Today, Loosecubes is shutting its virtual doors, leaving 25,000 members and 1000 host offices around the globe to mourn its loss. The company, founded in 2010, was the brain child of Campbell McKellar and Anna Thomas. They decided that the mobile workers, independent contractors, and entrepreneurs of today needed an option besides working at home or out of their local coffee shop. The concept of coworking spaces had been around for a while, but not every city has this kind of facility. In contrast, every city does have office buildings – most of which aren’t used to capacity all the time.

Don’t Let Empty Space Go to Waste

Think of the average office you’ve worked in. There are typically quite a few cubicles that are empty all day. The occupants might be on vacation. Or, the workstations might be sitting idle while HR searches for new employees to fill those spots. Whatever the reason, this space is simply not being used. The idea behind Loosecubes was to match people in need of a temporary workspace with businesses that were willing to be hosts for a day or two, free of charge. Guests get access to a worksurface, a chair, and a wi-fi signal as well as lighting, climate control, electricity, and other amenities that the host company would be paying for anyway.

Everybody Wins, and It’s Free!

The purpose of this matchmaking service was to foster the exchange of ideas and create a network of business relationships that transcended the walls of the office building. Employers might tap into the pool of freelancers and mobile workers to find their next ideal job candidate, vendor, or business partner. Or, the visiting workers might bring fresh ideas to the business and energize employees. It was a cool concept and was greatly enjoyed by both hosts and guests while it lasted.

Enthusiasm No Substitute for Business Savvy

As a recently launched business ourselves, we certainly feel for Loosecubes. Sadly, the project petered out because it focused more on buzz than bucks. Apparently, the creators didn’t plan in advance for how to monetize their venture. Maybe if they’d been co-working in a cubicle alongside a business or financial advisor during their brainstorming sessions, things would have turned out differently…