Celebrating HanaHaus Palo Alto’s 6th Birthday

Celebrating HanaHaus Palo Alto’s 6th Birthday

A Candid Conversation with the Global Head of HanaHaus

What a crazy past year it has been. From the temporary closure of our workspace to transforming all of our events into virtual experiences, this period of time has certainly been trying, but it has also served as an incredible opportunity for growth and self-reflection for our business.

It feels like just yesterday we were preparing to host over 150 guests for a large celebration in honor of our 5th birthday. And now as we approach the 6th birthday of HanaHaus Palo Alto on March 19, it feels surreal to think it’s been nearly a year since we have had people in our workspace. We truly appreciate the continued support from our community during this difficult time and look forward to the day we can return to our space once again.  

To honor our 6th birthday, we celebrate this milestone virtually and cheers to a bigger and brighter future ahead of us. As part of our virtual celebration, we sat down with the Global Head of HanaHaus, Daniel Zimmer, to reflect on HanaHaus’ journey over the years and discuss its evolution into a thriving community in downtown Palo Alto.

1. Daniel, can you talk a little bit about the history of HanaHaus and why it was founded 6 years ago in the heart of Palo Alto?

“Back in 2012, cloud innovation was taking over the software world by storm, we saw that at SAP as well as with the startup companies we were working with and invested in. Involvement with early-stage startups prompted the SAP leadership team to ask: “How can we make a meaningful contribution to the ecosystem that will not only be an investment in Silicon Valley, but also benefit early-stage companies?

One of the founders of SAP, Dr. Hasso Plattner, envisioned a flexible coworking space and café where community members could come together to explore new ideas, connect with like-minded individuals, and find a home for their startups. The idea behind HanaHaus was to create a unique opportunity for local founders, entrepreneurs, and freelancers to work on their business without sacrificing an arm and a leg for permanent office space. Using the design thinking methodology, HanaHaus went from just an idea to a full-service product for our community. After selecting the iconic Varsity Theatre location in downtown Palo Alto, partnering with Blue Bottle Coffee, and modernizing the aesthetic of the workspace, HanaHaus was finally born on March 19, 2015.”

2. As one of the original team members that started HanaHaus, you’ve had the opportunity to witness its transformation over the last 6 years. How has HanaHaus progressed from when it first started to where it is today?

“What we see today is a huge progression in the growth and significance of our space. When we first opened the doors of HanaHaus, we asked, ‘will this work, will people show up, and will people care?’ As time went on, people really started believing in the idea of a coworking space and the importance of having it in the ecosystem. The numbers of users grew, more reservations were booked each day, thought leaders began booking speaking events and renting out the venue, and the community really blossomed with the Silicon Valley culture. This has not stopped in the past six years. The world is always changing and being in Silicon Valley means those changes are even faster. Our ability to adapt to the environment became an important advantage as we never rest on what is success today. We have progressed from a small SAP experiment into a centerpiece of the Silicon Valley community.”

3. How do you envision HanaHaus returning after the pandemic, and what role do you see HanaHaus playing in the future of work as a coworking space?

“What I see is that this pandemic is not over. We are leading the way as a role model by being proactive in keeping our staff and customers safe. I want to be clear on a right time to return and envision a slow, safe reopening. The ecosystem will not be the same when we return, and there are many different opinions about the future of work. Some want to see colleagues again and others do not want to get back to the office. As the idea of a hybrid system takes more popularity, studies predict that coworking in the Bay Area is going to be huge. With that being said, the role that we seek is to provide an innovative space for the future of work and for our customers.”

4. As a final question, what has been one of your favorite memories from the past 6 years?

“Over the course of six years at HanaHaus, it is difficult to pick only one favorite memory. I would say one fond memory I have is when we first opened HanaHaus. It was amazing to see so many different types of personas entering our space and experiencing the wonder of coworking. Another favorite memory I have was opening our second location. Our launch in Newport Beach signified that HanaHaus was no longer a prototype, but a permanent idea of a space where great minds and innovation will thrive.”

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That concludes our candid conversation with Daniel, and we thank you for joining our virtual celebration. Our team continues to prepare for a safe return of HanaHaus when the time comes and could not be more excited to welcome our community back into our space. For more information and updates, subscribe to our newsletter and follow our social media. We hope to see you soon!

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