Chirag Gupta, 23, co-founder of Deyor, a budget hotel and campsite aggregator, works from cafes and restaurants mostly. Gupta uses the services of Qdesq, an online aggregator of workspace, and finds it much cheaper than renting out a specific facility.

“We work in the marketplace model and book some space in a restaurant. Customers can come to our site and book a workspace online. The deal includes access to Wi-Fi and food coupons,” said Paras Arora, co-founder and CEO, Qdesq. The company has tied up with 35 cafes and restaurants in and around Delhi-NCR for offering this service.

A number of restaurants are converting part of their inventory into shared workspace during off-peak hours. For just Rs. 350 a day or Rs. 5,000 a month, start-up entrepreneurs can work from the restaurants’ premises. In addition to food, some restaurants are offering boardroom facilities, storage space, conference facilities, high-speed Wi-Fi, stationery and printers.

While restaurants are able to generate additional revenue stream and maximise use of space, it helps create accessible work space for new-age employees.

“Co-working spaces have grown in popularity over the past few years. There has been a boom in the number of co-working spaces and cafés in the country, fostering a culture of entrepreneurship, creativity and independence,” says Riyaaz Amlani, CEO and MD, Impresario Handmade Restaurants, who experimented with the concept at his restaurant Social in Mumbai and Delhi.

The model is proving to be a boon for start-ups that already function on a shoe-string budget but require a well-maintained office.

Viacom18 has launched FLYP@MTV with a unique concept of work-chill and play. MTV plans to add 10 cafes and do a business of Rs. 300 crore in the next five years. Viacom18 has roped in Gurugram-based Funbars Hospitality as the master licensee to conceptualise and develop the brand.

Viraj Lamba, Director, Funbar, said, “Sales are usually dull during daytime. The idea of converting few covers (tables) into workstations is to monetise them during such a period.” FLYP@MTV is typically housed in an area of 8,000-10,000 sqft. Lamba said the company is seeing occupancy of 60 per cent in its co-working spaces.

Source: Business Line