Get Startup Advice on Skype in the Workspace

Kira M. Newman Nov 9, 2012 Tweet

Yesterday, Skype publicly launched Skype in the Workspace, a social network for businesses to connect with customers and mentors.

The site is very basic: just a list of “opportunities” that other businesses have posted. For example, some ask questions or offer their services. The idea is that interested users would connect with the businesses on Skype.

Startups could use Skype in the Workspace in a few ways, including to learn.

• Participate in a 15-minute Q&A about using Pinterest to market.
• Spend 15 minutes learning about designing a smartphone app.
• Take a 30-minute session on innovating new strategies.

You could also use it to promote your company. For example, you could offer a tutorial on your service, especially if it targets small businesses (like Somewhere is doing). You could also offer advice on your industry or startups in general. It’s a way to make new business connections right in front of your computer.

It seems a bit odd that Skype in the Workspace is a standalone website, rather than being added directly to the Skype app. One explanation might be that the company is trying to drive new users to Skype, rather than just targeting existing ones. But the separation adds a layer of complication that may deter some people.

500 businesses have been trying out Skype in the Workspace during its beta test. Now that it’s open to the public, we will see if it can attract anywhere near the 280 million monthly users of Skype.