About Around the World in 250 Coworking Spaces
The definitive global guide born from years of exploring coworking spaces across the globe. From Berlin to Mumbai, Tokyo and New York
Around the World in 250 Coworking Spaces isn't just a book; it's a celebration of global coworking culture. Spanning 350 beautifully designed pages, it shares authentic stories and practical insights from coworking spaces across five continents, highlighting how these innovative environments are created, managed, and nurtured.
Experience the diversity of coworking—from intimate community spaces in Berlin and creative hubs in São Paulo to large-scale enterprise venues in Singapore and tech-driven communities in Silicon Valley. Each featured space tells its unique journey, explores its distinct challenges, and shares innovative solutions that set them apart.
These aren't theoretical scenarios—these are powerful stories and actionable lessons you won't find on a simple web search, shared by the very people who've successfully grown thriving coworking communities.
The idea first emerged in 2015 when Pauline was managing a coworking space in Berlin and Dimitar was involved with a startup accelerator. Intrigued by the potential of coworking spaces, they began traveling to visit and understand similar communities worldwide.
Over five years, they visited 435 coworking spaces across 48 cities, capturing real stories, conducting interviews, and building relationships with those shaping coworking culture.
When recounting their experiences to Thomas, a coworking owner from New York, he suggested, "Why don’t you write a book?" His comment lingered and soon resonated widely within their network.
The book aimed to achieve three clear objectives:
From 2015 to 2025, Pauline and Dimitar have continuously traveled the world, visiting over 550+ coworking spaces across 60 cities. They document the stories you can't just Google and build relationships with the people who make coworking happen. Even after the book's publication, they continue exploring and engaging with the global coworking community, spreading the word about community and coworking.
The "paper-first" approach deliberately excluded digital formats, encouraging readers to step away from screens and engage with coworking culture in a tactile, deliberate manner.
The book needed to be visually appealing, distinctly recognizable (ultimately featuring bold yellow), suitable for display in showroom or workspaces bookshelves, yet also inviting and playful.
After an extensive search on online and on Instagram, Lisbon-based designer Madalena EspĂrito Santo joined the project. She brought clarity and creativity, transforming abstract concepts into a physical book that blends the appeal of a coffee-table book with the practicality of a travel guide. The final piece of the puzzle came when text editor Clare joined the team, bringing her expertise to polish and refine the book's content to perfection.
The journey began with a simple, heartfelt idea—to share authentic stories from coworking spaces around the globe. When Pauline and Dimitar brought their vision to Kickstarter, the coworking community responded warmly and generously, turning their dream into reality.
The campaign exceeded expectations, raising 143% of the original goal. This wasn't just about funding; it was validation that the global coworking community was eager to learn from authentic, practical insights from real operators.
Despite facing challenges in production and delays, the book emerged as a true reflection of the coworking spirit—beautifully designed, full of engaging stories, and deeply rooted in community support.
This wasn't simply a crowdfunding campaign—it was proof of what a community can accomplish together, and a testament to the collaborative heart of coworking.
The co-founders of Coworkies and TwoFifty, Pauline and Dimitar have dedicated over a decade to understanding the coworking industry from the inside out.
Their journey began in 2015 when Pauline was managing a large coworking space in Berlin and Dimitar was working for a startup accelerator. Through countless conversations with coworkers and operators, they recognized the need for better resources and deeper understanding of this emerging industry.
Since 2015, they have personally visited over 500 coworking spaces in 53 cities worldwide. This isn't arm's-chair research—they've sat with founders, worked alongside community managers, and experienced firsthand how different cultures and markets approach coworking.
Their work extends beyond the book through:
Today, they continue to help coworking operators, companies, and organizations navigate and understand this dynamic industry through research, consulting, and education.
Beyond the 250 stories, discover the thoughtful architecture and unique value that sets this book apart
250 founder interviews avoid marketing fluff and surface authentic stories, from name choices to building histories and the real challenges of community building.
Three in-depth case studies co-written with Salto Systems, Tineps, and 250.co explore smart access, interior design, and strategic consulting.
Two indexes plus a Google-sheet-driven tag system let you read by theme, build your own route, or discover spaces by location and focus.
Eight spin-off initiatives developed during research, including the Hot Water podcast and global Hack Coworking hackathon, keep the learning alive.
Each book plants a tree, readers get Digital52 stories emailed weekly, and access to the Members Club community for continued learning.
Used by policymakers, operators, and researchers worldwide to understand coworking's impact on people, businesses, and city neighborhoods.
Since publication, Around the World in 250 Coworking Spaces has become the go-to reference for coworking professionals, researchers, and organizations worldwide. The book is used by:
The authors position the book as a reference for anyone who wants to understand coworking's impact on people, businesses, and city neighborhoods. It's not just about workspace—it's about how flexible work is reshaping communities globally.
Beyond the printed book, the project continues through the Coworkies Readers Club and Digital52 series, providing ongoing insights and connecting a global community of coworking professionals.
Join thousands of professionals who rely on this book for practical insights, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of the coworking industry. From operators building their first space to researchers studying the future of work.