Are you tired of the distractions of working from home? Do you crave a professional environment that fosters productivity and collaboration?
Maybe one that has a strong entrepreneurial/start up foundation. It can only help with building relationships, right? Not to mention the different kind of energy you can benefit from when you surround yourself with likeminded people who are creating and innovating.
The coworking space in Raleigh is certainly growing and today we want to dive right into our personal coworking space, Raleigh Founded, right in the heart of downtown Raleigh (and with more locations further out).
Our Raleigh Founded Experience
We’ve been members of Raleigh Founded since 2020 – remember that year, when we were all going stir crazy being stuck at home!
As we previously traveled full-time with our kids, while homeschooling and running an online business, that overwhelming feeling of everything burying you at once was not new to us. We handled the pandemic well, but after being so full on as a family for many years, it was time for a break!
Craig started going to Raleigh Founded first, and instantly connected with its vibe, its entrepreneurial focus, and the people he was meeting there.
I joined about a year later, as they opened a new podcast recording studio, that members could use. It made sense that I also join this Raleigh coworking space, so we could record our podcast episodes, brainstorm ideas with others, work in a new environment, and network at the one time.
Plus, I really loved its location in a unique historical building in the Warehouse District. Well, that has since changed, due to that building being sold, so Raleigh Founded headquarters has now moved to a new location at 509 W North Street, just off Glenwood Ave – another great Raleigh location.
After a short break at the end of 2023 due to an intense travel schedule, we have returned this year to Raleigh Founded, refreshed, ready to record our podcast again, and excited about working alongside other entrepreneurs, business owners, and remote workers.
Why Choose Raleigh Founded?
Raleigh Founded isn’t just any coworking space – it’s a community hub designed to support entrepreneurs, freelancers, and remote workers like you. Here’s why becoming a member could be the best decision for your work life.
All the Work Amenities You Need
The state-of-art facilities are designed to meet all your professional needs. Your membership comes with high-speed internet, brightly decorated spaces, comfortable seating areas, plenty of power access points, phone booths for private conversations, printing access, and meeting rooms.
AND, they also have local coffee, an espresso machine, and beer (on tap including non-alcoholic options). Nothing wrong with a beer during your lunch meeting. Remember Hemingway: Write Drunk. Edit Sober.
They also have communal kitchen amenities like utensils, mugs, fridge, microwaves, and dishwashers so you can save money by bringing your own lunch!
And there is a Raleigh Founded App where you can book meeting spaces, see what events are on, and utilize resources such as a directory of members. There is also a slack channel for latest updates, to ask questions, offer help, and interact with members.
Access to a Podcast Studio
An invaluable part of our membership is the ability to use their podcast studio to record our podcasts. We just have to walk in and press play as all the equipment is provided, including cameras to record the video podcast and lighting.
The podcast studio is at the North St Location, and membership plans offer a certain amount of recording hours each month!
Flexible Membership Options
For now, we’re in a co-working space, but for our future, who knows we may grow into one of the Raleigh Founded suites. That’s another bonus for our membership, it can grow with us.
They have flexible memberships for their coworking spaces (including day passes for travelers or anyone needing a one-day break. Mompreneurs, I see you!), but they also have dedicated suites and office spaces, and meeting rooms, all bookable via the app.
It’s cool when you hear some of the success stories that began and grew from Raleigh Founded. Heard of Pendo anyone?
Collaborative Environment
Mentioning Pendo, is that not the kind of people you want to rub shoulders with? That’s the energy of Raleigh Founded. I love that it’s a wide mix of people and businesses that you can learn from and with.
From business owners to creators, graphic designers, accountants, attorneys, marketing professionals, investors, advisors and community partners, there’s a wealth of expertise to tap into and share insights with.
These like-minded individuals are all eager to connect, collaborate, and support one another. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, brainstorm, get feedback, and just enjoy general life chit chat. People like helping people here.
Exclusive Events & Workshops
How can you not love a coworking space that awards you the ugly sweater prize at their annual Christmas party?
It was the first time we ever participated in the Ugly Sweater trend, and now I’m hooked! Was it the prize or the cute llama I got to wear. (I can promise you with the 100-degree Holiday Season in Australia, we are not doing ugly seater parties!)
Throughout the year, they have a wide range of networking events, workshops, and seminars designed to help you sharpen your skills, expand your network, and take your career to the next level.
Most popular is their annual Pitch Please event where companies and businesses can pitch their business ideas and gain feedback from an impressive panel of Venture Capitalists. (How invaluable is that?) This year it’s on May 3rd, 2024.
Access to Multiple Locations
As you can imagine, living a nomadic life for over 20 years means we love and embrace change. So, one of our favorite benefits of the Raleigh Founded membership is we can use the coworking spaces at their multiple locations. So, whether you’re downtown Raleigh or in the suburbs, you can find a workspace that’s convenient for you!
North St Location
At the moment, the North St Location is generally where we work out of, but I love that we have several options!
The North St location offers a prime spot in downtown, provides easy access to amenities, restaurants, and transportation hubs. It’s a convenient workspace in the heart of the city!
Since our return, we’ve been able to take advantage of the great lunch specials at Burger Village and Anise Pho – one of our favorite Asian restaurants. We also like to step out and grab a coffee from nearby Iris Coffee Lab, a popular coffee shop in Raleigh.
And if you’re in need of an after-work beverage, well it’s Glenwood Ave – take your pick! (see our full guide to Glenwood Ave).
There is no official parking for North St Location, which worried us initially, until we realized it’s only evenings and weekends where neighborhood street parking is hard to find. We’ve managed to get street parking easily in the nearby streets (we park on Nth Street between Glenwood & Boylan, or on W Lane St).
Raleigh Founded Capital Club
We love going to the coworking space at the Captial Club in Downtown Raleigh for the gorgeous panoramic views of Raleigh from the 12th floor. The building, built in the 1920s is quite classy and features a lot of the original architecture.
I’ve also attended a few events here; it’s a wonderful space for them (you can rent it!)
Raleigh Founded Gateway
The largest of the Raleigh Founded spaces is the Gateway Plaza location, just north of downtown Raleigh. There is plenty of free parking here and local eateries and bars such as Union Special Bread and Mordecai Beverage Co.
There is a lot of great new development happening here with a few new restaurants and bars set to open and is where you’ll find Dogwood County Club if you want to swing a golf club at lunch.
Raleigh Founded Centennial
Deepening a long partnership with NC State University is their Raleigh Founded location on Centennial Campus, opened in collaboration with the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Department.
What’s unique about this location is they have the Entrepreneurship-Garage, which is a Maker’s Space only available to NC State students and Raliegh Founded members.
Cary Founded
I am most excited about the new Cary Founded location in downtown Cary as I can bike there – or even walk. (Suites are already open. Coworking spaces open March 11, 2024. Grand Opening party April 5.
I can imagine we’ll be using that space a lot to save on commuting time and fuel. Although, I’ll be way too tempted to pop over to the Albatross Golf Bar for their Smoky Old Fashioned, one of the best cocktails I’ve had in Raleigh. And I’m happy we have good coffee across the road at Brew. (See our full guide to Downtown Cary).
Other North Carolina & South Carolina locations
But wait, there’s more. If you happen to be traveling across North Carolina and South Carolina, Raleigh Founded may have some nearby locations you can pop in to do some work or access amenities. Current locations are:
- Durham, NC
- Winston Salem, NC
- Charlotte, NC
- Greensboro, NC
- Yanceyville, NC
- Wilmington, NC
- Greenville, SC
In Summary
If you’re on your phone searching for coworking space near me, we love being part of the Raleigh Founded community and using the many benefits of their membership to help elevate our local online business and brand.
The podcast studio is of huge benefit to us, as is the opportunity to build relationships with many innovative, creative remote workers and entrepreneurs in Raleigh. It’s exciting to be a part of a community that is growing and cares about helping others grow too.
And of course, it’s so great to take a break from the isolation of working from home and have other beings to talk to aside from my family members and cats.
We’re partners with Raleigh Founded for 2024, so we’ll be sharing more each month. If you decide to join Raleigh Founded, tell them we sent you, and please come and say g’day if you see us in their locations!
- Website: RaleighFounded.com
- Location: 509 W North St, Raleigh
