CO-WORKING SPACES have flourished in Malaysia with dozens of locations popping up in the Klang Valley where entrepreneurs, freelancers and creative minds plug in, exchange ideas and hustle on their side gigs.
Unlike virtual offices, which provide office space and administrative services, co-working spaces offer entrepreneurs and start-ups a working space built around a collaborative environment.
Co-working locations first started appearing in Malaysia in 2010 with PAPER + TOAST, which recently won Malaysia Rice Bowl Startup Awards for best co-working space. The award is the recognition for its services, support and resources, catering to fast-growth tech startups, and for creating a culture and environment that fosters innovation.
PAPER + TOAST will proceed to the exciting finale — ASEAN Rice Bowl Startup Awards 2018 in Bali in December.
Its Director, Wan Imran Wan Abdul Rahman said that PAPER + TOAST was built with the aim of serving as a “one-stop community platform” for businesses, entrepreneurs and start-ups to get together, to gain critical business skills and knowledge, as well as to come together to collaborate.
PAPER + TOAST is ideal for newer start-ups that do not own an office space yet, but wish to still have a physical place where they can have a business address and a landline number.
“The idea first sparked off from the technology that enables remote working and addresses the concerns of working adults, including nomadic lifestyles, cost-saving and flexibility to network.
“When we first started, the concept of co-working barely existed in Malaysia, which made it hard to explain what we were doing.
“Hence, we decided to incorporate food and beverages as part of the human needs element,” he said.
Located at Fahrenheit88 Office Tower in Bukit Bintang, the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s financial centre, this bustling co-working spot has the kind of warmth that is seriously infectious. It comprises a community of almost 300 who are friendly and eager to “collab” on any creative project you’ve got up your sleeve.
Aside from the communal workspace and meeting rooms, there are designated areas that double as event venues for your next meeting, conference, brainstorming/team-building sessions, or networking events.
Wan Imran said, PAPER + TOAST is not just about the desks and the chairs.
“Yes, we have the space, but we also have access to a network of services and it is a place to collaborate with other like-minded people.
“We are also offering seminars and workshops that will benefit the entrepreneur community.
“Through the years of hosting various kinds of co-workers, from start-ups and business owners to MNC representatives, we have identified through research challenges that most businesses face.
“With the findings that we compiled, PAPER + TOAST has crafted a series of business programmes that are relevant to start-ups, business owners and working adults,” he added. Reach PAPER + TOAST at www.paperandtoast.com.
