Meet Rahul Krishna – Who Inspires Workspaces & Coworking Culture | Empowerers Coworking City
I hope this can inspire you to become a successful entrepreneur too! Why is it important to hear the story of a successful entrepreneur?
Having the vision to become an entrepreneur is great. Making it happen is another story!
In that frame, I had the pleasure to interview Rahul Krishna, Founder of a New Delhi based co-working space known as Empowerers Coworking City.
1. How do you select cities for expansion? How much do you cater to the specific needs of each city?
Each city carries within its DNA a certain eclectic combination of its culture, its history and its vision for the future. We select cities on the basis of its demographic potential, its ability to assimilate diverse talent and its ease of doing business. Having cut our teeth in the Delhi’s corporate sector we found the Delhi-NCR region to be the most favorable location for launching “Empowerers”. Situated in Green Park (South Delhi) and well connected, we have made ourselves accessible to the fresh entrepreneurial talent flocking to the city. Our intelligently designed spaces frequently attract the expatriates who seek an undisturbed setting in the chaos that is India.
2. A lot of your members are entrepreneurs or budding entrepreneurs. How has that impacted your community?
Interacting with an incredibly talented and diverse group of entrepreneurs both budding and established, on a daily basis has renewed our belief in the potential of our youth. From designers to photographers to coders, this space is now a melting pot of brilliant minds.
Our community offer an ideal space for mentorship where nascent ideas can be nurtured, chiseled and executed. We have seen ventures flourish within a few months, not only meeting but exceeding their own expectations.
3. How do members connect at the workspace and outside?
Our co-working space has a busy calendar all-round the year. With events, workshops, stand up gigs and weekend parties, the members get all the opportunity to mingle and ideate. We have seen lifelong friendships develop over cups of latte here. Empowerers is situated in the most happening part of the city, with prominent clubs and restaurants right across the block. Members can often be found unwinding there after a tiring work week. Thus our space provides great possibilities for both work and pleasure.
4. How often do you hear requests from your members?
We get various kinds of requests from our members, all day long. Someone wants the music tweaked, someone wants the lighting a bit mellow, while some want their cabins perfumed a particular way for enhanced productivity. For us each member is special and our staff makes sure, each demand, no matter how bizarre is attended fulfilled.
5. Have you noticed any patterns about how and when members use the co-working space? Do they plug in from 9 to 5, or are they coming and going more than you expected?
Co-working is unique because of its flexible work regimen options. At Empowerers we have both the night owls and 9-5’ers working. Our round the clock facilities ensure the work runs smoothly 24*7.
6. Have you raised any kind of external funding?
Quite thankfully, our swelling community has made our financial model self-sustainable and attractive for future members. We make sure to pass off the benefits to our clients, from time to time.
7. Are you making money? Have the locations reached break-even? When do you think the company will turn profitable?
It has been a roller coaster ride, we have seen lean phases but eventually managed to clock our projected targets. The company turned profitable within a year and in line with our founding philosophy started passing off a section of our profit for our social responsibilities. Managing the routine logistic expenses was a challenge at first but ingenious finance management and a bullish marketing strategy sailed us through.
8. What’s that one thing that your current members like the most about the space?
Connectivity, and it’s not just the wireless internet on their phones, Empowerers ensures a holistic connection develops between its community members. The larger than life personality of our co-founders works up magic as stressful deadlines loom. Whether you are a lone-wolf or a big team, no one feels out of place here. The interiors have been designed to make the space interactive and seamless. The ambience is cultivated creatively for an empowering feel all day long.
9. Please state the following facts.
∙Specialty – Location and Easy access to resources
∙Annual member fees – The membership is monthly and costs 7500 plus taxes
∙Is there a waitlist – Yes, but it should not be a concern for a prospective client.
∙Amenities – Beverages, Round the clock Internet and Printing facility available. A prestigious address for routine communication.
∙No. of locations and cities present in – 2 locations, currently in Hauz Khas Village & Near Green park metro
∙Expansion plans – We aim to further extend our presence across Delhi NCR.
∙Companies you have partnered with – Amazon, Digital Ocean, My operator, Knowlarity, Makemytrip, Zolo Stays and multiple others.
∙Occupancy rate
∙Operational Since: 2016
∙Total area (in SqFt.): 9,000 | 350 Seats
∙Member break up in terms of large companies, SMEs, startups and freelancers: Large companies constitute 50 % another 40 % are SME’s and the rest 10% are the bright freelancers.
