Existing flexible working platform solutions are mostly just aggregators of co-working space aimed at freelancers and gig workers. The world’s leading employers need an enterprise-grade solution that provides the tools required to manage large distributed workforces operating on a hybrid basis at a global scale.
Edinburgh-based Desana is a hybrid workspace platform that enables businesses to offer employees on-demand access to hundreds of global desks/workplaces. It delivers the “future of work” solution globally. The company is a new player on the global proptech scene riding the wave of the shift to hybrid working post-COVID. Now, Desana just announced that it picked up $4 million (nearly £2.9 million) seed funding.
Rapid expansion plans
The investment round was led by Berlin-based PropTech1 Ventures (first investment in the UK), BGF, and existing investor Techstart Ventures alongside participation from GroundBreak Ventures and the Accel Scout programme.
As there is a massive demand for its hybrid workspace solution, the company eyes for rapid expansion with this investment. It is actively hiring for key positions in the US and Asia, and already planning for the next funding round. Moreover, Desana has already doubled its UK team in recent months while securing multiple big-name client wins.
“Over the last year we’ve helped some of the world’s leading companies address the immediate challenges of hybrid working at scale, while also building the foundations for a more data driven approach to real estate strategy and urban planning,“ said Michael Cockburn, co-founder and CEO of Desana. “Enabling staff to decide where to work unlocks a unique stream of data that provides valuable insight into where employees actually want to work on a day-by-day basis. We were excited to discover that, even at this early stage, data from our platform is already informing decisions about where companies lease space.”
“We are big believers in Desana’s vision and leadership team, especially after our thorough screen of the market revealed that Desana is already helping leading companies to radically change their relationship with real estate,” said Nikolas Samios, the founding and managing partner of PropTech1 Ventures. “Some customers are even talking about giving up traditional leases altogether and going “Desana native” which we see as an exciting indicator of where this is heading.”
Post-COVID demand!
The on-demand workspace provider Desana was founded by Michael Cockburn, Steve Jeans, and Ro Ramtohul. It enables companies to manage how their workforce uses space globally. This solution has gained a surge in demand post the pandemic restrictions. Staff can choose to work from their employer’s own buildings or from Desana’s fast-growing global network of flexible workspace operators and companies have the ability to curate, which spaces can be accessed by any member of staff.
Besides this, Desana also takes care of billing. Eventually, global employers get a single monthly invoice, even if they have many thousands of staff using the platform daily across hundreds of locations and multiple currencies.
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