Coworking Spaces in New Delhi

New Delhi

Whether you are setting up a business of your own or starting up on a freelance assignment, your nature of work involves a considerable amount of risk-taking and money crunch. In this event, not only do you have to step cautiously, but you also want to invest your resources wisely. Coworking spaces are a great idea for those who are about to embark on an entrepreneurial journey as well as those at the core of the gig economy. The gig economy comprises of people who work independently as freelancers or on a contractual basis.

As the culture of the gig economy settled in, India’s progress towards coworking spaces catalysed. In fact, many reputed and established businesses today started within the four walls of shared offices. Coworking spaces have proven to be the ideal starting point for entrepreneurs and an affordable, tangible option for freelancers.

The concept of coworking spaces in India was first introduced in the capital city of Delhi. Since then, the shared office space culture has come a long way, with Delhi serving as the abode to some of the established coworking spaces in the country.

Spread across the length and breadth of the city, coworking spaces are located in areas such as Connaught Place, Janakpuri, Mayur Vihar, Okhla, Defence Colony, MG Road, Gurugram and many others. Given the smooth functioning of metro railways in the Delhi NCR region, the coworking spaces are easy to commute to and offer a comfortable working environment.

What is the work culture in Delhi?

Being the capital city of India, Delhi has attracted businessmen and high-end organisations from all over the world. This has urged talented and skilled professionals across geographical boundaries to move to the city and progress their career. Delhi serves as the headquarters to several reputed corporations, establishing a professional and high-pressure work culture. This can also be attributed to the fact that various contemporaries are constantly trying to build a strong foundation in Delhi’s job market, competing at the top of the monopoly. 

When organisations had just started appearing on the business map of Delhi, the work culture was similar across the country. Cultural aspects ruled the daily functioning of firms throughout India, however, that was until globalisation came into the picture. As soon as organisations started chartering international waters, the work culture shifted to a more professional tone, promoting Delhi as an ideal location for multinationals to start their endeavour in India.

What is the approach of Delhi towards coworking spaces?

Delhi has enjoyed the position of a superpower in the country, thanks to the fact that it is the capital of India. In fact, it is a hotspot for entrepreneurial minds who want to experiment with, plan and establish start-ups. The employment scene is similar across all the major Indian cities, with more job seekers than jobs available. To nip the problem in the bud, the gig economy, with its global reach and opening access to remote jobs, has come to the rescue of those with skills but not enough opportunities.

Many young graduates and professionals move to Delhi with the hopes of acquiring a job with one of the high-end organisations. It is natural for a part of that crowd to resort to contractual work to get their career started. This is where the need for coworking spaces comes into the picture. Delhi warmed up to the concept of shared spaces quicker than the other Indian cities and many spaces mushroomed in east Delhi, West Delhi and South Delhi.

Why are coworking spaces right for you?

In India, the wave of coworking spaces has hit home, so much so that big corporations have also failed to come under its influence. Today, multinational companies, freelancers as well as entrepreneurs are choosing shared office spaces to encourage working in an open-space, collaborative environment.

If you are wondering whether coworking spaces are the right way ahead for you, here are a few reasons that can help you reaffirm your decision!

• Vast range of amenities: While the idea of a free-flowing coffee supply might be enough to jump at the opportunity of working in a shared office space for some, that’s not all that a coworking space has to offer. Starting from concierge services to free parking space and gaming zones to cafeteria, a shared office space allows you to work in a relaxed environment, with everything less than 100 steps away.
   
• Centrally located: Coworking spaces today are spread across different locations in a city, allowing you to choose a centre that works best for you and your clients. If your clients do not need to see you at your office, you can also choose a centre that is in close proximity to your house.
   
• Enhanced productivity: Working in an open-space environment can work wonders to boost your productivity. You will have the opportunity to use others’ determination and vision at work as inspiration. Furthermore, it is a great platform for brainstorming and bouncing ideas of like-minded professionals. On the other hand, if you plan to use a coworking space as an office suite, it will encourage transparency among team members, resulting in improved productivity.
   
• Pocket-friendly: Renting an entire office space can give a hefty blow to your pocket. Shared office spaces provide you with exceptional services and cost-effective plans that allow you to put your financial resources in better use. Additionally, it allows you to save capital that can be used to expand the team and be invested back into the company.

Best coworking spaces in Delhi

Committing to a long term lease policy can be a daunting affair, especially if you have just begun on the journey of establishing a start-up. In the initial stages, you would want to invest your finances on acquiring clients, employees and setting up a sturdy business model. Acting as a saviour to many entrepreneurial geniuses by providing them with a creative space to tickle their grey cells, coworking spaces have established a strong foothold in the Indian market. Since Delhi was the torchbearer for introducing India to this concept, the city has various state-of-the-art shared offices that offer a long list of amenities. Here’s our pick for some of the best and pocket-friendly coworking spaces in Delhi!

• 91Springboard

The initiators of the coworking wave in India, 91Springboard has long been the benchmark-setter for shared office spaces across the country. Set up in four locations across Delhi, namely, Jhandewalan, Okhla Phase II, Nehru Place and Mohan Estate, the services offered range from Rs. 490 to Rs. 15000, depending on the product you choose. 91Springboard centres are known for their comfortable work setting, high-quality infrastructure and cost-effectiveness. The different products offered by this shared office provider include private office, private 2-seater, open dedicated and flexi office, night and weekend office, part-time office as well as the provision of a day pass. 91Springboard offers a long list of amenities such as high-speed Internet services, pay-per-use plans, gaming zones, access across all the centres in India as well as tech-enabled meeting rooms.

• Social Offline

What started as a quirky hangout place for the young crowd has taken their success quotient a notch higher by stepping into the coworking business. Social Offline is a coworking space that promotes the perfect blend of a work setting and a café. With five centres across Delhi to its credit, this shared office space provider has proven to be a game-changer. The idea of Social Offline originated from the intent of creating a collaborative workspace that would benefit innovators and creative minds alike. The centres are located in prime locations such as Nehru Place, Cyber Hub Gurugram, Connaught Place, Hauz Khas and Vasant Kunj, and each centre is designed eccentrically to give it a unique vibe. Social Offline has put the “work and play together” phenomena into practice and excelled at it. If you are a professional who works best in a relaxed environment, Social Offline can be the ideal option for you. Furthermore, it can be a learning curve for those struggling to achieve a work-life balance. While there are no publicly available pricing plans for Social Offline, the shared office provider is always welcome to queries!

• ABL Workspaces

ABL workspaces entered the coworking scene in 2017 with a 5-member team and the first shared office space in Green Park. Two years and 80 employees later, this establishment has 11 centres across Delhi NCR. ABL Workspaces provide various products at their centres, including hot desks, private offices, dedicated desks and workspaces, office suites as well as the ABL Loop feature that allows you to use prepaid credits for different products. The shared office spaces offered by ABL are designed to accommodate the facilities required for a comfortable and professional work environment. Whether you are a team of creative innovators or an individual professional, it has something for everyone. The pricing options are not exclusively available for this coworking space provider. However, you can contact them with your preferences and get a quote in no time.

• One Co.work

The recipe for an ideal coworking space includes a space that promoted traditional work ethics while at the same time exhibiting a dynamic work culture. This has been the foundational point of One Co.work and the establishment has maintained its authenticity till date. With centres located in areas such as Netaji Subhash Place, Connaught Place and Gurugram, this shared office space is bringing in breakthrough changes in the coworking industry. The products offered at On Co.work include hot desks, dedicated desks, private cabin, one-membership plan, virtual offices, customised offices, meeting rooms as well as training sessions. The products are priced between Rs. 399 to Rs. 15,000, depending on the product you want to choose and the location of the establishment. One Co.work has created a comfortable work setting with facilities such as cafeteria, community manager, a space to host events, office stationery, seamless WiFi connection and sleeping pods, while at the same time providing a platform for potential networking opportunities.