The term "growth hacker" was first used in 2010 by Sean Ellis to describe a professional whose main objective is to make a given product or service grow. Andrew Chen popularised the term in his article Growth Hacker is the new VP Marketing, where he explains the case of Airbnb. For Chen, a growth hacker is a hybrid of a marketing professional and a programmer. In 2013, Sean Ellis created the GrowthHackers community where members share knowledge, techniques and experience.
Examples of growth hacking are usually related to startups that experience exponential growth, obtaining millions of users, such as the cases of Facebook, Airbnb, Snapchat, Pinterest and Instagram. Although there may be big differences between their models, many of their techniques can be applied to the growth of any business and can help answer the question "how do I get consumers for my product?"
It's all about being creative, looking for new techniques, trying again and improving processes, while keeping costs down.
A household name in the global coworking industry, Liz Elam, is the founder of one of the world’s best coworking event series: GCUC. Liz’s coworking roots began in 2010, when she established Link Coworking – a welcoming, affordable, and professional coworking space – in her hometown of Austin, Texas. Link Coworking achieved incredible success, expanding across three locations and becoming the fourth-largest coworking brand in Austin. It was sold in 2019, making Liz the first woman globally to exit a coworking brand.
Gathering online for the Coworking Alliance Summit last week, members of global coworking alliances, coworking spaces, and community leaders came together to navigate global issues, strengthen ties across the coworking industry, and work collectively towards future goals.
Some people like working against a background of noise, while for others it’s their worst work nightmare. The truth is, our relationship with noise depends on our own preferences and the nature of our work.
Now that 2025 has arrived, the European Union's VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) initiative is becoming a key topic for coworking spaces operating in the EU. But don’t panic—ViDA will be introduced gradually, with key changes taking effect from 2028. This major VAT reform aims to modernize tax reporting, combat fraud, and streamline compliance through mandatory e-invoicing and real-time digital VAT reporting for certain transactions.
London’s Workspace Design Show is undoubtedly one of the best coworking events of 2025. For one, the exhibition (held at Islington’s Business Design Centre) features a host of innovative and creative workspace design solutions tailored to the needs of modern workplaces.
After more than twelve years in the coworking industry, we’ve seen the movement evolve at an incredible pace, especially in recent years. Spaces have grown larger, making it harder for operators to truly connect with their communities. At the same time, expectations for higher service standards and increasing competition mean that creating tailored experiences and fostering long-term member engagement is more important than ever.
There has always been a need for workplace management – the process of organising and optimising physical spaces, resources, and operations to support people’s needs. But, as 28% of UK working adults were reported to work in a hybrid capacity last autumn (by the Office for National Statistics), the question of ‘why workplace management matters’ is more critical than ever. Let’s look at the workplace management benefits for your operations.
Coworking is synonymous with creativity, collaboration and productivity. Businesses and freelancers love coworking spaces because (by surrounding themselves with fellow workers) they’re more likely to achieve their goals. The coworking environment, while social, is set up to facilitate focused, distraction-free working.
Managing coworking spaces is an all-encompassing role, often leaving operators, owners, and community managers with little time to focus on personal growth or draw inspiration from others.
Vibrant, contemporary workspaces create an undeniable ‘wow’ factor. Textured designs and ambient lighting make spaces feel warm and cosy, while natural elements and biophilic design features have literal mood-boosting properties.