[ibimage==51417==Large==none==self==null]
As the so-called gig economy continues to grow in fashion, a contagion of co-working spaces has popped up across the country. These cool but temporary office spaces give those who work from home the chance to network with their peers and work in an environment that fosters both creativity and productivity.
And one Chicago startup wants to unlock the door to all of these co-working spaces for you.
Meet Desktime, a company that simplifies the process of renting co-working spaces. Their newly-minted, monthly subscription called Deskpass offers access to about 25 co-working spaces across the Chicagoland area, including The Shift, Blue1647, Catalyze Chicago, and NextSpace in River North.
From freelancers and entrepreneurs to full-time employees looking for a change of pace, Deskpass hopes to erase the hassle of finding and booking your next co-working space.
“Deskpass is literally for any employee who’s looking for a change of scenery in terms of their office space,” said Jason Komosa, Desktime’s VP of sales. “Even if you buy a full monthly membership at a co-working space, odds are you’re seeing the same people, with the same experience, at the same place over and over again.”
For $199/month, subscribers can visit any of the participating co-working spaces, booking a space in real-time using the company’s website or iOS app. Users can visit a location up to five times each month.
According to Komosa, the average co-working space in Chicago runs about $450 a month.
“Our goals are to grow the Chicago market as much as we can, prove that there’s a need for this in the marketplace, improve the product, and expand to other markets,” Komosa said. “But our ultimate goal is to have a Deskpass user be able to visit any spaces across the country.”
Have a tip for us or know of a company that deserves coverage? Email us via [email protected].
