Coboat – coworking, while voyaging through paradise.
Want to work while voyaging through some of the most breath-taking places on earth? Join the Coboat – a catamaran adjusted as a coworking space for up to 20 people, traveling around the world offering striking scenery, along with accommodation, catering and high-speed internet. Attracting digital nomads and entrepreneurs from every corner of the world, Coboat enables inspiration and knowledge exchange, as well as numerous possibilities to experience the world right on the water.
Thrilled about this newcomer in the coworking sector, we had a chat with Gerald Schömbs, one of the founders of Coboat, who took us on a journey from the very birth of the idea of Coboat.
eOffice: What is Coboat?
Gerald: Coboat is an 82ft retrofitted sailing catamaran and floating coworking space. Circumnavigating the globe and exploring uncharted waters, Coboat will be home and office for up to 20 digital nomads as they collectively set out on a sea-faring adventure combining life, work and play.
Using green and sustainable solutions, our water and electricity is entirely solar-generated and wind-powered. Coboat will provide the previously unthinkable: 24/7 internet connection, using the latest generation of communication technologies. The ticket includes accommodation, catering and high-speed internet. Additionally, Coboat enables inspiration and knowledge exchange, as well as numerous possibilities to experience the world right on the water (sailing, diving, photography, cooking).
It provides a work-life balance like no other place in the world: High-speed internet, a fresh breeze and the Coboat community to enable creative and efficient working. Coboaters enrich their experience with diving, photography or simply relaxing in the sun. Numerous other activities such as brewing beer or learning the ABC’s of sailing offer plenty opportunities to relax.
eOffice: How was the idea about Coboat born?
Gerald: The initiators are founders and entrepreneurs by heart; always mobile – always creative. The idea arose in Thailand while working at Kohub, a coworking space that one of the founders, James Abbott, started. With Coboat, the four founders realise their own dream to experience the world by boat, while being productive, meeting new people and helping them develop their ideas.
“If you want to work or realise ideas and concepts in a collective, Coboat brings you together with like-minded people from all over the world to help develop new ideas and business.” outlines founder Tommy Westlin his vision of Coboat.
eOffice: Where is your next destination?
Gerald: Coboat begins its journey in Thailand. Starting in November of this year, the catamaran will be in Southeast Asia for at least three months. The tour then heads West en route to the Maldives. Come spring/summer of 2016, Coboat sails towards the Eastern and Western Mediterranean Sea until it crosses the Atlantic to arrive at the Caribbean at the end of 2016.
You can find a visual map of our route on www.coboat.org
eOffice: What type of people do you attract to your journeys?
Gerald: Digital nomads, founders, freelancers, even people that want to experience a special journey. People that want a change of course in their life. Starting this month, Coboat, together with jovoto, is inviting everyone on a creative stay on board. The “Made on Coboat” initiative is looking for a special dream project that will be realised within a 3-months residence scholarship. Creatives can apply for the 100 days on Coboat by pitching their idea to the community.
You can find more info about “Made on Coboat” on http://coboat.jovoto.com
eOffice: How do you see the trend of the digital nomad evolving?
Gerald: We see the trend expanding rapidly. Being part of the digital nomad community for years now, we experience the trend first hand. No matter if you are in Asia, Europe or America, people begin to appreciate the freedom to work from wherever.
The digital age is the catalyst of this movement, simply because we are not stuck at our desks anymore in order to create something special or be productive. To go even further, we believe that taking advantage of coworking spaces around the world helps to become better. The positive outside influence garners improvement and expands everyone’s personal horizon. It makes it easier to meet new people and learn.
It is a trend that companies might support in the near future for their employees.
#contact
Gerald Schömbs, Berlin, [email protected]
Communication professional, entrepreneur, Earned Media GmbH
Web: gerald.berlin, linkedin.com/in/schoembs,
Twitter: @geeberlin, Instagram: @geeberlin
