As a freelancer, my favorite place to work from is my couch. It’s kinda the best because I get all the snack breaks I want and never have to wear pants. But sometimes, especially in the winter, I find myself getting weird and anxious after days of isolating myself from the rest of the world. Walking downtown to work out of coffee shops and exercise my social skills is nice, but joining a coworking space filled with other creatives was the real game-changer. I found myself inspired by the people and energy around me, as well as looking forward to the productive work routine I had established by forcing myself to show up to a place every day.
All over the country, coworking spaces are launching with the subtext of being collaborative spaces tailored for startups, small businesses and freelancers. Gone are the days when starting a company means you have to rent a 500-square-foot office space with a private door. Coworking offers the flexibility of working remotely with the added bonus of being part of a community. If you’re living that entrepreneur life on the Front Range, this culture is nothing new to you. In fact, some of the local coworking spaces are highly-coveted, exclusive and competitive, especially with the tech scene that’s exploded in recent years, but did you know that marijuana-focused coworking spaces are a thing now, too?
Cultivated Synergy, located in the heart of Denver’s arts district, serves as a hub for the cannabis industry. By hosting cannabis-infused yoga and dab-and-dine events where industry partners can network, as well as offering a collaborative office space for startups and small businesses, they aim to be the epicenter of the local marijuana industry.
They currently have more than 60 members, representing almost 30 companies and brands. While some members don’t occupy actual office space, they’re still part of a bigger networking group that helps sponsor the many events since apparently the 6,500-square-foot, renovated warehouse grew more from a need for event space rather than coworking space.
Its most popular events include weekly weed yoga classes and monthly dab-and-dine events, where visitors can sample concentrates and eat cannabis-infused cuisine. In one of the most heavily saturated co-working cities in the country, the marijuana-centric get-togethers have provided the most value to its members and are what really set it apart from other nearby spaces.
If you travel frequently, finding a coworking space that has locations — or at least discounted rates at other coworking spaces — in other cities is essential. Cultivated Synergy is looking to expand into the Seattle and Los Angeles markets within the year, and may open a space in Colorado Springs, Fort Collins or Boulder. Having a second Colorado location would provide budding startups collaborative office space with flexible leases, but the networking events are more in demand and currently Boulderites travel to Denver to attend.
The coworking space, like many of its competitors, offers tiered membership options. There are Short Stay members who pay $49 to have access to communal areas for two days a week only. These spaces feature soft seating, library-style tables, bookable conference rooms and a coffee bar. Private Office memberships start at $2,000 a month and include 24/7 access to everything, including faster internet, growth consultations and all the member-only events.
Members can structure their days however they please. The design of the space and the timing of events is conducive to helping members refresh, step away from their screens and meet people or listen to new ideas. I didn’t see anything on the website about a room dedicated solely to hotboxing, but I’m sure there’s some sort of dedicated space to getting stoned.
The cool thing about coworking is that you’re not just coming in and taking a desk. You’re joining a community and the space you choose to work in is an extension of your business, so take the time to find the one that is right for you. Every coworking space has a different vibe, its own personality, so visit lots of different locations and look for one that fits your brand and your personal style. It may take some time, but it’s worth it if you want to grow and challenge yourself as an entrepreneur. Â
