Co-working places, essentially business studios for rent, are sprouting up in Kyiv as an inexpensive office space option. Students, tech entrepreneurs and administrative professionals rub shoulders in the spaces, without having to put up with the noisy atmosphere of working in cafes or the distractions of working at home.
Far cheaper than a stuffy high-rise business center, co-working offices usually offer such amenities as Wi-Fi, faxes, a conference room, kitchens and clean bathrooms.
Data Hub, Platforma, MediaHub and Chasopys are four companies now offering such services at hourly, daily or monthly rates in Kyiv.
Datahub, for example, offers printing and scanning devices and comfortable seating in private rooms. It has a spacious kitchen and even a separate room for Skype calls. Most of the furniture is hand-crafted by the owners, out of large wooden spools and shipping pallets.
Platforma offers monthly rates round-the-clock service. It provides high-speed Internet, lockers, flip charts, projectors, a relaxation area, showers, hot beverages, snacks and free entrance to cultural events organized by Platforma’s art project. Clients can also secure private office space for an additional fee.
Journalists from Hromadske Television, Ukrainska Pravda and non-profit group Centre UA inspired the creation of MediaHub. The venue offers bicycle parking, showers, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, drinking water, and printing and scanning devices. Since it’s equipped with professional lighting and audio-video devices, it can be used as a venue for exhibitions, concerts and presentations. In terms of decor, MediaHub looks sparse and functional, with white walls and concrete floors. Along with a large auditorium, it has a 69 square meter co-working area.
The co-working space Chasopys has been around the longest, since 2013. The venue offers wireless Internet, rental computers, meeting rooms, separate areas for Skype calls, and a hot beverage and snack station with a microwave oven. Professional consultations with lawyers, financiers, tax specialists and accountants are always available on Fridays from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., free of charge for renters. Locker rentals and 24-hour access are offered for additional fees, and a personal assistant is available for hire. Chasopys also offers a one-day free trial of its services.
Kyiv Post staff writer Denys Krasnikov can be reached at [email protected]
