Developers

Co-working spaces for startups in Lagos

By Gbenga Onalaja Oct 26, 2015

Co-working spaces are a pretty big deal. For a small-time developer working on what could be his breakout concept, they are the most viable backbone there is. It’s good way to bear the cutthroat cost of connectivity, trippy electricity and expensive office spaces. They come with other advantages as well, including a community that can make the developer feel less alone, diversity that can boost creativity, knowledge sharing and healthy competition. If you are looking for co-working spaces in Lagos for your team or as an individual, start from here:

Lagos Garage – Ikoyi, Lagos

The space is one of the three co-working spaces in Africa under the Garage brand. They are in Cape Town (Cape Town Garage) and Nairobi (Nairobi Garage). The space is run by L5Lab in partnership with 88mph, 440ng, MainOne and Google. Find out about their rates here.

Venia Hub – Lekki, Lagos

Venia hub is more for the entrepreneurs at the higher rung of the entrepreneurship ladder. These are infact more of office spaces than collaborative workspaces. For startup teams who might need to prove they are more than a band of snooty teenagers, Venia Hub is a good spot. Get their rates here.

Terra Kulture – Tiamiyu Savage, Lagos

Terra is not officially a co-working space, but, on any given day at Terra Kulture (normally a restaurant), you are wont to find the startup kind with a MacBook on the dining tables, punching away. There is electricity and free WiFi. All that is left is for the Terra Management to work an official co–working space plan into its operations. The vibe is also good here, with the artwork and music around.

iDea Hub – Yaba, Lagos

IdeaHub is normally an accelerator/incubator. But it also takes in startups that work from its premises with no equity commitment as well, as opposed to those who are in its accelerator programme. It also recently started its open house programme for students around the Yaba corridor. With the open house, students have access to iDEA facilities every last Friday and Saturday of the month for free.

CcHub – Yaba, Lagos

Sitting beside iDea hub is the first innovation hub in Lagos (it opened in 2012). It’s also the most popular. It takes in individual developers as well as teams. CcHub combines multiple fronts too; an incubator, an accelerator and a collaborative workspace. Check the rates here.

Capital Square – Lekki, Lagos

Run by Modupe Macaulay, Capital Square is one of the nicest-looking co-working spaces in Lagos. It’s quite a distance from all the startup action on the Lagos mainland around Yaba, but it’s a lot of quiet with the just the right vibe.

Cre8Space, Victoria Island, Lagos

This is a new one. So new you can still smell the fresh paint when you walk in. The space is focused on fin-tech startups. Part of its services – aside renting out workspaces – is providing access to mentors from Nigerian financial services sector for startups. It’s got a good upscale vibe as well, with an open floor plan. The Cafe Neo outlet to the side is a welcome cherry on top. Check out their rates here.