What are the best coworking spaces in Belgrade- Serbia?
Coworking represents a style of work that involves shared working environment, often offices, while doing independent activities. The concept as we use it today was invented by the American programmer Brad Neuberg, in 2005. Neuberg explains that coworking spaces are not just shared objects, but they represent “a new way of thinking about how we work and share with one another”. However, the term is not new at all. The first mentioning of coworking can be found in the books from 1628, when people admired coworking power of God and its representatives.
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First pre-model of coworking is considered to be C-base, and one of the first hacker spaces was founded in Berlin in 1995. Four years later, Bernard Louise DeKoven, designer of video games, used the term “coworking” in order to explain a method that could facilitate a collaborative work coordinated by computers. His desire was to “work together as equals”. In the same year, 42 West 24 showed up in New York City, which was a space run by a software company that offered work environment with flexible desks for individuals, as well as for the teams. Back then, this initiative was a real breakthrough in the market. Next was Vienna coworking model of space in 2002, named as a “community center for entrepreneurs”. This takes us to the year 2005, where already mentioned Brad Neuberg coined the term coworking that we are familiar with and which we use today.
The space of coworking is shared among employees who usually don’t have the same employers. It could be used by organizations, firms or even freelancers. Some of them could have the same field of interests although it is not necessary for getting a place in one of these spaces. Typically, it is the most attractive to freelancers who travel a lot. In those cases, they can rent a working place wherever and whenever it is the most suitable for them. Moreover, groups of people who share these working spaces, also share similar values such as community, openness, collaboration, accessibility, and sustainability (core set of shared values from Neuberg original concept). Besides values and working, employees need from time to time, to enjoy together in some of the fun activities as well. If you work in one of these spaces, we recommend you to read about 10 Team Bonding Activities for Office.
What are the weaknesses and what are the strengths of coworking environment?
Absolute advantage of coworking space is bringing people of different professions together, where they can exchange ideas and inspire each other. They improve their social life while meeting a variety of colleagues, and this could increase the level of their productivity. Also, if we think more practically, renting price for this type of office is more affordable than to rent the whole working place just for yourself. Although everything sounds perfect, there are some rules and obligations that have to be obeyed. As it is a shared place, the right of private property and the rule of “cleaning after yourself” have to be respected.
In Serbia, pioneer of coworking space was Startit, opened in 2010 in Belgrade, although the space is only for IT technicians. Now, this rapidly growing phenomenon of coworking is getting bigger on a monthly basis. You can even find them out of the capital, in small places such as Mokrin, (two hours drive from Belgrade).
In order to create our list of best coworking spaces in Belgrade – Serbia, we used recommendations from site Coworker, which is a hub for reviews, rating and feedback of coworking spaces in more than 100 countries all over the world. Moreover, we also searched through reviews of Serbian architectural magazines such as Kuća Stil and Still in Belgrade, to name few. The rank will go from the oldest one to the youngest coworking space, with the little history about each one of them. Enjoy!
10. Startit Center
Year of opening: 2010
Startit, the last on our list of best coworking spaces in Belgrade – Serbia represents a coworking space dedicated just for IT developers. It is a project of the organization SEE ICT / Startit and it was launched with a desire to help in the development of startup scene in Serbia. There were around 40 startups and over 100 young people that spent time in this space. What makes it stand from other coworking spaces in Belgrade, is the fact they have a big library which is open to the entire community. It is located in the city center, near main railway station.
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9. Smart Office
Year of opening: 2012
This space offers 30 desks and 2 conference rooms. It is tailored for anyone who wants to work, whether they are freelancers, contractors or even one of the NGOs. Through their site, you can also use virtual office registration and supporting business services. As it is among first coworking spaces that opened in Belgrade, Smart Office got the most desirable location in the main city street of Knez Mihailova. Today, the modern name for this space is “version 2.0”.
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8. Nova Iskra
Year of opening: 2012
This coworking space on our list of best coworking spaces in Belgrade – Serbia supports mainly young professionals from different spheres of design, but others are welcomed as well. They offer a unique and fully equipped working space for up to 20 members. It is located in the city center near main railway station.
“Central European Startup Awards” represents a series of events in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe with the aim of identifying the best and most important start-ups, initiatives and individuals in the region, and in 2015, Nova Iskra was awarded for the best coworking space of the year!
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7. Impact Hub Belgrade
Year of opening: 2014
At number 7 on our list of best coworking spaces in Belgrade – Serbia we have Impact Hub that represents an international network of coworking spaces, with the first one created in London in 2005 known as “The Hub”. Today, these spaces could be found in more than 70 cities all around the world. The main aim of each Hub is to contribute to the sustainability of socio-economic and ecological changes. Even though in Belgrade Impact Hub arrived in 2014, 9 years later than the one in London, they are not far behind – its modern design and number of people that use it indicate that.
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6. Potkrovlje Hub
Year of opening: 2014
This coworking place is located in the street in which you can find the building of Serbian Government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and many embassies. Word ‘potkrovlje’ in Serbian means attic. Potkrovlje Hub has been developed out of the collaboration between organization SEE ICT (same one as for the Startit mentioned above) and one of the Belgrade municipalities. This space is opened 24 hours and each month they organize some interesting event for their community members.
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5. Polygon Hub
Year of opening: 2014
Located in broader city center, Polygon Hub has a variety of IT enthusiasts, freelancers, and contractors who are willing to share this awesome place. They offer a sharing kitchen and the big lounge area. Its advantages are free parking, which is available near offices, and also 24/7 access to Polygon Hub with personal security cards. Prices for its rental go from 12 euros daily up to 100 euros per month. All this has helped Polygon Hub earn its place on this list of best coworking spaces in Belgrade – Serbia.
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4. In Center
Year of opening: 2014
The main mission of In Center, the number 4 on our list of best coworking spaces in Belgrade – Serbia is to contribute to the expansion of social entrepreneurship in general and help in the professional development of individuals, as well as the organizations. Their offer for using this space is either on a daily or monthly basis. Moreover, it is possible to use additional services that are charged separately, such as: daily basis laptop rentals, printing, scanning, mail delivery anywhere in the city center, a space for organizing events, refreshments and accounting services.
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3. Košnica
Year of opening: 2015
Košnica, the next one on our list of Best Coworking Spaces in Belgrade – Serbia, which in literal translation means ‘beehive’, is the first concept of coworking and co-learning in Belgrade. It means it is not just for work, but any kind of lectures could be held there and students could use the desks for studying. Besides those activities, this space could be used for leisure time as well. If you want to drink coffee or chill in a creative surrounding, this is the best place for you. The price for the first hour is 2 euros, whereas for every next one is 1 euro. For one day you would pay 7 euros, for a week 35 and for a month the price goes up to 120 euros.
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2. Tipsy Pixel
Year of opening: 2015
At number one on our list of Best Coworking Spaces in Belgrade – Serbia, Tipsy Pixel was developed as a place where people learn about a variety of things by using the method ‘one on one’. Each student has its own mentor, but they can also connect with other students in searching for inspiration or just for socializing. Besides primary function, Tipsy Pixel has the coworking area with eight available desks. Price for one day is 8 euros, for week 30 and a monthly pass goes up to 100 euros. This coworking space is pet-friendly and if you wish to light up a cigarette, you don’t have to go outside. In Tipsy Pixel smoking is absolutely allowed!
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1. Office Me
Year of opening: 2015
Finally, at the beginning of our list of best coworking spaces in Belgrade – Serbia we can find Office Me. It is located in New Belgrade, which is a modern business district of Serbia’s capital. This space is offered to entrepreneurs, part-time workers, freelancers, companies and organizations in need of innovative space, who are focused on coworking and community engagement. However, comparing to the other coworking spaces previously mentioned, Office Me is a bit more expensive. Daily price is 20 euros, for 12 days a hundred, and for a month the price goes up to 160 euros.
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