Global coworking network – the Impact Hub case

The 2021 presentation described Impact Hub as a global network supporting entrepreneurs and enterprises focused on social and environmental impact. It reported a network spanning more than 100 locations in over 55 countries, with more than 17,000 entrepreneurs, 21 million customers, 150 million people reached and more than 460 partner programmes. The deck connected social entrepreneurship with progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and cited figures on the contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises to global GDP and job creation. It outlined four functions for Impact Hubs: building communities, developing pipelines of entrepreneurial innovations, connecting those innovations with corporate and institutional SDG initiatives, and providing a platform for successful ideas to scale. Its service model combined collaborative communities, entrepreneurial support, physical and virtual infrastructure, and connections across local impact ecosystems. Programme areas included education, startup support, institutional innovation, convening and ecosystem development. Examples from Costa Rica, the Netherlands, Ghana and Indonesia illustrated ventures addressing food scarcity, plastic waste and access to clean energy. The presentation also summarised 2020 initiatives involving solidarity funds, online programmes, shared practices, new partnerships and planning for the future.

Key findings

• Impact Hub reported more than 17,000 entrepreneurs across over 100 locations in more than 55 countries.
• The network reported 21 million customers, 150 million people reached and more than 460 partner programmes.
• The presentation stated that SMEs drove 67% of global GDP and created 58% of new jobs.
• Impact Hub defined four roles spanning community building, innovation pipelines, institutional connections and scaling successful innovations.

Presented at Coworking Europe 2021