Our world is facing complex challenges, challenges that can only be tackled through collaboration. All big ideas start small, and that was the case with the first Impact Hub some 15 years ago, which started with one community in one city. It was a space for anyone who had an idea for a better world to meet and collaborate – a place where ideas turned into impact. Impact Hubs are places that make collaboration happen. They connect entrepreneurs and innovators to large organizations, investors and the public sector to enable inclusive and sustainable innovation at scale.
Today, Impact Hub is a global network of 24,250 people driving change, made up of 100+ communities in 60+ countries across 5 continents. The award-winning Georgian hub stands among them.
Keti Ebanoidze, co-founder of Impact Hub Tbilisi, tells us more.
“The inspiration behind opening an Impact Hub stems from a desire to support and drive social and environmental change through entrepreneurship and innovation.
“We, the founders of Impact Hub Tbilisi, strongly believe that the power of entrepreneurship and innovation can be harnessed to drive change and make a positive impact.
“Back in 2016, when we decided to open an Impact Hub in Tbilisi, there was an obvious need for building a supportive community and creating resources for purpose-driven individuals and organizations,” she says.
What have you achieved since first entering the scene? Tell us your personal highlights of the time since Impact Hub first opened its doors.
It’s been seven years full of changes and challenges.
Today, we can say proudly that Impact Hub Tbilisi is much more than just a physical co-working space that offers a flexible and highly functional infrastructure to work; it is a place where people get inspired, connect, support each other and develop themselves to put a step forward.
The main achievement of the past 7 years is the community of 2000+ members, partners, friends and supporters that we’ve united around us. With our programs and projects, we’ve significantly increased interest towards entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, innovation and technology among almost all generations and in almost all regions of Georgia.
Throughout our journey, we managed to host hundreds of educational events, workshops, trainings, lectures, and screenings with thousands of guests. Our educational programs have supported startups, have promoted entrepreneurship/social entrepreneurship, diversity and innovation, and have empowered women and inspired kids and youth.
What challenges have you faced, and what continues to be a challenge?
At the beginning of our journey, the biggest challenge was to promote the concept of co-working itself, as it was quite new for Tbilisi. Georgians were not used to working in shared spaces and had no idea about the advantages of co-working spaces, such as sense of community, opportunity for networking and sharing experience, increased productivity and creativity, lower cost, etc. So, in the beginning, we had way more international members, but today 60% of our members are locals. We are proud that Impact Hub Tbilisi has contributed so much to promoting the co-working culture in Georgia.
The biggest challenge today is to consistently create interesting content for programs and projects and at the same time maintain the vibrant, collaborative and friendly atmosphere in our space that makes Impact Hub Tbilisi so special. All this needs lots of effort and is connected to a permanent process of personal and professional self-development to be consistently up-to-date and in the loop.
We hear you were named the “regional winner for Best Coworking Space” in the EuroAsian Startup Awards, and have the Global Awards coming up. What does it take to achieve global success?
A few months ago, we became the Regional Winners of the EuroAsian Startup Awards in the category of the Best Coworking Space. It gave us a ticket to participate in the Global Startup Awards which is the largest independent startup ecosystem competition, aimed at recognizing and supporting players of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in various regions around the world. In March 2023, we are representing Georgia at the Global Startup Awards in Copenhagen, where we hope to win the status of the Best Coworking Space on a global scale.
We, the founders of Impact Hub Tbilisi, strongly believe that the power of entrepreneurship and innovation can be harnessed to drive change and make a positive impact
To win the Regional or Global Award, a co-working space must demonstrate excellence in several key areas, including:
• Community: The co-working space should foster a strong and inclusive community of members, providing opportunities for collaboration, networking, and mentorship.
• Amenities and services: The co-working space should offer a range of high-quality amenities and services.
• Design and atmosphere: The co-working space should have a welcoming and well-designed atmosphere that promotes creativity, productivity, and well-being.
• Sustainability and impact: The co-working space should demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and social impact, either through its operations or through its partnerships and initiatives.
• Innovation: The co-working space should embrace new technologies and innovative approaches to co-working, offering unique features and services that set it apart from other co-working spaces.
In addition to these factors, the co-working space should also have a strong track record of customer satisfaction and engagement, as well as a positive reputation in the local and wider community.
Ultimately, the best co-working space is one that provides a supportive and innovative environment for its members, while also making a positive impact on society and the environment.
In addition to the main criteria, the jury takes into account the voting results, so we encourage our supporters to vote for us here: https://cutt.ly/89dSJ4k
How would you describe the startup scene in Georgia? What is needed to strengthen it now?
During past few years the startup scene in Georgia has been growing and developing rapidly. It has a thriving business community and a growing pool of talented entrepreneurs and developers. The country has a favorable tax and regulatory environment for startups, and there are many initiatives and programs aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and innovation. Impact Hub Tbilisi is also actively involved in the development of the entrepreneurial scene with its programs and projects, such as the Impact Hub Tbilisi Startup Pre-accelerator.
There are still some areas that need improvement, such as accessing sufficient capital for growth, as the venture capital and private equity industry is still in its early stages of development, and talent retention – Georgia has a strong pool of talented individuals, but preventing “brain drain” remains a challenge
Despite the growth and potential of the startup scene in Georgia, there are still some areas that need improvement, such as access to capital, as startups face challenges in accessing sufficient capital for growth, as the venture capital and private equity industry is still in its early stages of development. Also, talent retention – Georgia has a strong pool of talented individuals, but retaining that talent and preventing “brain drain” remains a challenge.
What lies ahead for Impact Hub Tbilisi?
Of course, we plan to continue our activities in the future and further enrich our portfolio, with a particular focus on tech. And we will tirelessly continue building the community of doers who will change tomorrow for the better.
What difference will winning the Global Awards make to Impact Hub Tbilisi and the country as a whole?
Winning the Global Startup Awards will boost our reputation and recognition, and will help us to further support and drive the growth of Georgia’s startup ecosystem. What’s more, it will help Georgia and Impact Hub Tbilisi in scaling its visibility internationally. Putting Georgia on a global map will attract more entrepreneurs, investors, and other stakeholders to Georgia.
Interview by Katie Ruth Davies
