MySpotit launches office sharing platform
While the previous global economic crisis gave rise to home sharing in the tourism sector through Airbnb, which helps save money while travelling, then the current crisis is significantly changing the way we work. Hardi Kinnas, co-founder and manager of MySpotit, suggests that a hybrid work model is gaining ground, unattaching workers from their traditional offices and putting them in more dynamic environments.
"Globally, we have just undergone the world's largest experiment in teleworking and naturally people don't want to go back to the way things were,” Kinnas said. “We learned a lot about ourselves during those past few months and we are craving for change in our daily worklife.”
The economic downturn has led companies to review their costs. Mass redundancies have left many with disproportionately large offices. Employers are rethinking whether there is a need for a permanent office at all. Just recently the technology giant Twitter announced its new remote work policy.
According to global studies, flexible working arrangements are quickly becoming the new normal. Working remotely has grown 159% since 2005, more than 11 times faster than the rest of the workforce. Adding the effects of the Covid-crises, we are seeing a high boost in development in just a few months, believes Kinnas.
MySpotit has developed a platform where companies who own or manage premises with redundant space set up for offices can put their workstations up for rent to employees of other companies or freelancers looking for flexible workspace outside of their employer's office or home. Similar to Spotify, for a fix monthly fee, people can use different offices in numerous locations. Team leaders can bring their teams together when necessary, choosing the space with the right size and functionality.
Unique in Europe, MySpotit is starting out from Estonia and Latvia and will then expand to other European countries. "The new platform might work as a life-vest for companies in difficulties who still want to keep their employees motivated. Our business clients can provide their employees a choice between a variety of locations and types of facilities where they can work on their own terms," Kinnas said.
MySpotit was founded in 2018 by Hardi Kinnas, Mikk Puurmann and the event marketing agency Orangetime. At the end of 2019, CTO Timo Mitt joined the founders and the startup received €100,000 from well-known Estonian investors, such as Bolt founder Martin Villig and long-term CEO of Swedbank Estonia, Robert Kitt.
Investors also included Mikko Silventola (Bolt's first investor, Frontier), Taavi Tamkivi (Skype, Transferwise, Salv), Gert Jostov (Technopolis Ülemiste), Martin Otsa (East Capital Baltics), Asso Lankots (Leibur, Lantmännen Unibake), Toomas Talts (Codeborne), Priit Congo (Net Group) and Mart Mere (Est-Agar).
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