WAO
WAO is a Milan-based proptech startup, launched in March 2024 under Gruppo OneDay, that develops integrated coworking and coliving spaces in the Isola and Certosa districts for dynamic young professionals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersMilan, Italy
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What WAO does
WAO (also branded "We Are Open") is a Milan-based proptech startup that designs, develops, and operates integrated coworking and coliving spaces targeted at dynamic young professionals. The company was launched in March 2024 under the umbrella of Italian real estate group Gruppo OneDay, which provided the initial €800,000 pre-seed investment. WAO's two core offerings are flexible coworking spaces and shared coliving residences, planned for development in two emerging Milan districts — Isola and Certosa — with the stated value proposition of combining living and working environments for urban professionals seeking integrated, flexible solutions.
The business model is operational real estate: WAO generates revenue by leasing coworking desks/offices and coliving residential units to individual tenants. Pricing, contract structures, and occupancy levels are not publicly disclosed, and the available evidence suggests the company is at a pre-revenue or early-revenue stage, with planned sites rather than a fully operational portfolio at the time of the last funding event. The company is privately held, operates with 11-50 employees, and is led by CEO and Co-Founder Massimiliano Zampini alongside COO Gabriele Belloni.
Technology inputs are limited to the "proptech" label, with no disclosed proprietary platform, software stack, AI/ML components, or digital infrastructure described in the input data. WAO's strategic differentiation rests primarily on its location strategy within emerging Milan neighborhoods and on the operational and financial backing of Gruppo OneDay, rather than on any documented technology moat. Customer concentration, revenue scale, and product-level technical differentiators remain undisclosed in available sources.
WAO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WAO
- Website
- https://waospaces.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- WAO is a Milan-based proptech startup, launched in March 2024 under Gruppo OneDay, that develops integrated coworking and coliving spaces in the Isola and Certosa districts for dynamic young professionals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WAO industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Coworking and Coliving Real Estate
- NAICS
- Real Estate Property Managers (53131), Services to Buildings and Dwellings (5617)
- SIC
- Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Coliving (Monthly, Shared Amenities) (THAMAFAL)
Keywords
Where WAO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milan
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
WAO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
WAO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WAO designs, develops, and operates coworking spaces and coliving spaces for startups and dynamic young professionals in emerging Milan neighborhoods, including the Isola and Certosa districts. Its core offering is an integrated, shared real-estate experience that combines flexible workspace with residential coliving within the same proptech platform.
Product overview
WAO is a proptech startup under the Gruppo OneDay umbrella that operates as a unified real estate platform offering both coworking and coliving spaces. The company targets dynamic young professionals in Milan, with planned developments in the Isola and Certosa districts. The two core offerings—coworking spaces and coliving spaces—work together as part of an integrated approach to flexible urban living and working solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Coworking Spaces Flexible shared workspace offerings for dynamic young professionals in Milan, with planned/operating locations in the Isola and Certosa districts.
- Coliving Spaces Shared living spaces designed for young professionals, providing both residential accommodation and community-oriented environments in Milan.
Companies that use WAO
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
WAO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
WAO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
WAO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Collective: London-based coliving operator with integrated workspaces and community programming. Closely comparable to WAO's combined coworking + coliving model and young-professional target.
- Quarters: Coliving operator providing furnished shared apartments with community spaces. Direct overlap with WAO's coliving product and young professional target segment.
- DoveVivo: Italian co-living and rental management company operating managed shared apartments. Direct overlap with WAO's coliving product in the Italian market.
- Youme: Italian coliving operator offering shared residential spaces for young professionals and students. Comparable product offering and target segment to WAO.
- Common: US-based coliving operator offering shared apartments with community-focused amenities. Comparable to WAO on the coliving product targeting urban young professionals seeking flexibility.
Regional players
- Copernico: Italian flexible workspace operator with multiple Milan locations targeting professionals and SMEs. Comparable as an Italian coworking competitor focused on flexible urban workspace.
- Talent Garden: Italy's largest coworking network, focused on innovation and digital professionals. Strong regional overlap with WAO in the Italian coworking market with shared community focus.
Broad incumbents
- WeWork: Global coworking and flexible workspace operator with a presence in Milan. Comparable to WAO on the coworking side; significantly larger and broader in scope, but operates in overlapping customer segments (young professionals, startups).
- IWG (Regus): World's largest flexible workspace operator (Regus, Spaces, HQ). Overlaps with WAO's coworking offering for professionals and small businesses in urban markets including Italy.
Emerging players
- Primo (by Starwood Capital): European co-living brand backed by Starwood Capital, targeting young professionals in urban markets. Comparable target segment and integrated community model to WAO.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
WAO social profiles
Digital presenceWAO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WAO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
WAO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WAO M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WAO
What does WAO do?
WAO designs, develops, and operates coworking spaces and coliving spaces for startups and dynamic young professionals in emerging Milan neighborhoods, including the Isola and Certosa districts. Its core offering is an integrated, shared real-estate experience that combines flexible workspace with residential coliving within the same proptech platform.
Is WAO a public or private company?
WAO is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was WAO founded?
WAO was founded in 2024. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is WAO based?
WAO is headquartered in Milan, Italy, in the Europe region.
Who are WAO's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Collective, Quarters, DoveVivo, Youme and Common. Regional players are Copernico and Talent Garden. Broad incumbents are WeWork and IWG (Regus). Primo (by Starwood Capital) is listed as an emerging player.
Does WAO have an API?
No public API is recorded for WAO.
What industry is WAO in?
WAO's product category is Coworking and Coliving Real Estate. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAMAFAL, Coliving (Monthly, Shared Amenities). Its NAICS code is 53131 and its SIC code is 6513.