Silicon Canals
TRENDING
  • Mobility
  • AI
  • FinTech
  • Software & SaaS
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Ukraine
    • Startups
    • Scaleups
    • FinTech
    • AI and chatbots
    • Travel & Mobility
    • Software & SaaS
    • Health & Medtech
    • (Crowd)funding
    • Blockchain
    • Internet of things
    • Hardware
    • Accelerators
    • E-commerce
    • Cybersecurity
    • Gaming & Virtual Reality
    • Drones
    • COVID-19
  • Features
    • How-to
    • Knowledge & Insights
    • Guest Contributions
  • Partners
    • Amsterdam
    • Rise by Techleap.nl
    • Fintech Files by AWS
    • Scaling-up in Europe
    • Blue Tulip Awards
    • Partner with us
    • Promoted content
  • Events
    • Technology Events in Europe
    • Submit your event
  • Jobs
  • About us
    • Partner with us
    • About
    • Team
    • Newsletter
  • Contact
  • Home
  • News
    • Ukraine
    • Startups
    • Scaleups
    • FinTech
    • AI and chatbots
    • Travel & Mobility
    • Software & SaaS
    • Health & Medtech
    • (Crowd)funding
    • Blockchain
    • Internet of things
    • Hardware
    • Accelerators
    • E-commerce
    • Cybersecurity
    • Gaming & Virtual Reality
    • Drones
    • COVID-19
  • Features
    • How-to
    • Knowledge & Insights
    • Guest Contributions
  • Partners
    • Amsterdam
    • Rise by Techleap.nl
    • Fintech Files by AWS
    • Scaling-up in Europe
    • Blue Tulip Awards
    • Partner with us
    • Promoted content
  • Events
    • Technology Events in Europe
    • Submit your event
  • Jobs
  • About us
    • Partner with us
    • About
    • Team
    • Newsletter
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Silicon Canals
No Result
View All Result

COVID and coworking: How hubs in Amsterdam are supporting startups through the crisis

Dennis de Vries by Dennis de Vries
April 28, 2020
in Amsterdam, COVID-19, News, Promoted content, Startups
A-lab coworking during covid-19
271
SHARES
LinkedInTwitterWhatsAppFacebook

The best way to beat coronavirus is to keep your distance. Don’t meet up, don’t go out. So startups everywhere avoid the office, and keep the business going from home. But what if the office is your business model? We spoke with some startup-hubs, coworking spaces and other innovative breeding grounds in Amsterdam to find out how they were guiding startups through the storm, while also trying to keep their own business afloat.

COVID-19 and coworking in Amsterdam

With a lively startup-scene, no wonder Amsterdam is home to some excellent coworking spaces, tech-hubs and communities. These hubs have an important role in the ecosystem, beyond renting out office spaces. They are a place for founders and entrepreneurs to connect, expand their network, seek help and socialise with like minded people. But how does all of this work, when connecting, socialising and networking is suddenly replaced by social distancing and working from home?

- Partner content -
digital skills dutch workforce
Salesforce’s report on Dutch workforce’s digital skills
Has the Dutch workforce mastered all digital skills? Find out
Has the Dutch workforce mastered all digital skills? Find out Show Less
Read more

Read more: These 7 coworking spaces are the mecca of startups in Amsterdam

As expected, working from home is the new co-working standard. For instance, Startup Village in Amsterdam Science Park shifted to working remotely, but keeps in touch with its members since they are ‘still a village’. ImpactHub Amsterdam is temporarily closed to the public and moved all its activities to their community platform. TNW Spaces (Formerly TQ) moved all its events online, and even keeps the cooking classes by their community-cook going via the web. At B.Amsterdam you can now rent COVID-proof private offices that offer a ‘safe and clean environment with limited physical contact’, while their restaurant asks for donations to cook meals for people in need. Meanwhile Marineterrein stays accessible as a public space, but the co-working community members temporarily work from home.

“First week after the social distancing guidelines were announced, a lot of people came over to pick up their office supplies,” says Lucas Hendricks. He is director of A Lab, a living lab that combines ‘the strength of Amsterdam’s creative scene, technological prowess, social networks and free thinking spirit’ into one coworking community. A Lab is situated in the very heart of Amsterdam. In the 5000m2 former Shell offices they currently house 300 people from 70 different small companies. Needless to say, the past couple of weeks have been pretty quiet. Hendricks is currently spending most of his time trying to find ways to help the entrepreneurs and young companies in his lab. “The past couple of weeks, I think the occupation has hovered around 10 percent. Mostly the founders kept coming, while their employees worked from home.” 

‘Keeping the community alive’

A Lab prices itself to be more than a coworking space. It’s a curated community of innovators which serves as an ‘informal accelerator’, according to Hendricks: “We don’t offer the same deals that regular accelerators do, but we certainly coach and help these companies. There’s a strong dynamic in which people meet, connect and grow together.” And even though most people can’t meet face to face, Hendricks sees an added value of the community A Lab has created. “We know exactly who is in our network, so we started offering them specific help. By supporting individual members, we can keep the community alive.”

“We recognise that everyone is in a different situation. In some cases we could help by proactively offering deferral. We provide coaching in reducing costs, help applying for government aid and assist them in finding new income streams. Many entrepreneurs are scared. Some are like rabbits caught in the headlights, others manage to find a solution to the new situation. But the question some struggle with is: how much do they invest in those solutions? Do they have to find a temporary new business model until the crisis is over, or is this going to be something permanent?”

Image: StartDock

CollabNow as new initiative

Looking for a new business model is what the members of StartDock did. As soon as the crisis hit, they got together and started CollabNow. It’s an impromptu online marketplace on which every StartDock-member can offer their service, with a special discount. According to StartDock CEO and co-founder Thom Wernke, the initiative came from the members of their community: “We just brought our members together and coordinated the bi-weekly sprint session. But that is it, CollabNow is totally their own idea.” 

With three different hubs, two in the center of Amsterdam and one in Rotterdam, it is a challenge for StartDock to keep the community together, says Wernke: “But we see a lot of entrepreneurs still connecting with each other. We also try to keep in touch with our renters. There’s video sessions, online drinks and Whatsapp and Slack-groups in which we share COVID-19 related knowledge.”

 Stay up-to-date: Read all our COVID-19 coverage here

Wernke also sees a lot of his members are struggling in the current situation. “It depends on the sector, but I think around 70 or 80 percent is having a hard time right now. As StartDock, we can postpone half of the rent, to give them some breathing room.” And their newly founded platform offers opportunities. Collabnow is a way for StartDock members to make some extra money during the crisis. But Wernke says it has the potential to become more than that. “This week we made the first couple of sales. It’s beginning to roll, but we’re only just now starting to seek publicity. Right now it is important that it generates some extra income for our members. But it’s also a great way to build a community and for people to showcase their products or services.” 

The future of coworking

Both A Lab and StartDock remain open, of course with strict distancing and hygiene rules in place. Working from home is still encouraged. And StartDock was more than happy to lend a hand. During the first week of the lock down they even offered the service of moving offices to homes. Wernke: “We just rented a van and dropped off peoples’ computers and desks at their homes if they wanted to.” For the near future, these hubs have to devise a new plan involving extra space around the workstations and strict rules regarding hygiene. A Lab has converted unused meeting rooms into ‘escape labs’, where people can work if the regular office is too busy to keep appropriate distance. StartDock is looking at different measures for the future. Wernke: “Stuff like taking temperatures upon entry or creating one-way walking routes. There’s no solid plan yet, but we’re working on it. ” 

‘Important buffer in the ecosystem’

Martine Zoeteman is chair of the Dutch Creative Residency Network, a ten year old network that lets founders of creative hubs and startup communities connect and share knowledge. With members, including A Lab, all over The Netherlands, she has a clear view on the challenges these hubs are facing. During the good times, they can accelerate innovation. Right now, they can provide a cushion for startups that don’t have any reserves yet. Zoeteman: “By temporarily reducing the costs of rent and working something out with individual members, they form an important buffer in the ecosystem.” 

The DCR Network serves as a bridge between the hubs and the government. As such, Zoeteman sent a letter to the Dutch ministry of economic affairs, to ask for a helping hand for communities all over The Netherlands. In the letter (pdf), which has been co-signed by more than sixty coworking spaces, tech hubs and creative breeding grounds, Zoeteman asks for an emergency fund for hubs. With many startups struggling, hubs have seen a decline in earnings of around 50 to 70 percent, says Zoeteman. “As long as the communities are okay, the hubs will also survive. But I can see a lot of hubs manage to keep their community alive or even expand it. So I’m cautiously optimistic. But if this situation persists, we might need to make a bit more noise. I’m not sure if the government acknowledges the important role of the hubs yet.”

This article is produced in a collaboration with StartupAmsterdam. Read more about our partnering opportunities.

 - Partner content -
How cybersecurity scaleup Intigriti conquered the world?
How cybersecurity scaleup Intigriti conquered the world?
Catch our interview with Paul Down, Head of Sales at Intigriti.
Catch our interview with Paul Down, Head of Sales at Intigriti. Show Less
Read more
Tags: coworking spacesfeatured
Share11Tweet39SendShare177

Featured events

Current Month

may

28apr(apr 28)12:1331may(may 31)12:13FeaturedApplications for Techleap.nl’s Rise Batch 8 are open now

Techleap

Event Details

Are you an ambitious scaleup operating out of the Netherlands? Accelerate your growth with Techleap.nl’s Rise programme. Join their Batch #8!

Event Details

Are you an ambitious scaleup operating out of the Netherlands? Accelerate your growth with Techleap.nl’s Rise programme. Join their Batch #8!

Rise is an exclusive programme for serious tech players. In a trusted environment, scaleup founders share and discuss their growth challenges during tailor-made sessions with experienced entrepreneurs and scaling experts. Every quarter we select 10 companies to join the programme. It’s free, and we don’t seek equity. Check now if your company is eligible!

About Techleap

Techleap.nl’s programmes connect founders with scaling icons, industry experts and fellow tech entrepreneurs. It’s your chance to share challenges and hurdles with peers and established CEOs, and as a result, create favourable growth conditions for your business and overcome looming obstacles on your entrepreneurial path.

If you have any questions about the programme or the application process, please contact the Rise Batch Manager – Peter-Jan Kok at [email protected].

Apply here.

more

Time

April 28 (Thursday) 12:13 - May 31 (Tuesday) 12:13

Learn More

CalendarGoogleCal

CIRCL, AmsterdamGustav Mahlerplein 1B, 1082 MS Amsterdam, Netherlands

19may13:3018:00Featured5th Tech Summit: Get Ready for Exponential International Growth

Event Details

The Tech Summit yearly attracts >100 SaaS executives and PE/VC investors from all over the Netherlands. Several presentations and break-outs are filled with actionable thought leadership. Networking breaks

Event Details

The Tech Summit yearly attracts >100 SaaS executives and PE/VC investors from all over the Netherlands. Several presentations and break-outs are filled with actionable thought leadership. Networking breaks allow participants to connect with industry peers, exchange best practices and have a good time.

For more information and to register for the summit, please click here.

more

Time

(Thursday) 13:30 - 18:00

Location

CIRCL, Amsterdam

Gustav Mahlerplein 1B, 1082 MS Amsterdam, Netherlands

CalendarGoogleCal

june

Taets Art and Events ParkHemskade 16, 1506 PR Zaandam

16junAll Day17FeaturedTNW Conference

Event Details

Join TNW Conference in Amsterdam on June 16 & 17 to all you need to know about the latest market killers and breakout tech, connect with the industry’s who’s-who, and

Event Details

Join TNW Conference in Amsterdam on June 16 & 17 to all you need to know about the latest market killers and breakout tech, connect with the industry’s who’s-who, and turn your business meetings upside down on our ferris wheel… With endless networking opportunities, the world’s boldest voices, and unrivaled party vibes, this year’s TNW Conference will be off the charts!

Time

june 16 (Thursday) - 17 (Friday)

Location

Taets Art and Events Park

Hemskade 16, 1506 PR Zaandam

Learn More

CalendarGoogleCal

Partner content | Work with us

European Startups can expand to Asia through the South Korean Government’s K-Startup Grand Challenge

Running a small business? These 5 tips can create a domino effect of productivity across your entire company

Triller acquires Dutch DJ Sam Feldt’s Fangage to expand its platform for creators

Sweden’s Gimi partners with Dutch bank ABN AMRO to help young people manage and understand their finances

Calling all startups aiming to test their mobility innovations in the real world: Mobility Lab 2022 registration is now open

Silicon Canals | Jobs


Breaking news from Amsterdam | Partner

Amsterdam’s plant-based cheese startup Willicroft raises €2M led by Rockstart and PINC

Amsterdam-based Healthplus.ai raises funding from LUMO Labs to curb postsurgery infections; here’s how

Amsterdam-based Roetz drives away with €1.8M, plans to launch first circular e-bike this year

Amsterdam-based Katanox raises €5.48M; appoints former MD of Google Travel as non-executive director

  • About Silicon Canals
  • Partner with Silicon Canals
  • Contact us
  • Newsletter
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy (UK)
  • Cookie Policy (EU)
  • Terms & Conditions Silicon Canals

Silicon Canals 2014-2022 | Website: Bright Idiots

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Ukraine
    • Startups
    • Scaleups
    • FinTech
    • AI and chatbots
    • Travel & Mobility
    • Software & SaaS
    • Health & Medtech
    • (Crowd)funding
    • Blockchain
    • Internet of things
    • Hardware
    • Accelerators
    • E-commerce
    • Cybersecurity
    • Gaming & Virtual Reality
    • Drones
    • COVID-19
  • Features
    • How-to
    • Knowledge & Insights
    • Guest Contributions
  • Partners
    • Amsterdam
    • Rise by Techleap.nl
    • Fintech Files by AWS
    • Scaling-up in Europe
    • Blue Tulip Awards
    • Partner with us
    • Promoted content
  • Events
    • Technology Events in Europe
    • Submit your event
  • Jobs
  • About us
    • Partner with us
    • About
    • Team
    • Newsletter
  • Contact

Silicon Canals 2014-2022 | Website: Bright Idiots

Stay updated with the Silicon Canals daily and weekly newsletters.
We promise we won't spam you. You can choose to unsubscribe anytime.
Stay updated with the Silicon Canals daily and weekly newsletters.
We promise we won't spam you. You can choose to unsubscribe anytime.
Silicon Canals
Manage your privacy

To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.

Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen.

Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Statistics

Marketing

Features
Always active

Always active
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
Manage options
{title} {title} {title}
X
X