Switchyards

About Switchyards

Switchyards is strategically positioning itself in the flexible workspace market by offering a 'neighborhood work club' concept. This model targets individual consumers seeking a 'third place' for work, distinct from a corporate office or home. The company was founded in Atlanta in 2016 by Michael Tavani, a serial entrepreneur who previously co-founded the local mobile company Scoutmob. His experience with Scoutmob and other ventures like SkyBlox, a Wi-Fi marketing company, informed his approach to building consumer-centric brands. Tavani's vision for Switchyards was inspired by the atmosphere of coffee shops, libraries, and hotel lobbies, aiming to combine the best elements of each into a single, productive environment.

Initially launched as a hub for Atlanta's B2C startup founders, Switchyards opened its first location in a historic downtown building. However, Tavani observed that the service attracted a broader audience of creative professionals and remote workers, not just startup founders. This observation led to a pivotal shift in 2019 towards the neighborhood work club model, a focus that was accelerated by the changes in work habits following the pandemic. The company's business model is centered on a flat-rate monthly membership, currently priced at $100, which grants members 24/7 access to all club locations. This fee includes amenities such as high-speed internet, complimentary coffee and tea, and access to bookable meeting rooms and phone booths.

Switchyards distinguishes itself from traditional coworking operators like WeWork by intentionally not targeting enterprise clients or serving as a full-time office replacement. Instead, it provides a supplementary space for individuals, with a significant majority of its members—92% according to a company survey—being new to shared workspaces. The clubs are designed with distinct zones, including bustling cafe-style areas for collaborative or solo work and quiet library-like spaces for deep focus. By embedding its locations deep within residential neighborhoods, the company ensures convenience, with an average commute time of just nine minutes for its members. This strategy has fueled significant growth, with the company expanding from its Atlanta roots to Nashville, Charlotte, and other cities, with plans to operate 200 clubs within the next five years, backed by $10.5 million in total raised capital as of April 2024.