Did you know that “coworking” — a flexible, drop-in space where entrepreneurs can collaborate, create, and connect — started in the San Francisco Bay Area 10 years ago by Brad Neuberg, an independent worker?

In the past decade, coworking has grown to an international phenomenon with an estimated 1,500 coworking spaces thriving worldwide. In our blog last year, we highlighted several coworking spaces in Fremont. Now a year later, these coworking spaces are flourishing, adding networking events and programs for startups at their facilities to help connect entrepreneurs to specialized resources.

In addition to work spaces, coworking facilities generally provide rent-by-the-hour conference rooms, and in some cases, “maker” equipment such as 3D printers, wood cutting machines, and welding machines. The environments foster entrepreneurship by allowing for casual interaction in eating or lounging areas whether that’s a foosball table or a coffee bar.

The City of Fremont plans to provide additional support to entrepreneurs through the Alameda County Small Business Development Center (Alameda County SBDC) that will offer free workshops addressing new business topics ranging from business plans to advanced social media marketing. To learn more about these workshops go to the Alameda County SBDC website.

As the demand for entrepreneurship services grow, the City of Fremont will continue to help meet the needs of the local startup community, including its support of a new Startup Grind chapter in Fremont. (More on that in next week’s blog post!)

So hat’s off to a decade of coworking! We look forward to seeing this work style grow and evolve. Click here for more information on events celebrating the anniversary of coworking in the Bay Area.