You don’t expect startups to enter public awareness in their first year of operation. It’s just how it goes. Realistically, you’re looking at a much longer timeline. So, when you see a business that’s getting ready for expansion just six months after opening, you stand and take note. It’s what I did.
March’s entrepreneur feature is about Acceler8, a new hybrid workspace in Salcedo Village, Makati that puts a lot more emphasis on coworking. Certainly not a newcomer to the industry, Acceler8 opened its doors on August 2015. Despite operating for just six months, Acceler8 has already managed to maintain an expanding customer base and is already planning to increase its capacity with more space. You have to wonder whether space is just what they’re selling.
Acceler8 was founded by four partners: Mikko Barranda, Carlo Coronel, Bryant Cuizon, and Albert Goh. Prior to the coworking space, the team had no real reason that glued them together. They all came from different industries. Their specializations were in real estate (Barranda), storage (Coronel), contracting (Cuizon), and virtual office solutions (Goh). Their idea was simple: use their talents to bring an organic coworking space to the Philippines.
Location, location, location
“You wouldn’t really say hi to someone in an elevator even if you see them all the time, but here [in Acceler8], these people have become my friends,” said Mikko Barranda, co-founder of Acceler8. He lives in a condominium near Acceler8. “One thing that surprised me is that four of five tenants here are residents of the same building I live in. I never got the chance to have a conversation with them [until now]. It really is possible that people here want more than the space itself.”
To understand Acceler8, you have to understand its location: Salcedo Village. First of all, there is no better location for a co-working space than Makati. Busy bees working on every square foot on every floor of every building can get claustrophobic. Makati is a hive of activity where private space is a precious commodity. Coworking spaces offer that much needed space along with a little extra.
Secondly, “Salcedo Village, in itself, is a community to begin with. The spot was attractive because it complements with the existing culture,” Barranda added, “It wasn’t difficult to entice people with the idea.”
Relationships take center stage
“I’m a firm believer of relationship building. It may not be obvious at first, but every relationship you make will have value in the future. I’m a firm believer in networking events. They’ve opened so much doors for me professionally or just personally. Seeing the same thing here where two strangers can enjoy each other’s company or build something from scratch is fulfilling for me,” he said.
As for the coworking scene, they see a trend they believe will continue into the future. They see a lot more spaces coming in. Each coworking space will have their own culture depending on which their tenants will prefer. Some might cater to the arts, while some might cater to business-minded individuals.
Before establishing their own, Barranda and his team visited several spaces to research. “What we felt was missing was community building or connecting,” he commented. Some sites are just for space. They predicted that people should get more value from their space through collaboration and networking.
“We want people from different backgrounds to get together and find a way to have an idea and bring it to life,” he said.
Party in front, business in the back
Acceler8’s layout naturally evokes a sense of community. The space opens up to a common area where anyone and everyone can work together or alone. The common area is peppered with desks, tables, and couches for any type of work. An indiscriminate bar is located to the immediate left of the door. A pantry area with more private work stations are tucked away at the back. On the other side, brick-and-mortar companies take over. Conference rooms that are leased out to private companies are available for use.
The co-working space perfects the art of being a jack-of-all-trades. Whether it’s working alone, with a companion, with small groups, or with a whole company, Acceler8 can provide options that cater to every need. But that’s not enough for Acceler8. They will provide you with value for more than what you bargained for.
Acceler8’s space might be all business during the day, but the fun doesn’t stop there. After hours, customers can lease the space for events, launches, and press conferences. Recently, we were invited to cover such an event hosted by Alcatel who actually rents their office space from Acceler8. Also, Acceler8 themselves can host events that focus more on networking and skills training. Under their portfolio, they’ve already held events on public speaking, investment tips, and financial skills.
Sign me up
Anyone can register for Acceler8’s services. “What we found is that we built a very diverse community from all walks of life,” Barranda said. They sit down with every member that registers. First, they inquire about their business, what it does, what it can offer, and the like. Secondly, they ask how often they would need the space. Acceler8 wants to craft the perfect plan that will cater to every member’s individual needs. Plans can get as varied as individual day passes, ten-day-per-month passes, or months-long deals.
Acceler8’s icing on the cake is their focus on collaboration. Members get an Accleler8 card that offers benefits and discounts to their partnered businesses which may also be members of Acceler8. This only underscores Acceler8’s efforts in getting its members to collaborate with each other. Introverts need not worry as Acceler8 won’t force extraversion on you, but their community members will ensure that everyone knows each other.
Members are also treated to unlimited use of the facility’s pantry, printer, scanner, and fiber optic Internet connection. Plans can start for as low as P550.
Collab is crucial
Culturally, Filipinos don’t open up to strangers. Acceler8 is opening up a vision where people see the value of meeting new people. Their wish is to accelerate new businesses while helping them collaborate with people they normally don’t think of speaking to.
With the rise of entrepreneurship in the Philippines, the value of relationships is something that must be realized. The opportunities provided by co-working spaces are crucial for everyone. Collaboration is now a must. Besides, it’ll make elevator rides that much more exciting.
