Munich Startup: Many already know Shareyourspace from our earlier interviews. But tell us again anyway: Who are you and what do you do?
Tobias Wagner: Our company Shareyourspace is a Munich-based proptech dedicated to the mission “Boosting Flexibility and Sustainability”.
Speaking of flexibility: In a constantly changing world, fewer and fewer people and companies are willing or able to commit to long-term space obligations: The demand for spatially and temporally flexible office space is enormous, yet the office market remains rigid due to long-term, complex lease agreements. Space is almost never a “custom fit” – rarely at the time of lease signing and even more rarely over time. Companies, organizations, and businesses change, but the premises don’t adapt with them. What’s needed is a comprehensive, cost-effective offering of temporally and spatially flexible space.
The solution lies in existing inventory: The key is to make already existing space (whether owned or leased) available and utilize it more intensively! Offices, workstations, conference, meeting, and training rooms are typically not occupied 24/7, but remain unused on average up to 70 percent of the time. For example, due to vacancies, part-time work, out-of-office days, excess space, or temporary downtime. With Shareyourspace, we launched a digital marketplace for everyone who wants to offer or book workspaces on an Airbnb model. From freelancers to multinational corporations. Whether for just an hour or several years.
Shareyourspace aims to bring more sustainability to real estate
Beyond that, we’re activating the most powerful lever for greater sustainability in real estate – the second part of our mission. The most sustainable building is one that doesn’t need to be built at all through better utilization of existing inventory.
Furthermore: Workplaces and mobility are interconnected. The best commute is a short one – to the office-as-a-service “around the corner”. Sustainability in offices, workstations, and work-related mobility is significantly improved through sharing.
Munich Startup: Why should startups in particular know about you?
Tobias Wagner: Startups – and scaleups too – work best in spaces that match their needs! On Shareyourspace, they find these spaces whenever and wherever they need them. Based on lease duration, budget, equipment, size, location, and in the “coworking” use case, also with the right community and the right host.
Additionally: Startups especially lack both the time and expertise to deal with the complexities and peculiarities of the traditional office market. With Shareyourspace, it’s much simpler: Search, book, pay. A digital process.
Preferential terms for startups at Spaces4Scaleups
Munich Startup: Why are you participating in Spaces4Scaleups?
Tobias Wagner: Because the objective, the project, the partners, and the team of the economic development agency of the Landeshauptstadt München are top-notch. Spaces4Scaleups is what’s needed to quickly and efficiently supply innovative, young companies with space – the right workspace for the next growth leap – at preferential terms. So a special workspace service instead of gross floor area specifications, hundred-page lease agreements, and hordes of brokers. We’re very pleased to be able to provide our marketplace as the offering and booking platform for this project.
Munich Startup: Why should space providers participate in Spaces4Scaleups?
Tobias Wagner: Because space providers gain direct access to a difficult-to-reach target group – startups and scaleups. Because these companies can become the major tenants of tomorrow. Because the innovative companies in the focus of Spaces4Scaleups enrich the offered location and its tenant community, making the property more attractive for traditional tenants as well. Because the space provider can make themselves and their offering visible and establish a profile without a broker in between. Because Munich benefits from the economic policy contribution, and thus the Munich real estate market benefits again. Because Spaces4Scaleups is a good marketing label – “do good and talk about it”. Because Spaces4Scaleups contributes to ESG (Editor’s note: Environmental Social Governance). And because Spaces4Scaleups is an excellent solution for vacancies and excess space.
