Feb 8, 2016

Coworking space BHIVE secures angel funding from TaxiForSure co-founder Raghunandan G and others Shalina Pillai Bengaluru-based coworking space for startups, BHIVE has secured angel funding from Raghunandan G (Co-founder, TaxiForSure), Rajesh Rai (Co-Founder, VentureCity), Arihant Patni (Managing Director, Hive Technologies), Sanjay Mirchandani (Owner, Mirchandani Group), and Arun Narayan (Director, UK India Business Council). | TNN | Feb 8, 2016, 10.14 PM IST Bengaluru-based coworking space for startups, BHIVE has secured angel funding from Raghunandan G (Co-founder, TaxiForSure), Rajesh Rai (Co-Founder, VentureCity), Arihant Patni (Managing Director, Hive Technologies), Sanjay Mirchandani (Owner, Mirchandani Group), and Arun Narayan (Director, UK India Business Council). Aiming at optimum functioning and boosted productivity, BHIVE is a creative workspace solution for all work enthusiasts; entrepreneurs, start-ups and businesses. It houses enthusiasts across various work profiles like - Tech, Software, Mobile, Hardware, IOT, Fintech, Education, Innovation, Foodtech, Gaming, eCommerce, B2B, B2C, Hyperlocal, Social Impact & freelancers. Shesh Paplikar, CEO & Founder of BHIVE Workspace, firmly believes that co-working spaces are essential to developing a growing and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in India. He reflects that while an entrepreneur or startup spends time, efforts and investments on taking an idea to the next level, there exists many trivial, yet significant, issues that grab attention. Finding the right workspace, maintenance of office space, bill payments and operations, house-keeping and security, procuring food and beverages etc. are a few such distractions. Setting up the perfect backdrop to fix this issue or to amplify one's productivity, lead to the conception of BHIVE Workspace. BHIVE started out as a provider of accessible and quality plug 'n' play workspace in Koramangla, Bangalore. Today, one year from conception, it fulfils the vision behind its existence by fueling efficiency, catalyzing innovation, triggering collaborations and housing success stories of about 90 startups covering 4000 active members. "TaxiForSure overgrew its 1200 sq ft office space in no time. The growing needs of the company took its employees to four different offices in the same year. Many efforts, that rather be invested on work, were channeled into becoming a fully functional office space. When I heard that my classmate Shesh was contemplating around the same issue, taking away this burden from a dedicated mind, I knew the model would work," said Raghunandan G. The coming together of amazingly different yet like-minded and industrious individuals, in such a vibrant workspace, to meet, collaborate, communicate and exchange ideas, often creates value that nourishes the whole community. Arihant Patni, investor, said, "Entrepreneurs need all the help they can get to achieve their vision. Physical work space is one thing, but having support from a community of mentors and other entrepreneurs in the same space is a big asset. BHIVE aims to provide this ecosystem in a way that will really help startups get to the next level. I am excited to support them in this journey. " BHIVE forms a bridge to support its members for today's fast moving, energetic and competitive global startup environment. In the regard, BHIVE Workspace has attracted partners like the Open Coffee Club. Amarinder Singh, Co-nurturer of OCC, said, "OCC Bangalore is one of the oldest entrepreneurship un-conference styled communities in India. BHIVE is Bangalore's largest co-working space. As the two are aligned in principle, it is but natural that there's a marriage between them. We value and encourage such a partnership that, together, bridges the gap for many startups in the ecosystem. " BHIVE Workspace enables the community to co-work, connect and collaborate. "In a nutshell, a co-working space makes techies entrepreneurs. They come in with an idea or an expertise - mostly unidimensional. They gain access to the community, events, workshops etc., eventually making them aware and equipped with skills essential to run a business," said investor Arun Narayan, UIBC. RELATED More from The Times of India Recommended By Colombia More From The Times of India Recommended By Colombia