Two new Dublin co-working hubs for start-ups announced

Shared working spaces on Dawson Street and Pearse Street for entrepreneurs

Space@DublinBIC, which has capacity for more than 200 people, promises an affordable office solution for budding entrepreneurs, freelances and start-ups.

It wasn’t that long ago that start-ups were starved for office space in Ireland with few options outside of the long-established Fumbally Exchange in Dublin.

A whole swathe of co-working hubs such as the Tara Building have opened up in recent months, though, and joining their ranks this week are two more.

Dublin Business Innovation Centre (Dublin BIC), a public-private business support organisation, has announced plans to establish a new start-up hub and co-working facility on the first and second floor of 61 Dawson Street.

Space@DublinBIC, which has capacity for more than 200 people, promises an affordable office solution for budding entrepreneurs, freelances and start-ups.

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Reflecting the shortage of office space in Dublin city centre, 20 private offices in Space@DublinBIC have already been pre-sold to companies including RecommenderX, Black Shamrock, Travel Tech Labs, Swiftqueue and Travelling Languages. Co-working space and dedicated hot desks are now available to businesses and individuals.

Hot desks

Space@DublinBIC offers clients a dedicated desk for €375 a month or a hot desk for €200 a month. A five-day hot-desk pass can be secured for €59. Space will also accommodate those outside Dublin with flexible packages. Companies and entrepreneurs will have access to 1Gb wifi, an on-site cafe, storage facilities and meeting rooms. The base will also offer a range of programmes and events to help growing businesses scale.

"By choosing to locate themselves in Space, start-ups and scale-ups will not only benefit from being immersed in a hub of entrepreneurship, but they will also be surrounded by the supports they need to ensure their company is a success," said Michael Culligan, chief executive of Dublin BIC.

Separately, London co-working provider Huckletree is also opening a shared workspace in Dublin.

Huckletree, which closed a £2.4 million series A round to fund the expansion of its co-working community in late 2015, is co-led by Irishman Andrew Lynch.

The company, which has three co-working spaces in London, is opening up a new hub on Dublin’s Pearse Street that will be open to 400 members.

Alongside private studios, dedicated desks and hot desks, the 2,800sq m (30,000sq ft) site includes an events space.

“Our goal is to create an epicentre for entrepreneurial talent in the heart of Dublin,” said Mr Lynch.

Charlie Taylor

Charlie Taylor

Charlie Taylor is a former Irish Times business journalist