The History of Coworking in San Francisco

Coworking has become ubiquitous in today's work culture, but its history dates back to the early 2000s. As with plenty of other startup industries, San Francisco has played an integral role in the evolution of coworking spaces, with some of the first and most notable ventures starting in the city. Here, we'll explore the history of coworking in San Francisco, from its humble beginnings to its current status as a pillar of working culture.

The Origins of Coworking

In the early 2000s, Brad Neuberg, a software engineer, was struggling with isolation while working as a freelancer in San Francisco. He was working from home, in cafés and libraries, but found that he missed the sense of community that came from working in a traditional office. In 2005, he came up with the idea of "coworking," a space where people could work together in a shared environment, combining the benefits of working for yourself with the community and structure of an office.

The first official coworking space, humbly named San Francisco Coworking Space, was opened in the city in 2005 by Neuberg himself. It was a simple offering nestled within Spiral Muse, a feminist collective and multi-use building. San Francisco Coworking Space didn’t possess many frills or amenities, but it served as a gathering place for freelancers and independent workers. The business quickly gained popularity, and Neuberg began to see the potential for coworking to become a new way of working. After just a year, he was able to relocate to the Hat Factory, which became the first full-time coworking facility in the world.

The Coworking Goldrush

After the success of Hat Factory, other coworking spaces began to pop up in San Francisco. One of the most notable early players was Citizen Space, which opened its doors in 2006. Founded by Chris Messina and Tara Hunt, Citizen Space was designed for tech workers and entrepreneurs to collaborate and share ideas. It quickly became a hub for the San Francisco tech community, hosting events, meetups, and hackathons.

Another early San Francisco coworking startup, Sandbox Suites, opened in 2007. Founded by Roman Gelfer and Sasha Vasilyuk, Sandbox Suites was designed as a more upscale coworking experience, with amenities like private offices, conference rooms, and a lounge area. It quickly gained popularity among freelancers and entrepreneurs who wanted a more professional and polished-appearing environment.

Coworking Booms in San Francisco

In the 2010s, coworking continued to gain momentum in San Francisco, with new spaces popping up all over the city. Many of these spaces catered to specific industries or communities, such as tech startups or artists. Some of the most popular coworking spaces in the city during this time included NextSpace and The Hatchery. These spaces offered a range of amenities and services, from private offices to shared workspaces, and helped to foster a sense of community among San Francisco's diverse workforce. The growth of coworking during this time reflected a larger trend towards flexible work arrangements and a desire for more collaborative, creative work environments.

WeWork, perhaps the most well-known coworking brand, also got its start in the 2010s and quickly grew to become the largest coworking company in the world. WeWork's overall success paved the way for other companies, like Bespoke and Canopy, to enter the coworking market in San Francisco. 

Soon, the first coworking businesses specifically designed for women opened in San Francisco. One of the first, The Hivery, opened in 2014. Founded by Grace Kraaijvanger, The Hivery was created to provide an welcoming and inclusive space for women to work and collaborate.

Coworking Today

Today, coworking has become a popular and widely accepted way of working. In San Francisco, coworking spaces can be found in almost every neighborhood, catering to a variety of different industries and types of workers. Coworking spaces exist for creatives, entrepreneurs, women, tech workers, and more.

Coworking has also evolved to include new types of spaces and models. For example, shared workspaces now cater specifically to remote workers, offering amenities like high-speed internet, video conferencing, and virtual mail services. Coworking spaces today also focus on sustainability, offering green energy, eco-friendly materials, and recycling programs.

One of the greatest advantages of coworking is the sense of community and collaboration that it fosters. Coworking spaces allow workers to meet and network with like-minded individuals, share ideas and expertise, and collaborate on projects. Many of them also offer events and workshops, providing further opportunities for professional development and community-building.

Coworking has also become popular for companies looking to provide flexible work arrangements for their employees. Coworking spaces can offer a more affordable and flexible alternative to traditional office space, allowing companies to save money on rent and overhead costs. They also provide a way for companies to offer their employees a wider range of work environments, catering to different work styles and preferences.

In recent years, coworking has faced some challenges, including increased competition and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic forced many coworking spaces to close temporarily, and some have struggled to recover as workers continue to work from home. However, coworking providers have also adapted to the pandemic, offering new services like remote coworking and virtual memberships to cater to workers who are working from home. 

A newcomer, Trellis opened its doors shortly after San Francisco’s “safer-at-home” measures were lifted, taking special precautions to provide adequate social distancing, ventilation, contact tracing, and vaccination requirements. It was this company’s ability to quickly adapt to the “new normal” that led up to its current position as one San Francisco’s most sought-after coworking outfits. 

Despite some challenges, coworking continues to be a popular and growing trend in San Francisco and around the world. The rise of coworking has fundamentally changed the way we work, providing new opportunities for collaboration, community building, and flexible work arrangements.

Coworking on the Horizon

San Francisco has played a significant role in the history of coworking, from the first coworking spaces to the introduction of global coworking brands like WeWork. Coworking has provided a new way of working, one that emphasizes community, collaboration, and flexibility. Coworking has also transformed how we think about office space, making it more accessible and affordable for small businesses and entrepreneurs. As coworking continues to evolve and grow, it will be exciting to see how it continues to shape the future of work in San Francisco and beyond.

If you want to learn more about the newest and friendliest coworking space in San Francisco, book a tour at Trellis today!