Coworking spaces are still trending. There are plenty of them in Munich, too. This year, the first Munich 'Mindspace' locations will open: two—as the owners describe—"inspiring and stylish coworking spaces." Dan Zakai and Yotam Alroy from Tel Aviv are behind the provider, founded in 2014. The company is currently expanding in Germany, having already opened locations in Hamburg and Berlin last year.
We spoke with Mark Kranz, Senior Community Manager at Mindspace Munich.
Please introduce yourselves briefly!
Mindspace coworking spaces are distinguished by exclusive locations, a unique design, and exceptional service for the community. We offer our members an inspiring work environment and fully equipped offices with lounges, shared kitchens, and meeting rooms. Our design makes you feel at home.
The company has received over $15 million in investments to date and will open additional locations in Berlin and Munich this year. Mindspace will open its first Munich location at Viktualienmarkt in August. A second location at Salvatorplatz will be added at the end of the year.
As Senior Community Manager, I'm responsible for managing the Mindspace Munich locations and the team. My responsibilities also include recruiting innovative companies as members and serving as a contact person for the community.
In the heart of the city
How did you decide to open a location here?
Munich was a logical step for us. The city is a strong business location, and its innovative ecosystem has developed very well in recent years. All Mindspace locations are in prime locations—and the Viktualienmarkt and Salvatorplatz are truly special, located in the heart of the state capital.
What makes your Munich location special?
Each of our locations is unique and features an urban design. We collaborate with local artists to create this. The Kustermann House at Viktualienmarkt is a beautiful, 200-year-old building, and our location at Salvatorplatz is directly across from the historic Salvator Church.
In both coworking spaces, we will blend Munich culture with modern art. The local community will comprise around 500 members, ensuring a very close exchange among the participants.
Focus on business
Why should someone rent from you?
There are so many reasons! The main advantages include the fantastic offices and lounges and the personalized service. This allows our members to focus entirely on their business and growth.
Our community also benefits from collaborations with global online services, discounts at local shops, cafes, and gyms, and the events we organize. Happy hours, workshops, and networking events take place regularly and promote exchange within the community.
What size spaces do you offer?
We offer various options for our members – both in terms of office size and membership. In our Munich coworking spaces, we offer private offices for 2 to 24 people, as well as open spaces with fixed and flexible desks. This provides an ideal working environment for teams of all sizes. Companies can rent multiple offices if needed and expand monthly at any time.
Success factor: Diverse community
What does your typical coworker look like? Or are you looking for a specific mix of tenants?
We don't have 'the' typical coworker. We are a unique community with members who work for forward-looking companies. One of our success factors is the diversity of our community. Large companies – such as Samsung, Barclays Bank, Euronews, ProSiebenSat.1 Media, and DB Schenker – share a floor with innovative startups, creatives, freelancers, and small businesses from a wide range of industries.
And what advantages do you offer specifically for founders and startups?
Mindspace is the perfect place for startups. We offer them easy access to an international network—both our members and other key players in the ecosystem. Company representatives organize or participate in events at Mindspace, where startups have the opportunity to present themselves, meet interesting people, and network.
Get started right away
We're attractive to founders in two ways. First, if their company is still in its infancy, they can come to us, rent a table, and get started. They have direct contact with other members and investors and benefit from our many services. With us, they don't have to take any risks and avoid the bureaucratic hassle that would be associated with a regular rental agreement. As a Mindspace member, you can concentrate fully on your business.
Secondly, we offer enormous flexibility. This means that startups can expand or downsize at any time by booking additional offices.
Do you still have any available space? Who do startups approach if they want to rent space from you?
We expect the coworking spaces to be well-filled when they open in August at Viktualienmarkt and at the end of the year at Salvatorplatz. However, we still have room for great teams and companies. Just contact me and I would like to give you a personal tour of our Munich Space.
