Coworking has changed the way people work, collaborate, and connect. What started as a small movement has grown into a global force shaping the future of work. Whether you're new to coworking or have been part of the community for years, understanding its history gives insight into where it's headed next.
The Early Foundations: Community and Collaboration
While the idea of shared workspaces has existed for decades, the modern coworking movement traces its roots to 1995, when C-Base, a hackerspace in Berlin, created a collaborative environment for computer engineers. Around the same time, Bernard DeKoven, an American game designer, coined the term “coworking” in 1999 to describe collaborative work between individuals rather than a physical workspace.
However, the first true coworking space as we know it today was founded in 2005 by Brad Neuberg in San Francisco. His San Francisco Coworking Space was a response to the isolation of home offices and the rigid structure of traditional business centers. Organized as a non-profit co-op, it offered shared desks, free WiFi, group lunches, and even meditation breaks. Although the space closed after a year, it laid the foundation for a global movement.
That same year, St. Oberholz in Berlin became one of the first cafes to embrace remote work by offering free WiFi and a laptop-friendly environment. Over time, it evolved into a full-fledged coworking space, demonstrating how coworking could blend with hospitality and community-focused spaces. Today, St. Oberholz continues to thrive as a coworking space powered by Cobot.
The Rise of Global Coworking Networks
By 2009, dedicated spaces like betahaus Berlin were setting the standard for flexible workspaces in Europe. The first International Coworking Day was celebrated on August 9, 2010, and WeWork launched that same year, bringing large-scale coworking into the mainstream.
betahaus adopted Cobot in 2010 to automate its operations. By simplifying invoicing, meeting room bookings, and member management, Cobot helped them reduce administrative tasks and focus more on their community. It also helped them organize meeting rooms more effectively, especially during renovations and recurring events.
Meanwhile, Impact Hub emerged as one of the first global coworking networks, expanding from London to over 40 locations worldwide. This model allowed coworking brands to scale while maintaining a local focus. Today, several Impact Hub locations, including New York, Tokyo, and Tirol, use Cobot to manage their operations, highlighting how coworking spaces—both independent and part of larger networks—have embraced automation to streamline their daily workflows.
By 2013, coworking spaces were becoming increasingly specialized, catering to different industries, professionals, and even libraries repurposing their spaces. This trend reflected coworking’s ability to adapt to evolving work trends.
Coworking Enters the Mainstream
By 2015, coworking had exploded in popularity, with an estimated 7,800 spaces worldwide. The United States alone had over 331,000 people using coworking spaces, and the number of spaces grew by 55% in just five years.
By 2016, operators were focused on maximizing space efficiency, designing coworking spaces that could serve more members per square foot. The coworking market was maturing, with growth rates projected to slow from 41% in 2016 to 18% in 2020, reflecting a shift toward larger, more established coworking brands rather than a decline in demand.
By 2019, for the first time in history, women made up over 50% of coworking members globally, marking a shift in the demographic landscape of flexible workspaces.
Cobot: A Part of Coworking History
Coworking is deeply tied to the people who built it, and at Cobot, we were there from the beginning. We’ve even got notes from the first ever European Coworking Conference!
When we started Cobot in 2009, it was a tool for managing our own coworking space, co.up. By 2010, we began offering it to other spaces as a side project. Our early users saw its potential, and soon, Cobot became an essential part of coworking operations worldwide.
If you visited our website in 2010, you’d have seen our original pitch:
Publishing our plans and ideals can give our customers a certain level of trust. They know what we’re up to, that we’re not going to sell it in a few months’ time. Building trust is really important, especially with a small company like ours, and this is our offering to (start to) win that trust.
Fifteen years later, we’ve stayed true to that vision. We’re still here, helping coworking spaces manage their memberships, invoicing, and day-to-day operations—so they can focus on what matters most: building thriving communities.
Little surprise! To give you even more insight into coworking’s roots and how it has evolved, we spoke with pioneers from around the world about their experiences, the early days of coworking, and where they see the movement heading next.
If you’re curious about what those who’ve been shaping coworking for years think about its journey, check out our special series:
Coworking in the Pandemic Era
The COVID-19 pandemic was a turning point for coworking spaces, forcing them to adapt rapidly to new realities. Governments imposed strict social distancing measures, limiting physical interactions and restricting large gatherings—two fundamental aspects of coworking.
Some coworking spaces, like Hub Australia, responded by incorporating hybrid models, virtual events, and enhanced safety measures such as contactless check-ins and improved ventilation. Others, like MOB Barcelona, adjusted their spaces to comply with stringent health standards, ensuring safe and productive environments.
Through these changes, Cobot not only helped coworking spaces survive the pandemic but also positioned them to thrive in the new era of work. Our commitment to innovation and adaptability ensured that we remained a trusted partner for coworking operators worldwide.
Cobot’s Response to the Crisis
When the pandemic disrupted coworking, we didn’t just watch—we acted. As coworking spaces navigated these changes, we refined Cobot to meet the evolving needs of flexible work. We introduced:
- Membership pauses – So members could keep their plans without financial strain.
- Flexible billing options – To help spaces adjust payment structures based on changing business needs.
- Automated access control – For touchless entry and improved security.
We also listened to coworking leaders who were adapting in real time. In our two-part interview series, experts like Lavinia Iosub (Livit, Bali), Teresa Mayo (The Amp, Vancouver), and Rafael Valek (Sinergia, Montevideo) shared their strategies for supporting members, managing spaces, and redefining coworking.
💬 Hear their stories:
👉 Coworking Stories: Responding to the Coronavirus (Part 1)
👉 Coworking Stories: Responding to the Coronavirus (Part 2)
Supporting Coworking Spaces Through Uncertainty with Continued Empowerment
Furthermore, we worked closely with coworking communities worldwide, providing best practices for handling distancing rules, tools to monitor vaccination status, and strategies to keep members engaged.
We launched External Bookings to rent out resources effortlessly and further enhanced team management tools to support hybrid and corporate memberships, ensuring operators provide sustainable, member-focused solutions post-pandemic. Plus, we shared insights from coworking spaces that successfully navigated the pandemic:
📚 Resources and Advice for Coworking Spaces, provided by us:
- Reopening Your Space Post-COVID: Resources and Advice
- This guide provided actionable strategies for safe reopening, such as converting meeting rooms into fixed desks and implementing rigorous cleaning protocols.
- Keeping Your Community Connected During COVID-19
- With in-person interactions limited, this resource offered creative ways to foster community engagement through virtual events, online networking, and digital collaboration tools. Spaces reported increased member retention and satisfaction as a result.
- Keep Your Members Informed During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- We introduced tools like the Coronavirus Status for real-time updates, the Help Desk for sharing safety protocols and resources, and Custom Fields to track member needs (e.g., remote work tools or childcare). These features ensured members felt informed and supported during uncertain times.
- Running a Coworking Space During COVID-19: A Case Study from Málaga
- This case study shared actionable insights from The Living Room Coworking in Málaga, which successfully adapted to pandemic challenges. They reduced fixed costs by 70%, organized online events, and implemented a voluntary contribution system to cover expenses. Their community responded by covering 110% of fixed costs for April.
Coworking’s Immediate Evolution After the Pandemic
The pandemic accelerated trends that were already shaping the future of coworking. Corporate coworking, or “corpoworking,” grew as companies moved away from traditional office leases, opting instead to give employees access to flexible workspaces. This shift expanded coworking’s audience beyond freelancers and startups, welcoming remote teams and larger businesses.
As the demand for hybrid work models surged, coworking spaces needed to offer more adaptable memberships, flexible bookings, and automated access control. Of course, we evolved right alongside them! We, further, introduced drop-in passes for occasional users and event ticketing to diversify revenue streams.
Our goal has always been to help coworking spaces expand their revenue streams while reducing administrative work. Whether it's managing memberships, automating billing, or improving accessibility, we continue to refine Cobot to meet the evolving needs of coworking operators.
Cobot grows alongside the industry, providing the technology operators need to thrive in an ever-changing workspace landscape.
Coworking Today: A Shifting Landscape
On the picture: Thilo Utke (Co-founder of Cobot), Pauline Roussel (Co-founder of Coworkies), and Danger at Coworking Europe 2024.
Coworking continues to evolve to meet the needs of an increasingly remote, flexible workforce. The pandemic accelerated hybrid work, leading coworking spaces to offer suburban locations, corporate coworking partnerships, and wellness-focused amenities.
Between 2013 and 2018, coworking grew by nearly 30%, and projections suggest that the number of coworking spaces worldwide could double by 2025.
Some of today’s key trends include:
- Hybrid coworking-coliving spaces, blending lifestyle and work.
- Industry-specific coworking, catering to specialized fields like tech, music, and design.
- AI-driven workspace management, optimizing space usage and member experiences.
- Sustainability initiatives, with more coworking spaces aiming for eco-friendly designs.
- Hospitality-driven coworking, incorporating premium amenities and curated experiences.
Coworking is no longer just an alternative to traditional offices—it is shaping the future of work.
Infographic: The Growth of Coworking Spaces (2005–2025)
Digesting all of this information might not be easy. That’s why we’ve created an easy-to-follow infographic to visualize the growth of coworking over the past two decades.
From its humble beginnings in 2005 to the projected 30,000+ spaces by 2025, this infographic highlights key milestones, trends, and the exciting evolution of coworking.
Ready to see the big picture?
The Role of Industry Associations in Coworking’s Growth
Throughout coworking’s history, industry associations have played a crucial role in connecting operators, shaping policies, and fostering collaboration.
GCUC (Global Coworking Unconference Conference) has been at the heart of coworking discussions since 2009. Founded by Liz Elam, GCUC has hosted over 44 conferences worldwide, bringing together over 20,000 people and driving conversations that shape the coworking industry.
The German Coworking Federation (GCF), established in 2015, has been instrumental in strengthening coworking in Germany. It organizes #COWORK2025, an event dedicated to fostering collaboration within the coworking scene. Cobot is proud to be a longstanding sponsor and supporter of GCF’s initiatives.
Coworking Canada, founded in 2012, provides programming, resources, and support for coworking operators across Canada, ensuring that the industry continues to grow sustainably.
These organizations, along with many others, continue to define the coworking movement, ensuring its values remain at the core of its growth.
Unlock Your Coworking Potential
Stay connected with the latest insights, stories, and trends shaping the coworking world. Explore our blog, check out our resources, and be part of the conversation on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Ready to take your coworking space to the next level? Book a quick call with our friendly team to see how Cobot can help you grow!
FAQ on the History and Evolution of Coworking
When did modern coworking begin?
The first true coworking space was founded in 2005 by Brad Neuberg in San Francisco. Organized as a non-profit co-op, it offered shared desks, WiFi, group lunches, and meditation breaks, setting the foundation for the global coworking movement.
How did coworking expand globally?
By 2009, spaces like betahaus Berlin set the standard in Europe, and by 2010, International Coworking Day and WeWork’s launch brought coworking into the mainstream. Networks like Impact Hub scaled globally while maintaining local focus. By 2015, coworking had exploded to thousands of spaces worldwide.
What role has Cobot played in coworking history?
Cobot began in 2009 as a tool to manage the co.up coworking space in Berlin. By 2010, it was adopted by spaces like betahaus to automate invoicing, bookings, and member management. Since then, Cobot has supported independent and networked coworking spaces worldwide, helping operators streamline operations and focus on community.
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect coworking spaces?
The pandemic forced coworking spaces to adapt quickly with hybrid models, virtual events, and stricter safety measures. Cobot supported operators by adding features like membership pauses, flexible billing, and automated access control, helping spaces remain resilient and member-focused.
What are the current trends shaping coworking?
Key trends include hybrid coworking-coliving, industry-specific spaces, AI-driven workspace management, sustainability initiatives, and hospitality-driven coworking. These reflect coworking’s shift from an office alternative to a driving force in the future of work.
What future developments are expected in coworking?
Future developments include more AI-powered tools to optimize space usage, increased focus on eco-friendly design, new coworking-coliving models, and corporate coworking partnerships. These innovations will continue shaping coworking as a central part of the global future of work.