Coworking spaces continue to be a trend. A large number of them can also be found in Munich. This year, the first Munich ‘Mindspace’ offices will open: two — as the owners describe them — “inspiring and stylish coworking spaces.” The two minds behind the company that was founded in 2014 are Dan Zakai and Yotam Alroy from Tel Aviv. The business is currently expanding in Germany and opened new offices in Hamburg and Berlin last year.
We talked with Mark Kranz, Senior Community Manager of Munich Mindspace.
Please tell us about yourselves!
The Mindspace coworking offices are distinguished by their exclusive location, unique design and the exceptional services they offer their community. We provide our members with an inspiring work environment and fully equipped offices with lounges, community kitchens and meeting rooms. Our design is meant to make you feel at home.
The company has received investments amounting to more than 15 million US dollars, and plans to open additional locations in Berlin and Munich this year. Mindspace will open its first Munich location on Viktualienmarkt this August. A second location will be added on Salvatorplatz at the end of this year.
As the Senior Community Manager, I am responsible for managing the Munich Mindspace locations and for the team. My tasks also include winning over innovative companies as members and serving as a contact person for the community.
In the heart of the city
Why did you decide to open a location here?
Munich was a logical step for us to take. The city is a strong location for business and the innovative ecosystem has developed really well in recent years. All of the Mindspace offices are at prime locations — Viktualienmarkt and Salvatorplatz are particularly special and in the heart of the state capital.
What makes your Munich locations special?
Each location is unique and features an urban design thanks to collaboration with local artists. The Kustermann building on Viktualienmarkt is a gorgeous, 200-year old structure, and our offices on Salvatorplatz are located right across from the historic Salvatorkirche.
In both coworking spaces, we plan to meld Munich culture with modern art. The local community will comprise roughly 500 members in total. That leads to very close-knit communication among members.
Concentrating on business
Why should someone rent an office in one of your spaces?
There are so many reasons! Some of the major advantages are the fantastic offices and lounges, as well as customized service. It all allows our members to completely focus on their business and growth.
Our community also benefits from cooperation with global online services, discounts at local businesses, cafés and fitness studios, and also from the events we organize. Happy hours, workshops and networking events are held regularly and promote communication within the community.
What size offices are available?
We offer our members various options – both in terms of office size and membership. In our Munich coworking spaces, we have individual offices for 2 to 24 people as well as open spaces and what we call fix and flex desks. This allows teams of all sizes to find the ideal working environment. Companies can also rent additional offices based on their needs and expand at any time on a monthly basis.
Key to success: a multifaceted community
How would you describe your typical coworker? Or are you aiming for a specific combination of tenants?
We do not have a ‘typical’ coworker. We are a unique community comprised of members who work for visionary companies. One of our success factors is the diversity of our community. With us, large companies – such as Samsung, Barclays Bank, Euronews, ProSiebenSat.1 Media and DB Schenker – share a floor with innovative startups, creatives and freelancers as well as small companies from a variety of industries.
How can founders and startups benefit in particular?
For startups, Mindspace is the perfect place to be. We make it easy for them to access an international network – which includes our members as well as important representatives within the ecosystem. Company representatives plan or participate in events at Mindspace, which gives startups the opportunity to introduce themselves at events, meet interesting people and network.
Get started immediately
There are two things that make us interesting to founders. For one, if your company is still in its infancy, you can come to us, rent a desk, and get started immediately. That gives you direct contact with other members and investors, and you can benefit from our range of services. With us, you do not have to risk anything and are able to avoid bureaucratic tasks you would have had to deal with in a standard rental agreement. As a Mindspace member, you can fully concentrate on your business.
For another, we also offer an extremely high degree of flexibility. That means startups can grow at any time by renting additional offices, and they can also downsize.
Do you still have space available? Whom should startups contact if they would like to rent space from you?
We expect the coworking spaces to be well booked after opening on Viktualienmarkt in August and on Salvatorplatz at the end of the year. That being said, we do still have space for outstanding teams and companies. Simply contact me and I would be happy to give you a personal tour of our Munich space.