This document discusses coworking in Belgium. It begins with an introduction of Ramon Suarez, the founder of Betacowork Coworking Brussels. It then defines what coworking is and what it is not. Coworking involves dedicated space for community members to work collaboratively, with a facilitator to build connections. The document discusses whether coworking can be profitable and outlines the typical coworking business model. It provides a timeline of coworking spaces in Belgium and links to a map of current spaces. The document closes with contact information for questions.

1. @ramonsuarez #Bobca
State of
Coworking in
Belgium
BOBCA 2014

2. @ramonsuarez #Bobca
Index
1. Who is Ramon Suarez?
2. What is coworking?
3. Can coworking make money?
4. The coworking business model
5. The pioneer: The Hub Brussels
6. Timeline of current coworking spaces in Belgium
7. Coworking Belgium map
8. Q&A

3. @ramonsuarez #Bobca
Who is Ramon Suarez?
● Founder of
Betacowork
Coworking Brussels
● Author The Coworking
Handbook
● Board Member Startup
Europe Coworking
Assembly

4. What is NOT coworking?
● An open space
● Flexy desk / hot desk space
● Cafeteria
● Library
● Most business centers
@ramonsuarez #Bobca

5. @ramonsuarez #Bobca
What is coworking? (WIP)
● Calls itself a coworking space.
● Has a fully dedicated space for coworking (not just a few hours or a cafeteria
shared with patrons).
● Has an active community of members, not just clients.
● Has a facilitator dedicated to connect the members and build trust among
them, engaging in activities to build the coworking community.
● Treats coworkers as 1st class clients.
● Promotes and encourages collaboration, interaction and serendipity.
● Offers one or many kinds of membership (full or part time)
● Open decision-making: sets explicit, transparent, public limits on who can be a
member and how they can participate; does not have implicit or hidden rules or
processes for determining or excluding potential members.
Participate in the conversation: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/coworking/Tvf2gg-WZ5w

6. Can coworking make money?
@ramonsuarez #Bobca

7. Can coworking make money?
@ramonsuarez #Bobca

8. The Coworking Business Model
http://coworkinghandbook.com/coworking-business-model-canvas/
@ramonsuarez #Bobca

9. The pioneer: The Hub Brussels
● 08/07/2008 to 17/12/2012 (source data.be)
● Why it closed: Bankruptcy
● Read this article by Anis Bedda:
http://anisb.wordpress.com/2013/01/11/why-the-hub-
@ramonsuarez #Bobca
brussels-is-no-more)

10. Timeline of Current Coworking
Spaces in Belgium
@ramonsuarez #Bobca

11. @ramonsuarez #Bobca
Coworking Belgium Map
http://coworkingbelgium.be/belgium-coworking-spaces-map

12. @ramonsuarez #Bobca
Q&A
Time for your
challenging
questions!
Contact:
@ramonsuarez
ramon@betacowork.c
om
027376769
linkedin.com/in/ramon
suarez