When you step into Florida’s Space Connect, you immediately know it’s not your typical coworking space. It’s warm. Inviting. Personal. There’s intention behind everything, and that’s no accident.
Office Manager Syara Torres shared the story of how this coworking community came to life and how it’s growing into a hub for entrepreneurs (empresarios in Spanish) — especially those who need a place to belong, connect, and thrive.
The story of Space Connect begins with its founder and CEO, Estrella Parada. As Torres explained, “she has a real gift for connecting people.”
Estrella, alongside her husband, also runs a law firm where she often found herself as the bridge between clients and their dreams. “She would talk with people who didn’t know where to start,” Torres said. “They would always choose to talk to her because she made them feel comfortable.”
Inspired by her experiences and the luxurious VIP spaces she saw while traveling, Estrella imagined a place where entrepreneurs could not only work but also connect and grow. A place where they could learn, feel supported, and tackle the hurdles of starting a business, sometimes in two languages. “She wanted to make that journey easier for them,” Torres shared.
Today, Space Connect is that vision come to life: a coworking community where entrepreneurs at every stage find not just resources, but encouragement.
When asked about their ideal member, Torres’ answer was simple: “Anybody that wants to grow and wants to have a good environment is perfect for us.”
The community at Space Connect is diverse, with a strong focus on supporting Latino entrepreneurs. “We don’t discriminate between languages or where they come from. But we do focus on Latino people because we are all Latinos here, and we love to help them,” Torres said.
For many Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs, the system can feel intimidating. Torres and her team aim to change that. “They don’t always know the system in this country, despite arriving with education and degrees. So we help them understand they aren’t trapped by stereotypes. We explain what they need to do and how to do it.”
Latinos in the United States are the most entrepreneurial growth cohort and, at the same time, the least capitalized in the country. There are more than 600,000 Hispanic companies in Florida alone. generating $90 billion in annual sales.
That said, Space Connect isn’t exclusive. Torres emphasized, “We have a lot of English-first clients too. Everyone is welcome.”
For the Space Connect team, coworking is about far more than offering office space. The goal is to create real connections — the kind that lead to growth.
“Our goal is to connect members as much as we can,” Torres said. That happens through intentional introductions, networking events, and even small gestures like making sure no one leaves the lounge without meeting someone new.
“We’re always talking to our people, to learn what their business is about,” Torres explained. “We don’t let anybody leave without some new contacts.” A business card wall sits ready for quick referrals. Someone needs a lawyer? A graphic designer? “We’ve got the card right there. Just take it.”
Events are a cornerstone of the Space Connect experience. Every month, they host networking sessions designed for specific industries, such as construction or event services. These gatherings include workshops, snacks, and plenty of time to meet and collaborate.
“We bring someone in to teach something useful for that group,” Torres said. And what does success look like? For them, it’s all about the people who come back. “It’s the people who reach out after the event and say, ‘This was great. I want to keep going.’”
But the team at Space Connect has even bigger plans: a “business gym” as she called it. Inspired by the flexibility of traditional fitness centers, this program would offer business classes entrepreneurs can access whenever they need. “How to do your taxes. The difference between a W-2 and a W-9. Easy ways to create your webpage. How to motivate yourself,” Torres listed. The idea is to make learning practical, accessible, and ongoing.
“If you can’t make the 8 a.m. class, maybe you can make the 5 p.m. one,” she added. The business gym isn’t live yet, but Torres hopes to launch it next year.
One of Space Connect’s unique offerings is its podcast room, where members can record their own content or join the space’s podcast, Conecta2.
“It’s mostly with Latino people,” Torres explained, though they welcome all stories. The podcast features entrepreneurs sharing their journeys — the highs, the lows, and the honest truth about starting a business. “It’s really genuine. They’re just telling what they experienced.”
For members, the podcast room is another resource to help grow their businesses. Some memberships include access to the space, and others offer discounted rates. Torres and her team even help with editing and advice. “We try to give them the best experience we can,” she said.
Torres made it clear: Space Connect is not a place where people quietly work in isolation. It’s a community.
“We always emphasize that our coworking space is not like somewhere you just come to work,” Torres said. “This is not cold at all. It’s warm, like home.”
That warmth helps combat the loneliness that often comes with remote work. “People say they feel comfortable and welcome here,” Torres shared. “We’re close to them. We know their needs. We pay attention to what they like.”
Behind the scenes, Space Connect needed a tool to manage their growing community and keep everything running smoothly. Torre chose Coworks software.
“I was the one to look for the software to manage our space and operation,” Torres said. She connected with Coworks and immediately felt at ease. “I felt like I was getting immediate answers to my questions. The web site was really complete, and I could talk directly with the team using chat.”
Her interactions with the Coworks team sealed the deal. “The team answers really fast, and they’re always trying to solve for what we need.”
Coworks, paired with HubSpot as their CRM, allows Torres and her team to stay organized, connect members, and keep their focus where it matters most: on helping people grow.
As Torres looks to the future, the vision for Space Connect is clear: “We want to become the place where people go when they need something for their business, mostly when if they don’t know what.”
It’s an ambitious goal, but one rooted in the community-first spirit that defines Space Connect.
“If they do good here,” Torres said, “they’ll tell everybody.”
And really, what better metric for success is there than that?
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