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Synergy Porto — Building Community Before Coworking
In this episode of Around the World in 250 Coworking Spaces, Pauline visits Synergy Porto in Portugal to meet founders Inês and Elder, whose mission is to put community at the core of coworking.
Key highlights
- Origins in education & design — Inês has a background in multimedia and teaching entrepreneurship, while Elder is a product designer and maker.
- Community-first approach — They built a network of like-minded people before opening the physical space, ensuring the community shaped what the space would offer.
- Three floors of flexibility — From open desks and private offices to meeting rooms and prototyping areas, members can choose their ideal workspace.
- Creative workshops & events — Hosting yoga, Tai Chi, design sessions, and conferences alongside networking events.
- Business support — Offering mentorship, entrepreneurship tips, and resources to help members develop their ventures.
- Family-like atmosphere — Members are treated like part of a big extended family, with shared lunches and even homegrown produce cooked for the community.
- Pandemic adaptations — Kept doors open for members who couldn’t work from home, and began developing online courses.
Synergy Porto is more than a coworking space — it’s a creative and supportive hub where work, learning, and community life intertwine.
Follow along for more coworking stories from the global series.
Related Coworking Spaces
- Work ON Wood — see post: Work ON Wood
- Unicorn Workspaces Portugal — see post: Unicorn Workspaces Portugal
- Typographia Cowork — see post: Typographia Cowork
