Endeavor Workspaces is an initiative with a spirit and a soul, and although we’ve seen much change in the world of coworking over the past eight years, Endeavor is still a place where the whole really is greater than the sum of its parts.
We asked our founders, Shannon Wilbanks and Joe Erwin, to talk about the beginnings of Endeavor and share some thoughts on its vibrant future.
What motivated you to start Endeavor?
Endeavor was purposefully created to provide entrepreneurs or smaller businesses with the same collaborative energy, high speed technology and training opportunities that larger agencies can access, but smaller and newer teams generally cannot.
Shannon Wilbanks and Joe Erwin had experienced those benefits at the large advertising firm they left in 2015, and knowing how much impact those amenities had on agency professionals, wanted to bring that concept to the startups, entrepreneurs, and freelance creatives’ world.
“We hadn’t planned on being in the coworking game,” says Wilbanks. “It really grew out of that (concept). Our mission is to do whatever we can to help our members succeed, and that’s coming from a very genuine place.”
What is something you want people to know about Endeavor that isn’t commonly known?
Being located in downtown Greenville, in the heart of the city, was non-negotiable. No matter how many benefits Endeavor offered members, we knew the benefit of a downtown location would be invaluable – giving members easy access to welcome business partners and clients, walkability to stores and shops, and numerous opportunities for networking.
“This vibrant, walkable city is one of the best professional assets going, and our members and guests love that it’s all right outside our doors,” shares Erwin.
Additionally, we chose the Greenville ONE building because it comes with 24/7 doorman security and LEED-certified features.
What hopes do you have for Endeavor’s future?
We have many hopes, but here are two.
(1) We hope to provide younger, newer companies (just out of the “startup phase”) with the space and tools to prosper and nurture their business until they literally outgrow our space and expand into their next chapter. This has always been part of our model, but as our reach has grown beyond the “creative industry,” we want to keep that goal always in front of us and our members. Some want to grow in size, others want to grow in the type and level of work they do. Whatever their dream is, we’re here to support it.
(2) Additionally, as we evolve with the changes in coworking, we hope to be a space where remote workers from all generations can find connectedness and a collaborative community. With increases in remote and hybrid employees trending with an increase in employee isolation, we want to be part of the solution and use our space to provide opportunities for social interaction, and even a sense of belonging. We see every day how much our current members and Day Pass users appreciate and thrive in this setting. So why wouldn’t we want to share that with even more Greenville newcomers and natives?
