2020: Co-Liv in review 🌍
With the end of the year approaching rapidly, it’s time to take stock of the last year and also look ahead at what we are expecting 2021 to bring.
I joined Co-Liv back in 2019, when the organization sponsored my global coliving world tour and my upcoming book Art of Coliving. Since then, I've taken on the role of vice-president and eventually director, growing the team to 10 executive members and the overall community in numerous ways.
In 2020, we all have been faced with unexpected challenges. It makes me even prouder that at Co-Liv, we have been able to adjust so greatly to the changed circumstances, for example moving our events online.
By doing so, and combined with all the other activities, last year we managed to reach a total of 10,000 professionals within the coliving ecosystem!
Today, I'd love to explain what we've been doing, who is behind Co-Liv, and what 2021 is awaiting the coliving industry!
First: Highlights of 2020 🎉
Co-Liv was founded in 2016 to become a global, decentralized organization. But it has only been in the last year that we became known internationally - or, let me rather say, that we've been everywhere!
In case you missed it, here are the top highlights and initiatives we developed in 2020:
- Being represented in 25+ countries through local ambassadors
- Hosted 105 virtual and physical events with 3,500+ attendees total
- Hosted the first university course in partnership with Politecnico di Milano
- Contributed to publications such as Coliving Insights and HMO Magazine
- Brought on key partners such as Young Global Living and Salto Systems
- Launched a 10-week program for coliving professionals and companies
- And launched ColivingResources.com, the world's largest library of coliving knowledge and publications
And the end of this year, here is how we could summarize it:
We are leaving 2020 with a 400% increase in newsletter subscribers, 50 active members and contributors, 105 virtual and physical events, and 1,000+ podcast views.
But the most important change in Co-Liv is all the people who are now being involved - all of this would not been feasible without our amazing team!
Behind the scenes: the Co-Liv team 🤩
On top of more than 30 ambassadors worldwide, numbers of partners and active members, I want to personally thank everybody from the core Co-Liv team for their involvement:
✨ Caterina Maiolini, our Head of Ambassadors, for growing our movement internationally, for being represented in 20 countries since Cate joined us, for launching the Co-Liv podcast, and for being a pillar of this organization. Cate - we're going to go very far together!
✨ Nabeel Ayaz, our Head of Operations, for being the one behind everything that's going on. Without out, we wouldn't been able to host 10+ events per month, run all our operations and social media in a smooth manner, and literally run the engine. It's been an honor to work with you and it's just the beginning!
✨ Christian Schmitz, our Head of Tech, for not only being a key partner with Salto KS and Salto Systems, but also for being one of the most active advisors, enablers and catalyzers of our organization. Your thoughts and knowledge have leveled up our operations and especially our future activities for 2021. May this journey enter a new and more powerful chapter!
✨ Fabrice Simondi, our founding member and former president, who trusting me and the entire team to run the organization, for pushing the Co-Liv community in France, and for making key partnerships feasible. Without you, Co-Liv would not exist - and would not be were it is today.
✨ Connor Moore, our Head of Content, for being the driver and coordinator of so many projects, from the recent Coliving Resources to all our publications this year. Connor, your mental sharpness and desire to shine light on the industry will continue to shape the industry long-term, and I personally can't wait to create more content together!
✨ Matt Lesniak, our Head of Community, for being the oldest member of Co-Liv and continuously supporting the organization with your presence, belief and involvement. Without you, we would not have been able to build the community of today, and I know that 2021 is awaiting way more for us - can't wait!
✨ Bart Sasim, our Head of Design, for being the sharpest brand and design advisor that an organization like ours can imagine. With your company, Spatial Experience, you became a core Co-Liv partner and worked on the entire brand audit. We are stoked to continue working with you on leveling up Co-Liv and its entire digital experience to new levels!
✨ Virginia Scapinelli, our Head of Impact, for having worked tremendously on what "impact" means to us, how we measure it, and how we portray it. With your upcoming project in 2021 (sorry dear reader, but I can't reveal what it is!), you are going to set a landmark for the coliving industry, and with this year's first university course for coliving, you already set a replicable landmark in the coliving ecosystem.
✨ Sandra Abrouk, our Head of UX, for having enabled and launched the most recent Onboarding Program, for investing your time into the future of this organization and working on our new baby (another sorry to you, dear reader, but you'll know soon!). Co-Liv needed you and it's been an honor to bring you on board.
✨ Vann Vogstad, our Head of Accreditation, for bringing in amazing thoughts and ideas to the organization, and especially for taking your own projects in hand. While I can't reveal all of them, the one that we're most proud of is our upcoming Co-Liv Accreditation Program, which we will announce in January, and which will set a foundation for the coliving industry.
✨ Michael Steinmann, our Head of Partnerships, for joining the organization one month ago and already rocking it. Your passion, energy and desire to make coliving grow will shape the trajectory of Co-Liv in massive ways, and it's an honor to work with a doer like you!
And Claire Flurin, founding and board member, for having the best intentions in mind for Co-Liv, continuously supporting us on the partnership and legal front, and for believing today in Co-Liv more than ever. Your groundwork is what made this entire movement possible, and we are eternally grateful.
I wish that I could write more about everyone who was involved, and want to at least mention other key players and leading organizations that have supported Co-Liv in the year 2020:
Oscar Van Wel with Young Global Living, Xavier Cazard with Entrecom, Antonin Léonard with Stroika, Ryan Fix, Marie-Suzanne Locqueneux, Pauline Jadas, Euroméditerranée, Coliving Insights, Coliving Awards, Salto Systems, Spatial Experience, Vitanovae, MIPIM, Propel, and Mayank Pokharna.
Looking into 2021 ☀️
For 2021 we have some new and exciting initiatives planned: the first coliving accreditation system, a coliving online university, several books and industry reports, as well as our own Tech Community.
Also in 2021 we will be focusing on further professionalizing our association, as well as the services we are able to provide - we will revamp the membership experience, organize the biggest coliving industry event to date, as well as further provide help and industry insights to our rapidly scaling and professionalizing field.
While I can't reveal everything that is on the program, I can share this:
2021 will be the biggest year that the coliving industry will experience, and we will be at its forefront.
Get involved 🤝
If you want to get involved into our organization, work with incredible coliving professionals and be at the forefront of the coliving industry, we invite you to become a partner for the upcoming year.
Co-Liv now added different partnership tiers, including global, country and thought leader partnership options. Co-Liv partners gain exclusive visibility and are able to co-create initiatives for the coliving industry.
👉 Have a look at the partnership options here and write me directly at gui@co-liv.org to become a partner.
It's been an honor to serve you and to continue doing so.
Wishing you a great start into 2021,
Gui Perdrix, Co-Liv Director