Technology “accelerator” Sw7 has announced plans to open an “innovation hub” and co-working space in Johannesburg. The @Sw7 Workspace will be the first such space to open in the north of the city, according to its backers.

@Sw7 Workspace will offer flexible packages, initially catering to about 100 members, it said.

“We felt there was quite a gap in the market to create a dedicated independent hub to support the tech community and to give them a base from which to work,” said Sw7 co-founder Keith Jones.

@Sw7 Workspace is on the Gautrain bus route in Rivonia, near the N1 highway that connects Johannesburg and Pretoria.

The company is promising a fibre Internet connection, printing facilities and secure parking.

“We have found that a location that allows easy access for the mentor pool and business community is key,” said Jones.

“The focus is on offering technology businesses a great place to work which is competitively priced and which offers a strong network through the Sw7 community and the incubators and accelerators with whom we work.”

The space opens for business on 1 November and offers flexible part-time membership to full membership with dedicated desks and meeting rooms catering for groups of six through to 100.

The idea, Jones said, is that entrepreneurs can use the space to network with likeminded people who are grappling with similar challenges.

“The ideal community member would be a software product business that is post-revenue or funded with between one and 10 staff members. Our goal is to connect these businesses with the commercial markets.” — © 2016 NewsCentral Media