The year was 2016. As India's startup ecosystem boomed, a 26-year-old entrepreneur noticed something peculiar - while innovation was happening inside companies, their physical workplaces remained stuck in the past. Cubicles, long leases, and rigid structures dominated, even as the nature of work was becoming more dynamic.
Enter Smartworks.
Founded by Neetish Sarda, this Gurugram-based company set out to revolutionize commercial real estate with a simple premise: workspaces should adapt to businesses, not the other way around. Their first location in Gurugram wasn't just another coworking space - it was a fully-managed office solution with enterprise-grade infrastructure, hospitality-like services, and the flexibility to scale up or down as needed.
The early challenges were daunting. "Corporate India wasn't used to paying for workspace as a service," recalls Sarda. "We had to educate the market while building a product that could meet Fortune 500 standards."
Their breakthrough came when they landed their first major client - a tech unicorn needing space for 500 employees within weeks. Smartworks delivered not just desks, but a complete workplace ecosystem:
• Plug-and-play offices with biometric access
• Dedicated IT support and video conferencing
• Wellness rooms and curated F&B options
• Data-driven space utilization analytics
As hybrid work took off post-pandemic, Smartworks' model proved prescient. From 1 center in 2016, they've grown to 40+ locations across 9 cities, managing over 8 million sq. ft. Their client roster now includes Microsoft, Amazon, and Tata, with 90% enterprise occupancy.
The secret sauce? "We're not in the real estate business," explains Sarda. "We're in the employee experience business." This philosophy shows in details like AI-powered air quality monitoring, mother's rooms, and even nap pods.
Today valued at ₹2,000 crore, Smartworks represents more than just office spaces - it's proof that even traditional industries can be reinvented with the right mix of vision, technology, and customer focus. As Sarda puts it: "The workplace of the future isn't about where you go, but what you can do when you get there."
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