Female-focused coworking startup rethinks Charlotte — but international expansion remains on track
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Coterie is a startup coworking company focused on serving women. It has grand ambitions.
The concept is to deliver a collaborative work environment that’s safe and supportive for female professionals and artists.
Like most coworking companies, members would pay a monthly rate to have access to the workspace. Coterie says its differentiator is the type of services members will get in return — including a full-time concierge, wellness programs and a hydromassage suite — and the network of women who will be a part of it. Unlike most coworking spaces, there will be no private offices, only community workspace.
The company is run by Joanna Bailey, a design consultant and entrepreneur. She has plans to be in 40 cities in four years. Coworking tends to be male dominated, she says, and this will fill avoid in multiple markets.
The company is operated out of Charlotte and was days away from opening a location here.
They even had a ribbon cutting in a space on West Carson Boulevard just south of Uptown.
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But Bailey said the company had to walk away from the building. They looked for other locations to lease, but couldn’t find a good fit. Bailey blamed the commercial real estate market.
“Things are flying, and properties are turning over really rapidly,” she said.
Coterie is now looking to build its Charlotte location — new construction.
Bailey said the company is scouting land right now, and expects to build in South End or NoDa. She said there aren’t any renderings yet of what it would look like, but to expect a beautiful building.
That’s still likely 15-18 months out, though.
Coterie had signed members with the expectation of opening the coworking space in late summer. Bailey said they are not being charged, and will be invited to attend Coterie events planned for 2017 for free.
Meanwhile, the national and international expansion is ongoing.
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Bailey said Coterie is up and running in downtown Pittsburgh and is close to launching in Chicago and Orlando. They’re scouting locations in Boston and Nasheville, and have plans for Detroit, Puerto Rico, Dublin and London next year.
Coterie Pittsburgh. Photo by Coterie via Facebook