Spacepool aims to ‘do an Airbnb’ to office sector

Ex-HB Reavis business development analyst, Eugene Tavyev, has launched a search platform aimed at helping firms find workspace, dealing directly with office hosts.

Spacepool, based in London, seeks to connect independent flexible workspace operators with companies by helping to find the right space based on their selected criteria and removing the need for an agent.

Tavyev, who has funded the start-up with backing from an unnamed angel investor, said: “We’ve addressed the gap in the office search market by creating a simple, user-centric platform, where businesses have full control, enabling them to look for space on their own terms. It’s simple, time and cost efficient and streamlines a process that can be arduous and frustrating.

“More than ever before, successful businesses need to remain nimble and agile, regardless of size, to be able to make the right decisions depending on where they are in the business cycle.

“Spacepool is more than just a search platform – our goal is to enable and inspire businesses to grow by providing access to spaces that reflect their needs, values and culture.”

Spacepool is free to use for businesses, with rental rates set by the Hosts. Hosts also become a member of a platform which is promoting their brand, their values and ultimately the breadth of choice businesses actually have to find a home. Currently hosts include First Base Serviced Offices, House of Creative and Finsbury Business Centre.

Spacepool makes money by taking 10% from the transaction for the first 12 months.

Tavyev said his platform enables businesses to create bespoke lease agreements and tailored terms and conditions, which reflect their needs.

All workspace providers undergo a thorough validation process to ensure they’re compliant with Spacepool’s policy and values.

Requests to rent are submitted directly through Spacepool, which provides a dedicated messaging service for businesses to connect with the Hosts. The platform also has a built-in payment functionality, which means everything – from finding a space to paying rent – can be done on the same website, helping time-poor companies optimise their processes and focus on their strategic objectives.