CoWorking
CoWorking is the social gathering of a group of people, who are still working independently, but who share values and who are interested in the synergy that can happen from working with talented people in the same space. (from Wikipedia)
More specifically, it’s a place with work spaces (often totally in the open) where people bring their own laptop computers and can rent space by the hour, day, week or month. It’s usually accompanied by a cafe, and the social nature of the physical arrangement encourages interaction, problem solving, idea sparking, and collaborative projects.
There’s currently no organized coworking location in the Napa Valley but we strongly encourage someone to start one.
Nearby Coworking Sites
SoCo Depot
Sonoma Coworking in Penngrove – A space for people who want to work for themselves but not by themselves.
Citizen Space
San Francisco
A pioneer working site that’s been open since 2006.
More on Coworking
Coworkings Most Frequently Asked Questions
Answered by the founders of Independents Hall, a coworking space and community in Philadelphia
Hall Together Now
Article on Independents Hall and its founders.
You Really Can Choose Your Co-Workers
Excellent article on coworking.
Coworking Visa Project
An informal arrangement among a number of coworking centers that allows their members to use facilities in other towns at no charge.
Buy I’m Outta Here (paperback) or the e-book.
Authors: Drew Jones, Todd Sundsted and Tony Bacigalupo [book]
Currently the only available book on Coworking.
http://coworking.pbwiki.com
A metaguide to coworking. Information, resources, links to discussion groups and more.
Examples
http://citizenspace.us/
A coworking space in San Francisco located at 425 Second St on the first floor. It is generally open from 10am – 6pm weekdays.
Citizen Space’s philosophy is well worth repeating here as it sums up the coworking values everywhere:
- Collaboration: One of the great benefits of working in a coworking space is that you will meet all sorts of people with all sorts of knowledge.
- Openness: We believe in transparency and openness. In a world where people are free, but ideas are not, only a few benefit. When ideas are free, everyone benefits. Therefore, we encourage open spaces and discussions. Sorry, no NDAs [Non-Disclosure Agreements] allowed.
- Community: We thrive on connections and mutual support here. It is important that everyone give into as well as benefit from the strong (international) community coworking has become.
- Accessibility: In order to be fully open, we must make the effort to be accessible to all. This means that we endeavor to create both a financially and a physically accessible space. We are committed to this principle and welcome feedback on how we can make it even more accessible.
- Sustainability: Shared spaces are also better for the planet, so we like to take that a little further and make certain our space is very environmentally responsible.
Independents Hall
www.indyhall.org
A coworking space and community in Philadelphia. We are designers, developers, writers, artists, entrepreneurs, scientists, educators, small business owners, telecommuters, marketers, videographers, game developers, and more.
The common thread is this: we all know that we’re happier and more productive together than alone.
Sandbox Suites
www.sandboxsuites.com
A coworking space for freelancers, entrepreneurs and anyone in need of a flexible and affordable place to work or meet. Conveniently located at 123 10th St. in downtown San Francisco, our open-plan facility offers hot desks, private desks, a comfortable lounge with an espresso service, conference rooms, and a company of like-minded professionals.
Video on starting coworking, from the founders of IndyHall:
