Co-working spaces or shared work spaces are increasing in number across the country. Friyey, which was launched on May 1, 2019, joins the list of co-working spaces in Pune. Yogesh Thore, the proud founder of the startup, says Friyey is a ‘community of startup and entrepreneurs’.
With several co-working spaces coming up in different parts of the city, we ask Thore what makes Friyey stand out from the rest.
Thinking out of the box
Telling us about the origin of the Friyey story, Thore says, “I got my MBA in Marketing from Indira Institute of Management in 2011. I worked for six years in three different MNCs and later, quit my job to follow my dreams of being an entrepreneur. I knew nothing about hospitality but I loved this sector as a customer. So I got into this sector, initially, as service staff for a month in a restaurant and later, as a delivery boy for an online food delivery app, which gave me insights into the operations.”
After which, Thore started a website offering restaurants discount coupons. “Usually, I met the managers during afternoons to make the deals and offer the coupons. During one such meeting I didn’t have space to sit and work. So I asked the restaurant manager if I could use the space to work till their deal was done as they had WiFi as well. He said, ‘Yes, you can, as no one comes here during the day time’. This line stayed with me and I realised that I don’t have an office and they don’t have customers in the afternoons, so why can’t we restructure this completely?”
Thore adds that he didn’t have any idea of what a co-working space was. “Not having a prior experience helps one to think outside the box. I can confidently say that till now no one has come up with the kind of co-working space that we have designed,” he claims.
Stands out from the crowd
When it comes to co-working spaces, one can expect a similar concept of shared spaces that is either ownership based or it can be taken on rent. But what’s different about Friyey?
Thore replies, “What makes Friyey different from the rest is that we have zero capital expenses in our business model, which means we transform night clubs and pubs into co-working spaces during the day time. From 9 am to 6 pm, we operate these places as a co-working space under the brand Friyey where startups, entrepreneurs and freelancers work. So the staff of the night clubs aren’t allowed till 6 pm. Also, the trial for three days are free for people to experience. Even the tea and coffee are served by our support staff and not that of the night clubs.”
Adding more, he says, “With like-minded people sitting and working together it can also help them in their businesses. The only reason we chose night clubs and pubs is because they have a good ambience and the seating capacity is good. This way, we are using the unutilised space of these clubs in the morning as the prime time for them starts late evening.”
Today, Friyey has acquired five spaces from night clubs and pubs in Pune, including Wakad, two locations in Baner, Viman Nagar and Magarpatta. Every weekend they arrange a session where they call startup founders at their locations and ask them to share their journey on a particular topic. When asked how do they see themselves in the competitive environment, Thore says, “Since we don’t have capital expenditure and have a ready set up with us, the growth has been rapid. We have a very scalability model.”
In a way, such startups are good for the environment too. By creating a common platform for night clubs, who give out their spaces for commercial work, and for entrepreneurs and startups to get an easy space with a good ambience to work, Friyey is helping to reduce carbon footprint.
Ask Thore where he sees his startup in the next five years and he says, “With five spaces already, we want to make it to 10 by February 2020. Our next target is Bengaluru and then moving across India. After which we want to capture the international market.”
