For German software company SAP, the idea of HANA (High-performance Analytics Appliance) always existed in a theoretical sense. The cloud platform for database management and analytics called SAP HANA has been, after all, a key element of the company’s growth into one of the world’s premiere technology companies. It helps users branch out into new markets, create synergies and connections across complex, multifaceted projects and use data to spur growth. 

In the early 2010s, SAP cofounder and chairman Prof. Hasso Plattner wanted to bring the ideas behind HANA into the physical world, by changing how coworking spaces are conceived and organized. 

The result? HanaHaus, a pay-as-you-go coworking space with locations in sunny Palo Alto and Newport Beach that mixes coworking, coffee and corporate offices. 

Founded in 2015 with its first test location – a former movie theater – in Palo Alto and since a second location in Newport Beach, HanaHaus has grown into a key node for startups in California. In Southern California, the second location plays an especially critical role: functioning as a bridge between entrepreneurial ecosystems in Los Angeles and San Diego.

“[Hasso] came up with the idea of creating a community hub for entrepreneurs and for creative people in technology and innovation hubs around the world to bring them together,” says Daniel Zimmer, Head of Ecosystems SAP Bay Area and Global Head of HanaHaus. “Just by bringing them together in a creative environment, it would spark new ideas and help the community be more creative and more entrepreneurial.”

While coworking spaces can sometimes feel like hidden clubhouses for wealthy entrepreneurs and investors, the founders of HanaHaus have endeavored to democratize the coworking space. Visitors pay $3 per hour – a steal in this part of the world – and have access to a range of resources, such as projectors, high-speed internet and white boards, as well as additional paid resources like meeting rooms. 

Both spaces, completely gut renovated, are clean and sleek. They’re also public facing and open to the world, with the Newport Beach space located right on the bay, across from restaurants, wineries and bars. 

Sometimes overlooked because of its proximity to the much bigger startup ecosystems nearby, Newport Beach is well-located in its own right. A short drive from the Santa Ana airport, Newport Beach has the southern California vibe without the congestion and stress of flying into LAX.

It’s a place to relax and feel comfortable, and the shared coffee-shop element is a key part of the project. SAP has partnered with Blue Bottle Coffee to bring high-quality, locally brewed coffee to HanaHaus – a way of supporting local entrepreneurs in front of and behind the counter. This relaxed vibe is also reflected in HanaHaus’ business model. 

“You're paying based on your use,” Julia says. “There's no membership, no long-term commitment. It’s for everybody. Even if you just want to grab a coffee and read a book, this is the place to be.” 

For startups, the benefits of working out of the space are numerous, and perhaps most important is the connections that are made there. 

For many investors, HanaHaus is simultaneously helping to put Newport Beach on the map and supporting local entrepreneurs, Daniel says. Although the space opened only recently, he says that the number of people who work there is already on par with the first space in Palo Alto. 

“People with money to invest in good ideas are in Newport Beach historically, but in the past, they had to go to [Silicon Valley], or they had to go to LA to find ventures that they could invest it in,” Daniel says. “Now we're doing that in Newport Beach. It warms our hearts to see that we are actually contributing to this community, even though we’re not actively involved in those deals.” 

“We’re selling them a coffee and a chair that they can sit on,” he continues. “But they create businesses and make deals by themselves and it’s amazing to see that it works out so well.”

All photos: SAP Next-Gen