An idea that works

Even around 10 years ago the leafy suburb of Powai was largely a residential area But then a combination of factors such as Special Economic Zones being located there and easy connectivity to both the eastern and western suburbs transformed the neighbourhood into the swanky business hub it is today Be it banks large multinationals or humble startups its the preferred destination for a variety of enterprises Not just that with the idea of coworking gaining currency in India Powai too now has a host of spaces dedicated to the concept one of which Of10 we check out on a sweltering Monday afternoon since unlike some others this one is a completely homegrown ventureThe open pantryBut the seeds for the vast space were first laid in New York Thats where cofounder Upahar Sood who started the place with his brother Umang was introduced to coworking offices in 2015 and was immediately sold to the concept I was amazed by the vibe and the energy of the place There was also a lot of interaction between the people there which isnt what youd find in a regular corporate office Sood tells us adding that when he eventually returned to Mumbai with a plan to start something in the real estate space opening a coworking site seemed like the best optionThe office is located on the ground floor of a massive swanky industrial tower and there are around 30 people individually glued to their laptops or bouncing ideas off each other when we enter The deacutecor is slick and vibrant with one wall covered with posters of the statue of Davids face and bright colours streaming out of his eyes Two meeting rooms lie in different corners and a compact telephone booth in another while the far end of the space is set aside for an open pantry with blackandwhite checkered tiles lining the floor Opposite that at the other end Sood has started hosting events like plays and workshops where the audience sits on a long line of stepped benches set against a wall And he adds that all the tables in the central section can be dismantled to create more room on occasions when larger gatherings are involvedThat generally is the idea behind Of10 Sood says that he is trying to help people rethink the way they work especially in a city like Mumbai where professionals waste an unhealthy amount of time travelling to and from their offices Sometimes though people dont want to work from home either since their productivity decreases he says adding that he plans to open outlets in other places in the future which going by the seamless manner that the one in this business hub is functioning shouldnt take too many more yearsOPEN 24X7 AT Ground floor Prudential Building Central Avenue Hiranandani Gardens PowaiCALL 62215191COST Varies according to needsThe Guide Report Card1 Some coworking spaces are sprawling But Of10 has a limited scale giving it a boutique feel2 The telephone booth is a bit too compact and would have been better if it had more space3 The fact that clients are encouraged to visit the place before payment structures are decided is a nice touchSimilar places in PowaiCoworking spaces have taken off in Powai and the fact that IIT Mumbai is located in the area also helps matters Some other offices similar to of10 that have opened up in recent years include Awfis 603 Vatika We Work and CoWorks Together they are changing the way working people operate in the suburbCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates