This post is also available in: Danish

In some cases, your parents’ garage might be a great place to start your business. At least according to startup lore. In most cases, a co-working space might be the better option.

Apple started in a garage. So did Amazon, Google and Microsoft. The startup garage has become an embedded part of the mythical rockstar-founder. However, times have changed, and today most shooting stars begin their journey in some kind of co-working space.

Co-working spaces are shared office spaces where freelancers, entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses rent a desk or a private office on a flexible basis. It is a flexible, cost-effective, and collaborative alternative to traditional office space, which makes it a perfect place to start for companies with limited resources.
Co-working spaces are increasingly popular, and they are located all over Denmark. From the larger cities like Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense, and Aalborg to the smallest surf towns on the West Coast of Denmark.

A range of amenities such as internet, coffee, and meeting room is often included, and more importantly: Access to a community of like-minded professionals. Some co-working spaces also offer additional services such as events, networking opportunities, and mentorship programs.

Why co-work?

One of the key benefits of co-working spaces is the flexibility they provide. Users can rent a desk or an office on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, allowing them to scale up or down as their needs change. This is particularly beneficial for startups, who may not have the resources to commit to a long-term lease – and do not know if they need space for 5 or 50 employees in the coming year.

The biggest benefit, however, is often the sense of community and collaboration they foster. Co-working spaces bring together a diverse group of professionals from different backgrounds and industries, providing opportunities for networking, idea-sharing, and collaboration. This can be great for motivation as there is an energy of productivity in the air when you’re in an office full of driven people.

Additionally, co-working spaces can provide a sense of professionalism and legitimacy, especially for freelancers, home-based businesses, and startups. Having a dedicated office space, even if it is shared, can help to separate work and home life, boost productivity, and make a better impression on clients and customers.

Specialised spaces

The past decades have seen a rise in specialized science, technology and development parks. They are similar to co-working spaces in terms of shared office spaces or private offices on flexible terms. But at the same time, they have a heavy focus on research, innovation, and development typically within a specific sector e.g., tech, food, cleantech, sound, sustainability, and healthtech. A few examples are TechStation, Ecopark, and Sound Hub Denmark.

A lot of the science, technology and development parks are located close to the universities or other higher education institutions and also offer access to lab facilities, tools, workshops, storage, etc. as they are designed to support research, innovation and development.

This can be especially helpful for entrepreneurs and startups with limited resources who might never have had access to this kind of equipment elsewhere – while getting to mingle with a community of industry experts who already know and operate in their industry.

Why co-working or science, technology and development parks?

  • Better office space at a lower cost
  • Meet like-minded entrepreneurs – with the opportunity to work in industry-specific working communities.
  • Specialised facilities: Labs, 3D printers, workshops, storage, etc.
  • Special networks: Investors, industry professionals, potential customers, etc.

The article is part of the magazine “The Guide – A comprehensive overview of the Danish startup ecosystem”, published by Heyfunding and TechSavvy.media.

Read the full magazine here: