So how do you go about selecting a location for your buildings?
Finding locations can be tricky and difficult, but we adhere to our ethos. Part of that is to ensure our locations are accessible. Regardless of the mode of transport—be it car, bus, train or other public transport—our spaces are intentionally structured to be closer to people. We have positioned ourselves in the suburban areas to ensure people can easily access their daily requirements, whether it’s shopping at the mall, going to the gym, or getting lunch. Our current office in Brookside, Claremont was a great find, while the planned second building in Constantia is going to be part of a shopping centre complex, with everything practically at your doorstep.

The first and most important thing that we look at is the shape of the building; certain buildings just don’t lend themselves to being co-working spaces. An office without windows doesn’t work—it needs to be a building where each office can have access to natural light. Once that box is ticked, we look at parking, which is the second biggest demand in Cape Town. We then look at other important basics such as good fibre availability and the current tenants or owners in the building. We look at the extent to which the building is accessible from nearby highways and public transport routes. It’s also a bonus if the building is close to retail stores.

One thing that differentiates Venture Workspace from the competition is the fact that you have flexible leases. How do these work?
With commercial offerings, you have to sign at least a three- to five-year lease and pay a massive deposit. Here at Venture Workspace we’re flexible and you can start from a month to a year. The other flexibility we have is, as your company grows or faces challenges, we’re able to adjust and give you something that can work for you. Whether you want a bigger office or a hot desk option, we can assist across the board.

Tell us more about the virtual office service?
It’s actually a great offer for startups. You don’t physically have to rent office space in the building but, for all intents and purposes, you actually are. In essence, you can use our business address for your business cards and your mail—we can receive packages and post on your behalf, we can courier it to you, or you personally can come and collect it whenever you’re in the area. Together with that, we issue a telephone number, so all incoming calls for your company will be answered professionally by our receptionist and then we can transfer the call or take messages as you please. You also have access to our meeting rooms whenever you need to meet a client.

Co-working spaces and virtual offices are still fledgling concepts in South Africa. What is your company’s long-term goal?
A number of overseas companies have moved into South Africa with this concept, but we are a truly South African company. Many of our competitors focus on the glamour to attract more people, whereas our focus is on people who are dedicated to their business but need a place to work from.

We are taking things slowly and conservatively. The dream is to grow nationally, but for now the focus is on Cape Town. We have been at our current location for three years, which has been fantastic and a great learning curve. Interest in our space is growing daily and we have a wonderful selection of clients, some of whom have been with us from the beginning.

Our second location, based in Constantia, will be open from 1 December 2019. It’s a brand-new building, so it’s wonderful being part of the design process right from the start. It will be our second location in the Southern Suburbs and the location is absolutely perfect: right next to the M3 and servicing both the Constantiaberg area and the deep South.

How can people get more information on Venture Workspace?
Most of the information is on our website (ventureworkspace.co.za), but we love people coming in to see the space for themselves as it’s a place best experienced rather than discussed over the phone. Some people still have misconceptions about how these workspaces function, so by coming in they can see what it would be like working here: that there’s privacy and extra offerings such as the business support and kitchen services. I find that most people who come in and experience the space are happy to sign up.