One of A Working Lab's flexible members is Elisabet Ohlin Sjöström, who leads Key2Brain, an exciting biotech startup. The company has been a member since 2020, coinciding with the launch of the A Working Lab coworking environment at the Karolinska Institute in the heart of Campus Solna. We met and asked some questions about how the flexible membership works.
Why does the flexible membership suit you?
"My company started as a sole proprietorship, and I needed an office. Then A Working Lab (AWL) emerged as an affordable and flexible way to have an office. It suited me perfectly.
"The company runs both consultancy operations and product development. I work both here and in Uppsala. Then it's good to have a more flexible base without paying high costs. Instead of a fixed office space that I wouldn't use all the time. At the same time, it can be lonely to be a sole proprietorship, but here there's the possibility to have 'colleagues' even though they work for other companies."
What added value do you see with the flexible membership?
"Above all, the networking opportunities and the location we're in, where a lot is happening in life science, that is, the heart of the KI campus. But also the meetings with other companies in the same industry, both similar companies and others. There are so many different types of companies here at AWL. It is also close to other companies that are also on campus, so it's easy to pop over for meetings or invite here to Innomedicum because it's a nice meeting place.
"Now, after the pandemic, it's also nice that networking meetings, breakfasts, and events are organized here at AWL. I appreciate that someone takes care of you here. You feel at home. It's a perfect environment for smaller startups that are growing. And when they've grown big enough, they move somewhere else and new startups come in. It's a natural meeting place for young companies."
Did you have any apprehensions that have been disproved?
"At the beginning, I thought one wouldn't get enough private space, but there are bookable spaces and meeting rooms so that you can withdraw when needed.
"I also thought there would be too many people in circulation so that one wouldn't get peace of work. Sure, there are people moving around, but generally, it's quite calm, and everyone respects each other's working hours and doesn't disturb unnecessarily."
Flexible Membership
As a flexible member, you get access to office workspaces in an open environment. You have the freedom to try different places every day and take advantage of the same service offering as other members.