I'm a 20 Yo Founder Seeking a Desk: Any Free Workspaces Out There?

2 points by stellamettifogo 12 hours ago

Hey everyone!

I’m a 20 yo founder looking for a desk to work from because my room is too small and dark, and I really want to be more productive. Since I start working at 7 AM and most libraries don’t open until 10, I haven’t found a good spot yet.

I’m on a tight budget with rent, so I’d need to find something free. Does anyone have any leads on a place where I could work? Any suggestions would be super helpful! Thanks!

jesserobbins 11 hours ago

(Founder/VC here) if you are in an area where there are VCs who invest in the thing you are founding, tell them that you are a solo founder working on an idea for X, and you would like to work from an office if they have a space you could do that from for a week. Just during business hours. Be a great guest. Polite, clean, quiet, etc.

Second option is that if you are a founder and you have a law firm you are working with, particularly a large startup one they have literal palace offices which alwyas have space. Ask then for if you can work for a week from an office space. Same deal.

  • stellamettifogo 9 hours ago

    Thanks for the suggestion! That’s an interesting idea I hadn’t considered asking a VC firm or a law firm for office space. I’m still in the early stages of my startup (emmo.ai if you wanna check it out). Right now, I don’t have direct connections with VCs yet. Do you think cold-emailing firms with this kind of request would be effective? Or is it something that works better if you already have some traction and a network?

binarymax 12 hours ago

A location would be helpful

gregjor 12 hours ago

I often work from hotel rooms that don't have a desk or decent chair.

Try working on the floor.

https://youtu.be/dCTMWVS0pwA

With a reasonably firm bed you can sit in bed too.

If you mean you want to go out somewhere to work, coffee shops usually open early.

tmaly 10 hours ago

I use to work out of a local coffee shop. I would just buy food and coffee.

Not sure if many places still like to have people camping out these days.

  • dgunay 9 hours ago

    Where I am (LA) most coffee shops are packed throughout the day with people in every seat working on laptops.

  • stellamettifogo 9 hours ago

    I'm not really into the coffee shop vibe while working... just if I have light weight work. Thanks though!

  • MollyRealized 9 hours ago

    Starbucks has recently done a bit of a 180 on that.

gcheong 11 hours ago

Try the commons or library at a local university?

  • stellamettifogo 9 hours ago

    The library is really nice but it opens at 10 which is kind of late for me. I'll try and ask at Stanford if they have public spaces to work!