NEW DELHI: WeWork — the space, community, and services provider focused on helping people make a life, not just a living — today officially launched WeWork Labs in India.
WeWork Labs is a center for early-stage startups that takes an innovative and personalized approach to helping entrepreneurs succeed. Coupled with WeWork’s global community of over 268,000 members, WeWork Labs will serve as a hub for early-stage startups in India, providing members with the space, global community, access to investment, and educational resources to help grow their business.
Launched in early 2018 with locations in the U.S., China, Korea, Brazil, Israel, and more, WeWork Labs India will offer tailored programs to early-stage startups from any industry and founders from a diverse array of backgrounds. Members are provided a holistic, unique and no-equity startup programme to support them through their journey as they grow their ideas and business.
WeWork Labs serves as a platform to early-stage startups and a growing ideation hub for forward-thinking organizations, partnering with local incubators, accelerators, and large enterprises to power future corporate innovation in both India and around the globe.
WeWork Labs was launched in Bengaluru by Roee Adler, SVP, Global Head of WeWork Labs. A longtime team member, Roee joined WeWork as Chief Product Officer in 2013, and over the years built WeWork’s product management, software engineering, digital design, and data analysis groups. At present, he spearheads the global expansion of WeWork Labs, the company’s program to power early-stage startups.
“India has cultivated a vibrant and unique startup culture that empowers local startups to generate ideas we know can succeed on the global stage. WeWork Labs will help support this thriving ecosystem by connecting Indian entrepreneurs and startups with the rest of the world, providing the right programming, mentorships and global network they need to fulfill their destiny. We can’t wait to see what innovation we’ll create together.” said Roee Adler, SVP, Global Head of WeWork Labs.
WeWork Labs offers a number of benefits to members in India, including competitive monthly membership rates, weekly community events, discounts on meaningful business and lifestyle services, award-winning design, a global network – both in person through access to other WeWork locations and community around the world and virtually through the WeWork Member Network App, and the opportunity to network with potential new clients and investors. Participating startups will be offered courses, lecture series, and one-on-one meetings to learn everything from accounting and marketing to hiring and pitching future investors.
WeWork Labs in India has assembled an advisory board consisting of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and corporate leaders to help guide the program and support future innovators. The advisory board includes Anand Ahuja (Bhaane & VegNonVeg), Ashish Kashyap (Finzoom), Gautam Mago (A91 Partners), Harsha Kumar (Lightspeed Ventures), Jitu Virwani (Embassy Group), Mohit Thukral (Vivtera), Raghunandan G (TaxiForSure), Rahul Khanna (Trifecta Capital), Rohit Bhat (Airavat Capital), Sanjay Nath (Blume Ventures), Sailesh Tulshan (021 Capital), Shalini Prakash (500 Startups) & Shradha Sharma (YourStory).
“In the last one year since we entered the Indian market, we have worked towards transforming the workplace from just another space to an environment run on collaboration and creativity. India is home to a growing population of entrepreneurs, startups, and established multinationals. With the launch of WeWork Labs, we will be able to support them with required resources that will take their journey towards phenomenal success,” added Karan Virwani, CWeO, WeWork