Uganda’s leading creative and collaborative workspace for freelancers, consultants and entrepreneurs @The Hub is planning to open doors across the country’s capital Kampala.
Jantien Zuurbier, the founder, told HumanIPO she wants to make sure that developers in the city access a workspace to help them achieve their dreams.
“We have about 12 individual desks in four workspaces and a board room that seats about 10 people. There is an outdoor terrace, a lunchroom and a meeting space that seats about 20 people,” Zuurbier said.
Zuurbier describes @The Hub as a creative space for people with ideas and passion for change to work, meet, connect, learn and grow, which borrows features from a professional workspace, a café, a network and a workshop.
Presently, @The Hub, situated in Uganda’s capital Kampala, has put its focus on organising more network events, streamlining its administration and member registration as well as expanding events and restaurant activities at @The Hub.
Zuurbier a Dutch, who has been Uganda for over 5 years says she was inspired by a global startup movement, and dreamed of opening a collaborative space that would act as an incubator for innovative solutions as well as effect social change in Uganda.
She says she wants to make @The HUB a more inspiring and financially attractive workspace to individuals and small startup companies.
“Our members do not have to worry about utilities, rent, office furniture, security, internet and all other expenses that you would incur if you are to set up own office space. Also they are given the opportunity to interact and work on projects together with other members,” she adds.
She said that initially, people were not familiar with the concept of co-working although it’s changing now as @The Hub is almost fully booked each day.
The lunch cafe and their occasional movie nights helped popularise the workspace, she said.
“Actually we have recently joined the Business Innovation Consortium Uganda so that we can better support and guide start-ups as we are all offering slightly different services,” she said.
@The Hub was officially launched on April 26 2012. She says the East African Start-up scene is very promising and believes their most promising startup Solar Sister will help inspire other startups at The HUB.
The concept of co-working is still very new in Kampala and the demand for it is potentially huge.
Currently, 88mph Garage Nairobi is the biggest co-working space in East and Central Africa. Located in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, the 800-square metre space with over 120 desks has a café and an extensive rooftop for holding events. Run by the Danish/Kenyan accelerator 88mph, it draws together freelancers and tech-related entrepreneurs from the entire region. The venue in addition hosts seminars, trainings and get-togethers.
