Editor’s note: WORQ is a winner of the Best Community Builder at TNGlobal’s ORIGIN Innovation Awards 2021.

As the year of 2024 comes to an end, we sought insights from prominent figures across the Southeast Asian tech landscape. These leaders reflected on their triumphs throughout the year, sharing valuable perspectives on their achievements and the challenges they overcame. Furthermore, they unveiled their ambitious aspirations, meticulously outlined their strategic plans for 2025, and offered insightful predictions on the trajectory of the tech industry in the coming year.

We talked to Stephanie Ping, Co-Founder & CEO of WORQ, to learn more about the company’s achievements in 2024, its plans and aspirations for 2025.

WORQ is an award-winning productivity community and flexible workspace provider founded in 2017, in Kuala Lumpur. WORQ’s investors include Cradle Fund, an agency under the Malaysian Ministry of Finance; Philip Capital, an integrated Asian financial house with a global presence; SMG, an investment holding company co-founded by the founding partner of Jungle Ventures; 500 Startups through its subsidiary 500 Durians LLC and a few other private investors.

1. How was WORQ’s 2024?

In 2024, WORQ achieved significant milestones, including a major expansion at Menara UOA Bangsar (MUB), where we launched an additional level — solidifying our position as one of Malaysia’s leading coworking space providers. The expansion at MUB, which saw 100 per cent occupancy a month before its official launch, reflects the growing demand for flexible, high-quality workspaces. Our success at MUB was bolstered by our strategic partnership with UOA Asset Management, which has transformed the space into a thriving hub for startups, investors, and entrepreneurs.

We are also thrilled to have exciting new collaborations, such as our partnership with Pelaburan Hartanah Bhd (PHB) for our expansion at Level 28, Menara 1 Sentrum. This partnership represents an important opportunity and step towards how we redefine the future of workspaces in Malaysia — aligning with our vision to create spaces within transit-oriented developments (TODs) that specifically support a cloud-office network, which is designed to meet the evolving demands of today’s workforce with flexible, collaborative workspaces. In addition, we are excited about another expansion of WORQ at Intermark, located at Integra Tower in Jalan Tun Razak, which was soft-launched in July. The 24,000 sq ft coworking space is a collaboration with Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) [KWAP]. It has now reached 100 per cent occupancy, up from 96 per cent when it was launched — reflecting the strong demand for flexible and collaborative workspaces.

Recently, WORQ KL Sentral and WORQ Bangsar’s applications for Malaysia Digital Hub (MDH) certification have been approved by MDEC — joining our TTDI, Subang, and KL Gateway outlets as MDH-certified hubs. This certification is awarded by the Malaysian government to coworking spaces that meet criteria designed to support the growth and expansion of the tech community, including high-speed broadband connectivity and strong collaboration with tech, funding, and talent partners.

In addition to this milestone, we launched a new coworking space at Sunway Putra Mall, which reflects our effort to enhance our portfolio as the leading coworking space in key urban areas. The Sunway Putra Mall location is strategically located and brings the same innovative and dynamic workspace experience to a prime shopping and business destination — offering great convenience for working professionals and entrepreneurs.

Additionally, we also forged a new partnership with RapidKL by Prasarana, offering free Day Passes to MyCity Pass holders. This collaboration allows commuters and employees to enjoy our modern coworking spaces conveniently located near RapidKL stations in the Klang Valley.

As the only co-working space in Malaysia to integrate TOD across all its outlets in Klang Valley — covering every major train line — we are setting a new benchmark for corporate flexibility and employee satisfaction.

By promoting the use of public transportation, the goals are not only to support reduced carbon emissions but also to help cut down on commuting hours for working people which will contribute to a more sustainable and efficient work-life balance. This is a step in the right direction as we move towards a green economy, and sustainable commuting is one of many factors that play an important role in reducing the environmental footprint — as fewer cars on the road mean lower air pollution as well as less congestion.

The initiative will also help employees achieve better work-life balance — giving them more time to spend on their well-being, getting together with their family and friends, and doing recreational activities. By encouraging the use of public transport, we are not only supporting environmental causes but also improving the overall quality of life for working people, which directly boosts productivity and employee satisfaction.

These developments underscore our commitment to growth, innovation, and community-building, making our co-working spaces a top choice not only for businesses but also for employees, freelancers, and foreign digital nomads seeking adaptable and collaborative work environments in Malaysia.

2. What are your expectations/aspirations for 2025?

For 2025, we will witness a renewed focus on ESG, and as businesses put more effort into DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) — there will be a stronger push to support marginalized groups including persons with disabilities (PWDs), and working mothers in both workplace design and policy.

We have been committed since day one to supporting these groups. For instance, this includes the creation of inclusive spaces, such as dedicated mother’s rooms, ramps for persons with disabilities, and quiet rooms for those who need a calm space to recharge.

In the process, we have partnered with major organizations such as Prasarana — allowing us to enhance accessibility and convenience for employees working across Klang Valley, reinforcing our commitment to inclusivity.

From the Budget 2025 last October, the Malaysian government has announced initiatives to several key policies that champion flexible work — expenses for capacity building acquisition, capped at MYR500,000 — which will now be eligible for an additional 50 per cent tax deduction.

On top of that, employers will receive a similar 50 percent tax deduction on employment expenses for hiring women returning to the workforce for a period of 12 months. For businesses that hire persons with disabilities (PWDs), they will receive an incentive of RM600 per month for three months. All these benefits provide further opportunities for businesses to diversify their workforce while benefiting from tax relief — so it’s a win-win situation for both employers and employees.

3. What are your plans for 2025? What is the focus of the new year?

In 2025, we are excited to build on our success, marking our position as the largest player in the Malaysian market in terms of size. WORQ’s vision includes growing our total co-working space to 450,000 sq ft by 2025, with plans to reach 1 million sq ft by 2030. With the upcoming opening of our Sunway Velocity 2 outlet in February 2025, we continue to expand our footprint, particularly in the Klang Valley, and enhance our offerings.

In addition, our ongoing efforts to build and foster a sense of community within our coworking spaces demonstrate that we are not just providing workspaces. We are also focused on delivering innovative enterprise solutions tailored to the needs of businesses in flexible environments. This includes providing scalable office spaces, advanced technology infrastructure, customizable services, and seamless access to networking opportunities, all designed to empower businesses to grow and thrive in a community-driven ecosystem.

4. What is the outlook for 2025 on the tech ecosystem in Malaysia?

Virtual and augmented reality will transform collaboration by enabling immersive remote interactions, enhancing meetings with dynamic overlays, and creating new opportunities for training and onboarding. At WORQ, we are actively exploring these technologies to foster seamless cross-border collaboration and deliver enriched member experiences.

We also expect further growth in the tech and digital transformation sectors — driven by artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and cloud computing advancements. These technologies are essential to flexible workspaces and will not only reshape how current businesses operate but also create a greater need for tech-enabled workspaces to support these evolving changes.

As hybrid and flexible work becomes the norm, innovations such as AI and workplace automation are transforming coworking spaces — making them smarter and more efficient. This has created more job opportunities, specifically remote and flexible work. For example, at WORQ, we leverage OfficeRND — a coworking space management platform that helps streamline the operations of shared workspaces.

We use this software in particular to enhance member experiences through AI, IoT, and workplace automation — offering features like automated room bookings, streamlined billing, and data-driven member insights. In addition to that, we also provide solutions like All Access Pass and Flex Desk memberships for employees and our teams with rotational work schedules, optimising workspace subscriptions for companies.

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