Challenge provider
Coworken AB is a local coworking initiative currently based in Åtvidaberg, with ambitions to expand to other smaller towns in Östergötland.
Background
Working life is changing rapidly. Remote and hybrid work have created new opportunities for people to live and work outside large cities, while digitalisation and AI are reshaping which services can be automated and which still depend on physical presence, trust, and human interaction. Many smaller towns need stronger meeting places where entrepreneurs, employees, service providers, and residents can connect. This creates an opportunity to rethink coworking as a local work and community hub, a site for complementary services, and a work environment for employees seeking alternatives to the home office or the corporate office.
The challenge is to explore how a local coworking space can become more than a place with desks while also building a financially viable business model.
The challenge
How can Coworken AB develop a financially viable local coworking model that creates value for employees, employers, service providers, and local communities? The challenge is to explore what role Coworken AB could play in the future of work in smaller towns in Östergötland and how its spaces could become relevant for users with different needs. These may include people looking for an alternative to working from home, larger employers seeking flexible local environments for focused work or project days, and service providers who rely on physical presence and personal interaction. The challenge is open to different types of solutions, but any proposal should consider the balance between community-building, employer value, complementary services, and long-term financial viability.
Guiding Questions
- What types of people, services, and local needs could form the foundation of a successful coworking model?
- What revenue streams, pricing models, or partnerships would make the concept financially viable over time?
- How can a strong and welcoming community be created without a permanent reception desk or community manager on site?
- Which complementary services are most valuable in office and coworking markets outside major cities?
- What kinds of alternative work environments could Coworken AB offer to make its spaces attractive to larger employers in cities such as Linköping and Norrköping?
What Students Could Explore
The team could investigate user needs, local market conditions, community-building mechanisms, pricing or membership models, employer arguments, and ways to create trust in an unmanned environment. Possible outputs include a membership journey, a partnership model with larger employers, or a focused-work offer for employees who need a temporary change of environment outside the main office.
Expected Outcome
The expected outcome is a value-creating concept that shows how Coworken AB can attract members, support service providers, strengthen community life, and offer a credible and viable alternative to both home offices and centralised corporate offices. The solution should also consider how Coworken AB can become a trusted partner for larger employers that want to offer employees a work environment closer to where they live. The concept should be grounded in real user needs and presented in a way that can be tested, communicated, and further developed with Coworken AB. It should also be scalable to other locations.