Coliving as a Stepping-stone for Aspiring Entrepreneurs in Valencia
Did you know coliving spaces can provide an ideal environment for new entrepreneurs to kick-start their businesses?
The combination of shared living with other entrepreneurs, access to resources, and networking opportunities can create the perfect setting for entrepreneurs to overcome some of the initial hurdles of starting a business.
Coliving spaces are also hubs for intergenerational and multicultural communities, which gives even more value and can serve as a tool to gather valuable insights, find your next peer mentor, and access learning opportunities while being surrounded by a network of individuals who understand the challenges of entrepreneurship.
If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur yourself, and you’re interested to learn how coliving can help you in your business endeavors, keep reading!
In this article, we will explore some of the ways that coliving spaces can be the stepping stone for new entrepreneurs to achieve success in Valencia's vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, but also in other contexts outside the city.
Easy to connect with other Professionals and Entrepreneurs
Probably the biggest value of coliving space for entrepreneurs is that they offer a unique opportunity to build a professional network that can be difficult to replicate elsewhere.
By providing a built-in community of like-minded individuals, coliving spaces make it easy to connect with people who share your professional views and goals.
Value 1: Easy and natural access to various industries
Unlike traditional networking events or conferences, where attendees may be separated by factors such as industry, roles, or experience, coliving spaces gather people based solely on their drive to connect with others and grow, and this often means a diverse pool of industries, functions, and interests.
Even though people are not connected around just one industry or interest, this environment offers a chance to learn beyond your typical reach and expand your network beyond your current connections.
Moreover, professionals and entrepreneurs who come to coliving are more open to adding you to their network and introducing you to their contacts because they are also interested in amplifying their connections.
In conferences or networking events, there is often a disproportion between aspiring and already successful entrepreneurs. Young entrepreneurs might try to impress their more experienced peers or quickly get some pro tips and industry secrets so they can maximize their time and money spent on the event. On the other hand, some more successful or experienced entrepreneurs are often event invitees and sometimes don’t have the time and interest to really connect with everybody. This disproportion can sometimes feel awkward: for young entrepreneurs, it might feel as if they are too pushy, and for seasoned entrepreneurs, it might feel superficial and tiring.
In a coliving space, there's a naturally set networking environment that makes it easy to form new connections without feeling pushy or rushed.
There is plenty of time to connect with others in a more natural way and there’s a more open way of communicating. Because everybody made their choice to come to a coliving because of its value, everybody is equal and can openly learn from each other, no matter the status or the point of their professional life.
Value 2: More time to connect and evaluate
As we already hinted in the subheading above, the second value coliving offers that other networking opportunities don’t is more time. Coliving not only gives you a few more meetings with another entrepreneur or professional, but a chance to live with them.
Sometimes, an event can be too overwhelming or too short to make that connection. By living with other entrepreneurs and professionals, you have a chance to build a more solid and natural relationship after you truly explore if you can benefit from each other.
Also, with everyone living in close proximity, it is easy to bounce ideas off one another and collaborate on projects. Creativity and inspiration can’t be just turned on and off for that one-time event or meeting. Sometimes, the best collaborations are made over what started as a casual glass of wine, and sometimes, it’s the walk along the beach over the weekend. And none other places give you that opportunity.
There is no other place that allows you to live and share a life with other entrepreneurs, which makes coliving a fertile environment for new ideas and connections to be born.
Value 3: In-house events and networking opportunities
Beyond the inherent benefits of living in a coliving space, colivings also often organize events and activities designed to facilitate networking and encourage professional growth.
These events can range from casual happy hours to more structured networking events, providing loads of opportunities to connect with other residents and build relationships.
Entrepreneurs often don’t bargain on opportunities to connect with other professionals and it’s not unusual for aspiring entrepreneurs to pay for just one night of learning and networking with like-minded individuals. In a coliving, events like these come as part of the experience, along with other benefits that help you make these connections and reevaluate your needs.
Coliving as a window to the city’s entrepreneurial scene
Besides building your professional network in-house, coliving provides a unique opportunity to dive into Valencia's thriving entrepreneurial scene.
By living with other like-minded individuals in a community-oriented environment, you can tap into a network of entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors outside the coliving who are eager to connect and collaborate.
With numerous co-working spaces, incubators, and government initiatives to support entrepreneurship, Valencia is an ideal city for startups and entrepreneurs, which you can all easily access through coliving and connections made there.
A city tailored to entrepreneurs
Valencia is a city that has made significant efforts to support entrepreneurship and innovation through tax incentives and other benefits to encourage entrepreneurship. This is part of the city's broader strategy to create a supportive environment for startups and small businesses.
The city government recognizes the important role that startups and entrepreneurs play in driving economic growth and job creation and has implemented policies to support their success.
For example, the city has launched various initiatives and programs aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, including the Valencia Activa program, which provides support and training to new entrepreneurs.
Startups in Valencia also have access to funding opportunities such as grants and loans from the Valencia Institute of Business Competitiveness, and the city's universities are actively involved in supporting entrepreneurship with programs like the EmprendeUV program at the University of Valencia, which provides training and support to student entrepreneurs.
Valencia is also known for its strong focus on sustainability and green innovation, with initiatives such as the Green Deal VLC program, which aims to promote sustainable development and green entrepreneurship in the city.
Lastly, to accompany initiatives and programs, Valencia offers a vibrant entrepreneurial culture that values collaboration and networking through events such as the Valencia Startup Week and the VLC Tech City networking group, and hubs such as coworking or coliving spaces.
Bridge to hubs and events for entrepreneurs
Living in a coliving space in Valencia can serve as a bridge to this wider entrepreneurial ecosystem in the city. Coliving spaces often serve as a base camp for entrepreneurs to explore events and take advantage of the opportunities available in Valencia's entrepreneurial scene.
By being surrounded by like-minded individuals, and especially living in a coliving that supports entrepreneurs, you will have insights into different professional events and organizations around the city, as well as access to valuable resources that can help you kickstart your business.
Finding the key to what has been holding you back
Lastly, coliving is a valuable hub for aspiring entrepreneurs even outside the context of a city with an entrepreneurial spirit like Valencia. Just on its own, coliving can be not only the stepping stone but a creative hub itself where ideas are born, executed, and driven to succeed.
For entrepreneurs who are just starting, living in a coliving space can provide valuable resources and support. Starting a business can be a daunting task, and entrepreneurs often struggle to find the right resources and guidance to navigate the various aspects of running a business. Living with other professionals from diverse backgrounds can provide valuable insight into different areas of expertise, such as marketing, development, business management, and more.
Seasoned entrepreneurs can share their experiences and provide guidance on topics such as pricing, services, and communicating with clients.
Coliving spaces also offer opportunities to learn about funding and investment options and provide tips and advice for starting entrepreneurs. Additionally, having a community of like-minded individuals to share struggles with can provide a much-needed sense of support and camaraderie.
So, knowing all of the above, do you think coliving can give you a nudge on your path to entrepreneurship? We think everybody will find the unique coliving environment beneficial, regardless of how green or seasoned they are.
Come and join us and see for yourself!
