Office Space Coworking

The coworking movement is growing, and technology is right behind it. Apps designed specifically for coworkers are popping up and they might be just what the doctor ordered for these highly mobile professionals. Below is a list of eight free apps for iPhone and Android designed to support the coworking movement:

For Android:

Coworking

The App Hoshies says, “‘Coworking App’ is a social location-based app that is all about finding and sharing coworking locations. Create new locations, find other coworkers and follow where they are currently working. The app comes with hundreds of worldwide locations.”

For iPod:

Coworking

PariSoma says “An easy to use and light weight app to help freelancers and individuals looking for a place to Cowork.”

Coffee and Power

Coffee and Power Inc. says “Coffee & Power is the mobile app for work. Use it to find people with specific skills to work with when traveling or coworking. Use it to create a public record of your work achievements and to recognize your colleagues for theirs…Coffee & Power is invite-based and keeps a visible record of who has sponsored each member, creating a strong, accountable community of coworkers.”

Open Desks

Open Desks, Inc. says “OpenDesks’ mobile app quickly connects you with coworking spaces, shared workspaces, executive office suites, equipped business centers, and more. Find places around you instantly…Choose the right space for you…Meet with clients and coworkers easily…Work right now.”

Co-Working Manual

Xindanwei says “Introduced by Xindanwei, the pioneer of coworking movement in China, discussing the necessity and advantages of coworking communities, Xindanwei business model, key points of building the space, experience in business planning, community management and brand management. The purpose of launching this manual is to share experience and models, thus to promote the “coworking community” working model and change the way people work.”

For Both:

Coworkify

Coworkify says “Coworkify is desk reservation service and job marketplace for coworking spaces. To users, Coworkify lets you find nearby coworking spaces and also lets you sell and buy small tasks directly from each other. To space owners, Coworkify is online desk reservation tool that collects payment from people for open desks, conference rooms and any space.”

LiquidSpace

LiquidSpace, Inc. says “Choose where, when, and how to work anywhere in the US, anytime with LiquidSpace 2.0! Find and book great workspace immediately with hundreds of venues across the US sharing real-time calendars…Got spare to share? Use LiquidSpace.com to easily list your available space. Make it public and share with the world or keep it private for use by your friends, collaborators, clients.”

Neo-Nomade

Neo-Nomade says “Tired of looking for a place to work? Neo-Nomade helps you connect with great workspaces (website & mobile app). Wifi Cafés, flexible office space, coworking, meeting rooms…”

In addition to the many amenities and attractions the area offers, Akron/Canton has a thriving network of people and companies willing to help and support local entrepreneurs and business start-ups.

The University of Akron is one of the biggest proponents of local entrepreneurs. The University of Akron’s Research Foundation (UARF) undergoes cutting edge research and invests time and money to build, attract, and retain high tech companies locally, including sponsoring technological research. The Akron Regional Change Angels (ARCHAngels) helps to present technologies and ideas from local start-up companies to investors and business professionals who can help to fund those ideas and take them to the next level. The Student Venture Fund at the University of Akron conducts due diligence of early stage companies, provides some micro funding, and helps connect those companies to additional funding resources. The College of Business Administration also works closely with area businesses to place interns and create a stronger entrepreneurial network between the University of Akron and local businesses.

Akron/Canton is also home to SCORE Chapter #81. SCORE is a non-profit whose mission is to provide assistance with starting a small business or making a small business more profitable. They offer free counseling, mentoring, workshops, and seminars provided by a group of successful local business professionals. They also offer the Entrepreneurs’ Idea Exchange where people at all stages of their business can meet to get feedback on business practices and ideas.

There is help for the environmentally focused, as well. Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (E4S) recently relaunched its Akron network. E4S offers networking opportunities and learning programs to support sustainability across businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. The Northeast Ohio Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) also recently launched an Akron-Canton Extension. The USGBC is a non-profit that hopes to make sustainable buildings available to everyone within the next generation. The Akron-Canton Extension is meant to advance the green building agenda in the region through education, consultation and cooperation. They hope to work with local government and businesses to promote sustainable practices in the region.

There are many reasons why there has been a recent influx of young professionals and entrepreneurs to the greater Akron and Canton area and why that trend will probably continue. Akron/Canton offers a number of benefits and opportunities that prove appealing to businesses and the business-minded.

The Akron/Canton area offers easy access to popular transportation routes. Akron/Canton is less than an hour from Cleveland, and less than three hours from Columbus and Pittsburgh. The Akron-Canton Airport also offers local access to flights around the country.

The cost of living in the Akron/Canton area remains much lower than in many cities across the country. In addition, there are many good school districts throughout the area. Akron/Canton continues to be a community-minded place and support for charities and non-profits has continued even through the economic downturn.

Akron/Canton has a thriving athletic atmosphere thanks to the proximity of numerous professional sports teams. The Akron Aeros play right in downtown Akron, and a short drive can take you to see all of Cleveland’s professional sports teams—the Browns, the Indians, the Cavaliers, and the Lake Erie Monsters. The Akron/Canton area also offers great access to parks and recreation opportunities for the athletically inclined.

Akron/Canton offers a wide array of shopping and dining. Numerous malls and a variety of restaurants provide something for all different interests, tastes, and price points.

Akron/Canton is home to Akron Children’s Hospital, the largest pediatric care center in northeast Ohio. Akron Children’s Hospital is gaining increased national recognition for its pediatric specialties, ranking in the top 50 hospitals in 8 out of 10 categories.

Akron/Canton is also home to the University of Akron, the public research university for northern Ohio. The University of Akron is involved in numerous programs to enrich entrepreneurship in the Akron/Canton area and educates thousands of young professionals looking to join Akron/Canton’s workforce.

Opportunities and attractions in the Akron/Canton area are already abundant, and they will continue to grow as more and more entrepreneurs take advantage of them.

As the economy continues to struggle and jobs remain elusive, the traditional career path is becoming increasingly obsolete. Even qualified college graduates and highly experienced professionals are struggling to find meaningful and fulfilling employment. Many must turn to freelancing or business start-ups as a solution.

For today’s young adult, this is the reality of making a living, so much so that in North Carolina, the increasing self-employment movement is being referred to as Generation Z’s “My own thing” economy. North Carolina is making a push to help this movement thrive in the hopes that it will boost the sagging economy, and they are not alone. Many people see emerging entrepreneurs not just as the key to reviving our economy, but as the future face of the American workforce. Already, nearly 20% of American workers are paid on a contract basis and do not hold a traditional job.

Still, the path of self-employment is not an easy one. Young entrepreneurs need networking and collaboration opportunities, mentoring, and access to resources and cost-efficient necessities. Perhaps it is unsurprising, then, that the coworking movement is growing at a pace with the “My own thing” economy. Coworking offers many of the things that will help young entrepreneurs to be successful. By giving them cost-efficient access to work spaces, office supplies, and office machinery that they would not otherwise be able to afford, coworking sites help young businesses to present a more professional and trustworthy face and to run in a more professional and efficient manner.

Coworking sites also give entrepreneurs access to networking and collaboration opportunities. They can meet other entrepreneurs that might be able to complement their current skill sets and services. They might also meet entrepreneurs working in their field that can give them pointers on starting and growing a business. Because coworking is based on a community-oriented and cooperative attitude, most people participating in such sites are more than willing to collaborate. This mutual cooperation helps small businesses and start-ups to grow much more quickly and easily than they have been able to previously.