where industry experts facilitate and community members from different fields find a common ground. Villonco shares, “When people walk in here, they can consult for free, even if they’re just considering to be entrepreneurs. Everyone is welcome here. And as for us, all we want is to grow the community, empower people, and democratize entrepreneurship.”
The Ignition HQ houses a coworking area, dedicated desks, phone booths, conference rooms, semi-private and private offices, a pantry, lounging spots, and an events space. Its industrial design is elevated with the use of sustainable, local materials and display of proudly Filipino artwork (which, by the way, are exhibited for free, with a portion of the proceeds donated to various charities).
Rates: Two coworking shifts are available: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Each shift costs P672, and coworkers may consult Ignition’s in-house experts for free. Those who sign up for a month (P12,000) get a free one-hour use of the conference rooms, which may also be rented starting at P2,000 an hour.
Clock In BGC
C2 Bonifacio High Street Central, 7th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City
1/F Bonifacio Technology Center, 31st Street corner 2nd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City
Contact: 0917-836-1387, 807-5811
E-mail: communitymanagerbgc@clock-in.com.ph
www.bgc.clock-in.com.ph
Open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Monday to Friday)
The new Clock In, which just merged with the Square One BGC brand, is looking to cater to the game changers and visionaries. Now with two branches in BGC, both under Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation, the fresh brand aims to deliver three vital C's to its clients: Convenience, community, and collaboration. Myra Ocampo, Deputy Head of Commercial Operations at Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC) says, “Square One merged with Clock In to offer more perks, options, and networking opportunities for coworkers. We made our social halls much more spacious because those seemingly casual interactions often turn out to be a minefield of ideas from which passion projects take flight."
Aside from the prime address and hip-looking social spaces, Clock In offers high-speed Internet, unlimited coffee, tea, and water, scanning and printing services, free local calls, free courier service around BGC, serviced meeting rooms, front desk services, and event spaces. Coworkers can take advantage of exclusive sessions of LifeHacks by Clock In, a TED Talks-inspired learning session where industry experts share powerful ideas.
Rates: Hotdesk (a shared workspace in a common area) rates at either
Grow Space
Commercial 30 UG/F South of Market, 25th Street corner 11th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City
Contact: 0995-499-5660
E-mail: cowork@growspace.ph
www.growspace.ph
Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday to Friday)
Grow Space in BGC isn’t out to compete with the big guys. This little coworking oasis took its weakness and turned it into its strength, as one of the partners, Kyle Imperio, explains. While the cozy spot, fresh from its October soft opening, doesn’t have any private offices or spacious lounges, it serves as a sweet escape where you can breathe and do your work in peace. It has all your coworking essentials, plus an urban jungle aesthetic. Imperio, who has a degree in Agriculture, and another partner
Rates: Coworking rates are at P90 per hour, P250 for half a day (four hours), and P400 for a whole day (eight hours). Use of the meeting space (up to five persons) will cost you P450 an hour. The whole area may also be reserved for events, with photography and videography services available.
xState
Unit 3D, 112 Cypress Garden, V.A. Rufino Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City
Contact: 869-6496, 0917-526-3344
E-mail: info@xstate.org
www.xstate.org
Open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Monday to Friday)
xState, which opened in June, was established with tech and finance companies in mind. Founder Francis Dolojan, along with cofounders Nathan Nakar and Neva Talladen, wanted a venue for entrepreneurs to connect and grow their businesses. Dolojan tells us, “We help build and create the community through cross-referral systems that we have put in place to create a synergy in the workplace. From financials to suppliers, we ensure the continuous growth and stability of your business with the community that we have built.” The spot was constructed using recycled materials and features an industrial look that’s warm and welcoming. The coworking space and coffee shop hybrid houses a coworking area, office spaces, conference rooms, and an equipped kitchen. “Our building is a mixed-use building, so we have this homey vibe,” Dolojan shares.
Rates: Daily coworking costs P499, while a weekly pass is at P1,999.
The Common Space
Unit 203, The Pergola Mall, Aguirre Avenue corner Gaches Street, BF Homes, Parañaque City
Contact: 0977-857-5155, 776-4838
E-mail: cowork@thecommonspace.ph
www.thecommonspace.ph
Open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Monday to Saturday)
The Common Space just turned a year old. Located in the bustling BF Homes neighborhood, the spot features a clean and straightforward aesthetic that gives off a no-nonsense vibe minus the intimidating feel. The Common Space offers all coworking essentials—high-speed Internet, pantry staples, print/copy/scan/fax services, and receptionist assistance—but it takes great pride in these three things: Affordability, accessibility, and flexibility.
Rates: Coworking rates range from P200 (three hours) to P400 (whole day), with discounts available for students. Flexible packages, long-term plans, and group deals are also on offer. Use of the meeting room (up to six persons) will set you back P500 an hour, P1,500 for half a day, and P3,000 for a whole day. The virtual office service is at P1,000 a month. A private office is also available for rent.
MegaManila Co-Working Spaces
1707 Annapolis Wilshire Plaza, Annapolis Street, Greenhills, San Juan City
Contact: 0917-665-0967, 0999-881-3608
E-mail: mmcoworkingspace@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/megamanilacoworking
Open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
MegaManila Co-Working Spaces, which opened in July, claims to be the first coworking space in Greenhills.
Of course, networking opportunities are a given. MegaManila Co-Working Spaces Managing Partner Clarinda Joanne Ellorin says, “We highly encourage our co-spacers to collaborate with each other and build their own networks. Aside from this, they will have access to different seminars and events that we will be handling and joining. We believe that individuals or small teams will expand through proper support.”
Rates: Coworking rates are at P100 per hour, P400 per day, P2,000 per week, and *P6,000 per month (*with free two-hour use of the conference room). Conference room rental is at P2,000 per hour.
WIP PH
91 Maginhawa Street, Teachers Village, Diliman, Quezon City
Contact: 982-1037
E-mail: wipphl@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/WorkInProgressPH
Open from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. (Monday to Saturday)
WIP PH, which opened to the public in October, is not only a coworking space but also a creative hub. Cofounder Chic San Agustin and her partners all come from the creative industry (advertising and theater), so it came naturally for them to incorporate art into their business venture. WIP stands for “work in progress,” but it can mean many things, according to San Agustin: “We wanted a name that cuts across the freelancing industry and the arts industry. In advertising and in theater, ‘WIP’ is a common term. But we use it in different ways. The most commonly used term is ‘work in progress,’ but since we have
The relaxed interior, with hanging plants, bar stools, floor seating, and brightly colored pillows, is very apt to the youthful vibe of the neighborhood. The furniture is mobile, and the black curtains are ready to be drawn anytime to transform the area into a performance venue. Just below is StrEat Maginhawa Food Park, where coworkers can fill up before pulling an all-nighter. Unlike most coworking spaces, WIP doesn’t follow office hours; it follows students’ study (and cramming) schedule. High-speed Internet, unlimited coffee, and a comfy nook where night owls can squeeze in a power nap are available. “We want to be student-oriented. We want to introduce this kind of working to the students because all they know right now are coffee shops. At least here, they can have
Rates: Coworking rates are at P40 an hour, P200 for half a day (six hours), and P320 for a whole day (12 hours). For events and meetings, using half the space costs P500 per hour, while renting the whole area costs P1,000.
KMC Solutions at V Corporate Centre
5/F V Corporate Centre, 125 L.P. Leviste Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City
Contact: 779-6540
E-mail: info@kmc.solutions
Open 24 hours
KMC Solutions opened their newest space in Makati in September. The sprawling space can accommodate teams of all sizes, from a lean group of five to a solid company of over 100 employees. Small and big businesses can benefit most from KMC's plug-
Rates: Coworking rates are at P500/day with access to the meeting rooms.
11 Brixton Street, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City
Contact: 356-5162, 0926-656-5714
E-mail: info@stkdzeppelin.com
www.facebook.com/stkdzeppelin
Open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Monday to Friday)
STKD Zeppelin is an offshoot of the 17-year-old lifestyle brand StokedInc. and is located above the pretty kickass StokedInc. HQ in Kapitolyo. At the helm are partners JV Borromeo (president of StokedInc.), JJ Atencio (of 8990 Holdings), and Joncy Sumulong (of Flotsam and Jetsam Hostel in
Rates: Coworking rates are at P300 for half a day and P500 for a whole day. Signing up for one month at P7,000 includes free use of the meeting rooms for 12 hours. Meeting rooms may also be rented for P1,000 an hour.
Paperwork
Mezzanine AL Building, 1
Contact: 975-7136, 356-7773, 0917-8155351
E-mail: info@paperworkph.com
www.paperworkph.com
Open from 9 am. to 6 p.m. (Monday to Friday)
Paperwork Philippines, which launched in August, is a concept brought in from Bangkok. (Paperwork Singapore is set to open in early 2018.) The creative collaboration hub geared toward design entrepreneurs takes pride in its materials library. From it, members can access swatches of different materials and colors, partners’ catalogs, and an index of contacts and specialists. Paperwork Digital Marketing Manager Arturo Navarro explains, “We provide a more bespoke experience for users providing not just their basic needs but more opportunities for collaboration...We push for projects that help others in their professional and personal lives.”
The sophisticated interiors—courtesy of the partners who all have a design background and specialize in corporate and workplace design—combines warm textures, grained wood, aged bricks, and sleek furniture. On weekends, the coworking space converts to an events place where everything from workshops to networking events and parties
Rates: Coworking for a day costs P500. A month-long pass is at P6,000 with two-hour use of the meeting room (good for six people) or one-hour use of the conference room (good for 10 people). Virtual office service is at P3,000 a month. The Workshop (event space) and private suites are available for rent, too. All coworkers, whether with daily or long-term passes, can access the materials library.