Cebu Coworking Spaces
It is perfectly natural to factor in the environment when it comes to getting inspiration or maximizing your productivity. This is why we are more than happy that Cebu is becoming a hub for startups and inspiring more people to work on their ideas through thinking spaces, brainstorming areas, mini-event venues. Most of which are more collectively known as coworking spaces rising in the corners of the city.
The Power of Workspaces
Symph believes in the value of a good working space and atmosphere. This kinda explains our culture a lot (read:The Symph Space).
We also started by working and churning ideas on cafe tables, then we got a small office space. A year later we moved to a bigger office building, then we co-founded a coworking space (full disclosure: We co-founded the TIDE) and eventually, we now have a building of our own. The said spaces have become physical indicators of our growth as a company throughout the years.
One of our goals as a tech company is to inspire like-minded individuals into empowering the Philippine startup ecosystem. Following the advice that Brad Feld lays out in his book, Startup Communities, we are also actively trying to create an ecosystem here in Cebu.
Looking back to two years ago, Cebu had zero of these coworking spaces, co-founding The TIDE was the first of many. Now there are more rising coworking spaces, each to its own identity and unique services; in regards to building an ecosystem, this is just one piece to the puzzle.
So, we tiptoed into the different coworking spaces (and perhaps introvert spaces) to give you ideas so you don’t have an excuse to not build your ideas for the world to see.
The TIDE
IT Park Cebu
The TIDE, which stands for Technology. Innovation. Design. Entrepreneurship, was founded by Symph and EngageSpark, and is one of the pioneering work and event spaces in Cebu.
The TIDE believes having coworking spaces with good internet access is key to building the startup and entrepreneur ecosystem of Cebu. Members have access to events, a business-centric office space, potential introductions to investors and mentors, an awesome internet connection provided by RISE, and access to a global network of other co-workers in the space. Plus, it prides in having resident entrepreneurs of differents sorts who are open to provide a hand to help members of the TIDE.
For Rates and Reservations: The TIDE
A SPACE
Crossroads, Banilad
A name that speaks more than what it implies, A SPACE is more than just space. Located in one of Cebu’s lifestyle districts, The Crossroads Banilad. This coworking space is every tech and artisan’s comfort corner.
A SPACE has various of coworking spaces around the nation. With interiors that speaks to your inner hipster — an industrial look incorporated with art and green design from inside and across. The design speaks to the audience that seems to attract the young, innovative, hip and cool types.
The coworking space has very flexible services from event needs to individual preferences. The A SPACE team (aka The A SPACE Tribe) is ready at your disposal to make your stay not just an A experience but an A+ experience. ;)
Check out the A SPACE website for more details
iioffice
Don Gil Garcia Street
Translating as “good office” in Japanese, iioffice in Cebu is found and managed by Japanese techpreneurs who fell in love and saw potential with the our city and thus created a space for us here.
iioffice reflects the cafe-like feel their Tokyo branch favors with yellow dim lighting and their use of hardwood as their most prominent attractions. Soft non-intrusive music is often heard playing over the workspace amplifying the chill ambiance iioffice would like it’s co-workers to experience.
The space can accommodate a maximum of 50 tenants. With facilities that include a kitchen, conference rooms, focus rooms, individual to group tables, impressively fast and reliable internet, and a couch set, iioffice gives you the ambience of working from the comfort of home.
Visit their Facebook page for inquiries: iioffice
In.dus.tri.Room
Beside SWU, Urgello
Chic and modern, it’s hard to distinguish if the place is a lounge or a cafe — it is actually both plus it functions more than that. in.dus.tri.Room or Industriroom caters to students and freelancers who need a place to work and pull off an all nighter as it is operates 24 hours a day.
It has wifi, self-service printers, individual booths, a conference room, and a lounge area for group studies, brainstorm sessions, freelance work, or perhaps just a place to get lost in your thoughts - even if it’s in the middle of the night.
Check out: industriroom.com
Page Cafe
Urgello, Cebu city
Although not exactly in the category of coworking space, we can’t help but drop by into this piece of quiet that is just a walking distance from our own office. While Page cafe may just be for quiet times and individual studying, it can also be a great place to ‘just think’ and bring out those papers and just collaborate with yourself. Because as much as we believe in the value of connection and collaboration, we also find value in the ideas and power that come from deep thinking, introspection, and distraction-free concentration.
visit: Page Study Cafe
Communication + Collaboration
“Building a startup community is not a zero-sum game in which there are winners and losers: if everyone engages, they and the entire community can all be winners. — Brad Feld”
Facebook was founded in a dorm room, Microsoft in a home garage, and Symph in any available convenient cafe. And just because your ideas look good only in your head don’t mean they should just stay there.
Now coworking spaces have risen to the needs. This leaves you with no excuse to get your ideas into paper and out in the real world — be it the next big start-up or a company that wishes to change the world. So just do it! :)
Note: These are just a few of the coworking spaces we can present. For a more detailed (and updated) list visit this link should you be in need of a working space if you happen to visit Cebu — or even if you’re living in it already!
