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With remote jobs becoming increasingly common, Denver has seen an influx in co-working spaces. In an effort to appeal to the large population of hard-working women, three female-based coworking spaces have popped up in the Mile High City in the last year. We took a tour of each space and sat down with the founders to learn more about what they offer.
(MORE: Are You Part of Colorado’s Gig Economy?)
Charley Co.
“If you want a coworking space where you just come and sit your butt, this isn’t the space for you,” says Bryn Carter, founder and CEO of Charley Co.—Denver’s newest coworking space (pictured above). Located in the Source Hotel and Market Hall in RiNo, Charley Co. is a women-only workspace with a “come as you are” motto. While Carter isn’t anti-men, she wanted to create a space where women felt completely comfortable and supported by other hard-working women. The second floor—which is filled with natural light from the skylight—features open seating, desks (which can be reserved), a cozy lounge, and chic bathrooms.
The entire space is decorated with art from local female artists such as Lindee Zimmer, Jay Davis, and Alyssa Mora, the artist behind Charley Co.’s “Come As You Are” mural. While Charley Co. offers six different memberships to choose from, the most popular is the Biz Babe membership ($160), which is created for businesses that want to show appreciation for women on their team by giving them access to Charley Co.’s workspaces and resources. The membership includes six drop-in sessions for up to three different women with the opportunity to help network and market for their company. 3350 Brighton Blvd.
Don’t Miss: On December 7 and 8, Charley Co. is throwing its first holiday market, featuring 20 female artisans. In addition to getting some holiday shopping done, the event offers the opportunity to meet and mingle with other local Denverites. Free
The Riveter
When Amy Nelson, founder and CEO of The Riveter, opened the flagship space in Seattle’s Capitol Hill in 2017, she just wanted to give women more opportunities to network. “I think if you have a level playing field, women will win everything,” she says. The 12,000-foot space that opened this past July in RiNo features rotating works from local artists, an open floor plan with floating desks, conference rooms, and an event space that looks out into the back alley, with great views of the CRUSH WALLS’ murals.
To spark confidence, the space features a neon “strong arm” fixture inspired by Rosie the Riveter that greets members as they come in. While the the Riveter is “Built by Women for Everyone,” men only make up 30 percent of memberships. For Nelson, if half of the memberships are female, that’s considered a win for her. Unlike other co-working spaces, the Riveter offers a free membership that gives access to select open-to-the-public programs and networking opportunities, as well as a Riveter member profile. 2734 Walnut St.
Don’t Miss: On November 19 from 6–8 p.m., the Riveter will host “The Juggle Is Real: How Moms Define Success on Their Own Terms”, a session on how three women have juggled family life while building businesses and careers. Tickets start at $15
RISE Collaborative Workspace
While RISE Collaborative Workspace benefits everyone, it was designed with women in mind. Stacy Taubman, founder and CEO of RISE, started interviewing women in July 2013 to figure out how to help young girls on their journeys with her first company, Girls Dreaming Big. “I interviewed 300 women my first year and what I realized was, these women were craving what I was craving.” After a year of “unintentional qualitative market research,” according to Taubman, she launched RISE Collaborative in 2015 with its first campus located in St. Louis. Taubman wanted to create a space that gave back to the next generation and allowed others to collaborate in meaningful ways through networking, member-exclusive events, and helpful resources.
Tucked away in Cherry Creek, the Denver campus features a 10,000-plus-foot open floor plan decorated with chandeliers (Taubman’s favorite interior decor item). While RISE is women-centered, men are always welcome. Social, the most popular membership at RISE, costs only $50 a month and is designed for anyone who wants to tap into the community through weekly social events, curated workshops, as well as access to the private member portal. 730 Colorado Blvd., Suite 200
Don’t Miss: If you find yourself often focusing on the negative, be sure to check out Food for Thought: The Essentials of Asset-Based Thinking on November 19, from noon to 1 p.m. Free for members