Eva Durnová is Marketing Director of Impact Hub Czech Republic. She takes care of the development and direction of the brand, its visual identity and is responsible for strategic campaigns in the coworking and innovation part. Network Impact Hub Czech Republic is the operator of Impact Hub coworking centers in Prague, Brno, Ostrava and Zlín. It also implements a range of acceleration, innovation, community and education programmes to develop entrepreneurship and socially beneficial entrepreneurship. Impact Hub coworking centers are an inspiring workspace combining the benefits of a fully equipped office, an Internet cafe and a business incubator.
Do you think coworking is the office of the future?
Coworking is a proven model today. In the sense of looking to the future and the developments that the labor market is taking and in which it is increasingly standardized home office Remote work, and of course the future. However, I would rather define myself as Impact Hub against the association “coworking as the office of the future”, because our concept of coworking is based on openness, cooperation and community. To share and support each other. We are a space, if you like, a workplace of the present and the future, not an office that suggests a closed space.
What are the benefits of coworking?
As the biggest advantage, I see the wide range of people you meet in the space. Under one roof, from a home designer to a lawyer to a sound engineer, you simply have a huge supply of verified contacts that you can use in your professional and personal life. Networking is extremely important for the growth of any professional career. In Impact Hub, we actively try to connect and meet our members so that they can get the most out of our membership - this is the job of our community managers, who know each member personally.
Another advantage of being a member of Impact Hub is our Acceleration programmes, a network of mentors and support. Throughout the year, we organize several acceleration programs for beginners and advanced, for commercial and impact projects and companies, and we have a large panel of consultants, experts and mentors who are able to take your project or your business to a completely different place. Dozens, maybe even hundreds, of great projects have gone through these programs.
To make the picture complete, we also have direct links to funds that can support (not only) start-up entrepreneurs. This is the Tilia Impact Ventures fund, which focuses on projects that have a significant and measurable impact or a newly established fund PurpoSeTechthat seeks out and invests in prospective projects at their earliest stage. You can regularly meet and have fun with the co-founders of these funds in our space.
This suddenly opens up new opportunities for our members, all you have to do is connect with a community manager and she can connect them and support them in their growth. That's why we're proud to say Impact Hub is the place to do it.
Who is coworking suitable for? People of what career focus most often use coworking services?
For everyone! Our membership base is very diverse and although the expected positions (marketing, IT, coaches, marketers) prevail, there is also a lack of lawyers, builders, community garden builders or HR professionals. Freelancers and small business owners predominate in shared spaces, and in offices in all cities we also have senior managers, local branch directors or innovation teams of large corporations. Our services, tariffs and membership benefits are so diverse that they provide the necessary service and support to enterprising people across the age, expert and industry spectrum.
How has the coworking space transformed since Impact Hub was founded? Are you currently following any trends in coworking?
She has transformed greatly. Impact Hub is the oldest coworking center in the Czech Republic and actually the pioneer of coworking. At the time of its founding, very few people knew this concept and was met with great distrust. With the change of society, the mindset of the people gradually changed and the environment based on cooperation also began to thrive in our country. Gradually, of course, other coworking centers began to be added, which saw more and more opportunity in the concept. Sharing has become a trend in all areas, and nowadays an important part of the success of the concept of coworking is the sustainability component that it entails. In fact, we often find that places that are not coworking spaces in the original sense of the word take advantage of this trend, but offer, for example, only shared offices.
Freelancers and small business owners predominate in shared spaces.
When did you notice the biggest increase in interest in coworking?
It was probably in 2018-2019 and it is related to the evolution that Impact Hub has been going through since its inception, for the first years it has made its way through a field that no one has ever broken before, before that effort began to bear fruit, and in 2018 and 2019 we have historically seen the highest influx of members.
Has interest in coworking affected the pandemic?
She certainly made an impact, like everything. In our country, the pandemic was marked by the project of opening a new Impact Hub in Zlín, which in itself suggests enough. It has been shown that companies are beginning to think about their fixed costs and reducing them, and that coworking or an office with our flexible conditions is a great alternative. As part of the tariffs, members pay for the facilities only when they actually use it, and for fixed tables and space rentals for the company they do not have to pay a deposit or cancellation from long-term contracts. In addition, we can combine shared and private offices and take care of energy, cleaning and equipment. Thus, during the pandemic, we have seen an increase in interest in our services and it is expected that there will be continued interest in alternatives to conventional office centers, also with regard to standardization telework and the popularity of the home office.
During covid, the demand for smaller offices or flexible company tariffs increased quite a bit. On the contrary, the demand for hourly rates has decreased slightly, as many freelancers have reduced job opportunities and have had to reduce their costs as well. This year we see that things are returning to normal again, open space is back filled with those who use hourly tariffs, a lot of them have returned to us and we are glad that this period has stood still.
Of course, the pandemic had the biggest impact on our event agenda. The latter has been reduced to a minimum. Now it's getting back to normal again, and I think you can see that people are really hungry for networking events and that they missed them.
In which cities are Impact Hub services currently available? Are you planning to expand your scope to other cities in the Czech Republic?
We are currently in four cities - in Prague twice, in Brno, in Ostrava and in Zlín. However, we are also looking at new locations, e.g. in Mladá Boleslav, a feasibility study is underway with the vision to open a new Impact Hub here.
Prague has the largest membership base if we take the two branches together. Otherwise, it is Brno, which is the largest in area and also hosts the largest number of members.
If I want to use coworking, how does it work?
Quite simply, just fill out the form with us on the website, call or come in person. We will guide you through the space, explain how it works with us, answer all your questions and you will get a day to try it for free. This is the best way to find out if it will suit you with us. And it will!
During covid, the demand for smaller offices or flexible company tariffs increased quite a bit.
What amenities can I expect if I decide to rent a job in your hub?
That depends on what service you choose. In hourly rates, we provide a variable workplace, but it is also possible to rent your own desk - with this comes additional accessories such as lockers or your own key (we really give you the key from the Impact Hub and you can come here at any time, even if we are not here, etc.
But what you always get is access to office supplies including printers, discounts on rental of meeting and conference rooms and various special offers and discounts from our partners. You will also be able to access special member events and visits to other Impact Hubs. And last but not least, you will have access to all our shared spaces including a bar with excellent coffee and quality snacks.
Is the workplace in the Hub ergonomically equipped?
We strive to provide comfort to our members in the form of quality furniture. All our equipment is from the renowned Wiesner-Hager company.
What budget should I prepare if I am a self-employed person who wants to use the services of your coworking 3 times a week for 8 hours?
For such cases, we offer hourly rates that can be drawn during the month. Their variance ranges from 10 hours/month to 100. In case you need to draw more, we have the Unlimited or Custom Table plan. And if you only need to take advantage of a day without commitments, we also have a day pass. Of course, all of this can be flexibly changed as needed. You can always find the most up-to-date price lists on our websites.
