From Isolation to Community: One Toronto Member’s Journey Back to the Office

Andreas Duess is a serial entrepreneur and keynote speaker with roots in tech and innovation.

He’s also honest about what will bring him into an office: “I don’t want to go somewhere when the internet is slow, people barely work, and the coffee is bad. Then you might as well work from your nice home, where you have a good coffee maker and strong WiFi.”

After moving to Canada and transitioning industries, he tried working from home but quickly realized something was missing. Frankly, he was working from home by himself, and it was driving him into feelings of loneliness and depression. “I don’t like working by myself in isolation,” he said.

Duess believes “wisdom lives in conversations,” and it’s likely that the conversations that resonate the most are ones happening in person. He’s a believer in the power of human interaction, especially the unplanned kind. That belief, combined with a desire to rekindle serendipitous hallway moments, led him to Industrious. His friend, also a member of Industrious, suggested that he try it out as a guest. “I came in and immediately liked the space,” said Duess.

Duess joined Industrious at Toronto Financial District back in June, starting as an Access member before a few weeks later settling into his own office with three desks. It’s perfect for his small team that often comes in on the same days to optimize collaboration. 

When he was touring other coworking spaces in Toronto, they had a different feel. “They felt like frat houses,” he said. Industrious stood out for its atmosphere, polish, and professional ambition. “People here are serious about their work. They’re not just hanging out, they’re building.”

Besides an atmosphere made up of hardworking individuals, Duess is grateful for the hospitality layer that Industrious offers. That includes everything from a welcome experience from the Member Experience Managers to good coffee and mouthwash in the bathrooms. “The internet is fast, my neighbors are nice, and the place is clean,” he said.

Since joining Industrious, Duess has not only rediscovered the joy of being back in an office, but he’s also had the opportunity to continue his entrepreneurial work in new ways. For example, a chance conversation with a fellow member led to the birth of a voice-powered AI startup, GO CPG, aimed at helping early-stage founders avoid the pitfalls that cause most startups to fail. 

“It wasn’t just the space. It was the people,” said Duess. “I bumped into someone in the hallway. We started talking. That night, he built a prototype. Two weeks later, we had a company.”

He is also the founder of 6 Seeds, a company helping food and beverage brands supercharge human creativity with data and AI. Its mission is to contribute to a more resilient, responsive and trusted global food system that is built on insight, clarity, and action. They partner with changemakers across the food system, helping them navigate the pressure and possibility of growth, trust and transformation. Having the ability to invite those partners to an Industrious is extremely helpful for their meetings.

A return to the office is better when the workplace is worth returning to. Industrious delivers the best of both worlds: a beautifully designed, hospitality-first space that fuels creativity and connection, all without the chaos of managing your own office. 

Now, what was once his at-home office has returned to being his wife’s dressing room. Duess has the luxury of biking 30 minutes to his Industrious office, providing him a physical separation between work and life that he was looking for. 

“A mix of do your work where you do your work best, with let’s get the team together, has proven to be really powerful,” said Duess.