Manila, Philippines– With freelancing stints and startup businesses becoming more and more popular these days, a co-working space business has become more and more lucrative.

Harry Bautista, founder of Virspacio Co-Working Space, has decided to offer more than just co-working spaces, but also a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs — with its business permit processing services, IT solutions and even a business collaboration model for their tenants, as featured on our online story here.

We want to get to know more of Harry and his entrepreneurial journey that has inspired him to empower other startup owners, through our interview with him here:  

When did you start your journey in entrepreneurship?

“My entrepreneurial journey began during university when a college buddy and I sold digital cameras on sulit.com to fellow students in the university belt area,” Harry shared.

“Before Virspacio, my ventures included leading Callhounds Global BPO Corporation and the Aurora Group of Companies Inc. Additionally, I ventured into the online magazine business with TheBrandingAsia, a publication in Busan featuring foreign startup brands in South Korea. Real estate investment is also part of my entrepreneurial portfolio.”

Can you share some challenges you have faced as an entrepreneur? How did you overcome them? 

“Being an entrepreneur brings its fair share of challenges that put your skills to the test. It’s like a puzzle with different pieces, such as managing Human Resources (ensuring you have enough staff), hitting sales and marketing targets, using the right IT tools, staying financially sound, meeting client expectations, and ensuring a safe working environment.”

“To tackle these challenges, I often imagine different scenarios—both good and tough ones—so I’m prepared for unexpected situations. Additionally, my team is crucial; their efforts have played a significant role in overcoming hurdles we’ve faced before, making us stronger as a company.”

Can you share some milestones in business with our readers?

“Back in 2020, I kicked off a company with fewer than 10 people. Fast forward to 2023, and we’ve soared to 2000+ employees, expanding not just in numbers but also in different locations. Looking ahead to 2024, Callhounds Global is gearing up to launch more sites—our third one in Eastwood City and the fourth in Clark.”

“As for Virspacio Coworking Spaces, since our opening in June 2023, we’ve seen impressive growth, reaching almost 80% occupancy with over 100 members. Excitingly, we’re set to open a new branch in Eastwood City in the second quarter of 2024, followed by another in BGC in the fourth quarter of the same year.”

What Top 3 lessons in entrepreneurship would you like to share with our readers?’

“I guess my first would be not to hesitate to start a business. If you understand the business model and know the market well, your chances of success significantly increase.”

“The second advice would be, avoid borrowing capital. If your business faces challenges, having to repay borrowed amounts and interest can be a heavy burden.”

“And lastly, always be on the lookout for opportunities, especially in the thriving Philippine economy. Take advantage of our rapid growth; by staying alert, you’ll uncover potential money-making ventures.”

What do you love about entrepreneurship versus employment?

“It might sound cliché, but being an entrepreneur lets me choose when and where I spend more time with my family.”