Minimistan

What Minimistan does

Minimistan is a French social-economy third-place venue operated by the nonprofit Convivium (Association loi 1901) from the historic 1644 Couvent des Minimes, a 4000m² property in central Grenoble held under a 45-year emphyteutic lease secured in 2018. The business integrates five revenue streams under a single roof: a 600m² coworking space with 60 workstations serving ~500 active coworkeurs; a full-service café, bar and restaurant operating from 8h to midnight; the L'Alchimisterie urban distillery (launched January 2024) producing mountain-inspired spirits including an award-winning Pastis des Montagnes; the Les Hautes Lumières photography gallery operated in partnership with Studio Spiral; and the Université Libre, a free programming platform of conferences, debates and workshops carried by Convivium.

The offering is monetized through subscription coworking memberships, pay-as-you-go food and beverage sales (€1.50–€30), hourly meeting and event room rentals (€30–€78/hr) accommodating groups of 2–250, distillery retail and "Cocktails Nomades" keg service, and association memberships. The 2018 acquisition was financed by approximately 230 Grenoble citizens who became shareholders of an ESS SAS, creating a community-ownership structure rather than a venture- or private-equity-backed one. The core technology stack is intentionally lightweight — Cobot, Zenchef, Billetweb, HelloAsso and Pressable — and there is no proprietary software or AI capability.

The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven: 130+ events per year (including Festival Esprit Nomade, Mini Klub with RTL3, blind tests, concerts, PUFF paste-up festivals) generate word-of-mouth acquisition, while organic social channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram) and blog editorial by co-founder Mathieu Genty sustain awareness. Customer segments are deliberately diversified across freelancers, remote workers, digital nomads, refugees and excluded populations, local culture-seekers, lifelong learners, and corporate event buyers, reducing single-segment exposure but concentrating 100% of revenue at a single physical site.

Name

Minimistan

Legal name

Convivium (Association loi 1901)

Website

https://minimistan.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Minimistan is a Grenoble-based social-economy third-place venue operated by Convivium from a 17th-century convent, combining coworking, café/bar/restaurant, an on-site distillery, photography gallery and free university programming under one roof for freelancers, local residents and event customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality and Coworking Venue

NAICS

Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (722515), Caterers (72232), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Coworking Cafes / Work Cafes (THAFADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Occasion & Destination Restaurants (THAFACAK), Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE)

Keywords

• Coworking space
• Artisan distillery
• Café bar restaurant
• Event venue rental
• Community workspace

Headquarters

HQ city

Grenoble

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Coworking Memberships: Flexible workspace rental with hot desks, private offices, and team spaces. Subscription-based model with simple, no-commitment, all-inclusive pricing.
2. Café, Bar & Restaurant: Full-service café (8h-12h), cantine/restaurant (10h30-14h), and bar with aperitivo (17h-00h). Revenue from food and beverage sales including specialty coffee, cocktails with house spirits, and local craft beers.
3. Brunch Service: Saturday brunch offering featuring eggs Benedict, Korean chicken, vegetarian tartine, and gourmet platter at €9-15 per person.
4. Event Space Rental & Privatization: Meeting rooms (15-150 m²) for 2-250 people, seminar venue up to 200 attendees, and full venue privatization for corporate events, parties, and gatherings. Rooms range from €30-78/hour.
5. L'Alchimisterie Spirits & Cocktails: On-site distillery producing craft spirits including Gin du Minimistan, Pastis des Montagnes (gold medal 2026), Limoncello, and Génépi. Cocktails Nomades available in keg with tap system for events. DIY distillation workshops and bottle sales.
6. Université Libre Programming: Free university programming with conferences, debates, workshops, and cultural events. Revenue from membership/adhesion fees and potential ticketed premium events.
7. Gallery & Cultural Events: Les Hautes Lumières photography gallery hosting rotating exhibitions (6-8 weeks) featuring contemporary photographers and the Tairraz family alpine photography collection. Open 8h-18h weekdays.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Minimistan operates an integrated third-place venue in Grenoble from a 4,000m² historic Couvent des Minimes, combining coworking (60 workstations), a full-service café/bar/restaurant, an on-site artisanal distillery (L'Alchimisterie), a photography gallery (Les Hautes Lumières), free university programming (Université Libre), and event/meeting room rental. The venue also runs approximately 130 events annually including festivals, concerts, workshops, and brunch service.

Product overview

Minimistan is a multi-service third-place venue operating from a former 17th-century Couvent des Minimes (4000m2) in Grenoble, France. The organization functions as a unified platform combining five interconnected offerings: (1) Coworking spaces with 60 workstations serving approximately 500 active members, (2) Café, Bar & Restaurant offering full food and beverage service from morning to midnight, (3) L'Alchimisterie - an on-site artisanal distillery producing mountain-inspired spirits including award-winning Pastis des Montagnes, (4) Les Hautes Lumières - a photography gallery in partnership with Studio Spiral, and (5) Université Libre - free educational programming with conferences and debates. Additional services include Saturday brunch, room rentals for events/seminars (up to 200 people), and regular event programming including music nights, festivals, and concerts. The venue hosts approximately 130 events annually and is accessible Monday through Saturday, with the Coworking reception open 9h-18h.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• L'Alchimisterie: Urban artisanal distillery producing spirits including Pastis des Montagnes, gin, and cocktails. Located at the heart of Minimistan. Won gold medal at Concours Général Agricole 2026.
• Les Hautes Lumières

Products and services

• Coworking Flexible coworking workspace with 60 workstations across 600m² at the Couvent des Minimes in Grenoble, serving approximately 500 active coworking members. Includes hot desks, private spaces for video calls and client meetings, dedicated team rooms for 3-6 person teams, and 'elastic' office space with flexible pricing based on attendance. Includes high-speed redundant internet, free coffee, and fair-use printing.
• Café, Bar & Restaurant Full-service café (8h-12h), cantine/restaurant (10h30-14h), and bar with aperitivo service (17h-00h). Features specialty coffee from Café Chulo (Guatemalan beans, slowly roasted), seasonal menus prepared by in-house chefs Léo and Jules, craft cocktails using house-made spirits, local craft beers, and curated wines. Zenchef-powered online reservations available.
• L'Alchimisterie (Distillery) On-site artisanal distillery producing craft spirits and aperitifs including Gin du Minimistan, Pastis des Montagnes (won Gold Medal at Concours Général Agricole 2026), Limoncello, and Génépi. Ingredients primarily sourced from organic agriculture with emphasis on local sourcing and waste reduction (marc de café, pastry trimmings, wine industry byproducts). Includes DIY distillation workshops, pre-made 'Cocktails Nomades' in pressurized kegs with tap system for external events, and on-site bottle boutique.
• Les Hautes Lumières (Photography Gallery) Photography exhibition space located on the first floor of Minimistan, created in partnership with Studio Spiral. Features two exhibition areas: one showcasing contemporary photography through temporary exhibitions (6-8 weeks each), and another exhibiting the Tairraz family photographic collection (alpine photographers spanning from 1860). Free admission, open weekdays 8h-18h.
• Université Libre du Minimistan Free university concept offering conferences, debates, workshops, and cultural events on citizenship, democracy, housing, and environmental topics. Includes a blog with editorial articles on societal topics authored by founder Mathieu. Open to all regardless of background. Membership available through HelloAsso.
• Room Rental & Privatization Event and meeting space rental including multiple rooms (Jumanji up to 25 people, Calypso up to 40, Utopia up to 16, Pandora and Avalon for smaller meetings), plus a dedicated events space accommodating up to 150-200 people. Spaces equipped with projector, screen, and whiteboard. Rooms range from €30-78/hour. Full venue privatization available with buffet, breakfast, and catering options for seminars, corporate events, parties, and conferences.
• Saturday Brunch Weekly Saturday brunch service from 11h-14h featuring items including Eggs Benedict (vegetarian, €14), Korean Chicken (€15), Vegetarian Tartine (€14), Seasonal Salad (€13), children's plate (€9), and Gourmand Plate option. Pricing ranges from €7.50-15 per person. Requires advance reservation through Zenchef.
• Event Programming Regular event programming including Mini Klub (monthly music nights co-hosted with RTL3 web radio), blind tests, concerts, festivals (Esprit Nomade #5, Carnaval du Minimistan 4th edition), film screenings, DJ nights, workshops, and themed evenings. Approximately 130 events hosted annually with ticketing managed through Billetweb for select events.
• Atelier Risographie Risography workshop offering risograph printing services and workshops, operating via the dedicated subdomain grrriso.minimistan.org as part of Minimistan's creative programming.

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RTL3 (Radio Toujours Libre)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024RTL3 web radio studio is located at the first floor of Minimistan. Monthly Mini Klub events are held in the courtyard featuring RTL3 DJ sets. The partnership creates recurring programming and attracts audiences to the venue.
• Studio Spiral (Benoît Capponi)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaboration with Benoît Capponi, renowned Grenoblois photographer and founder of Studio Spiral, to create Les Hautes Lumières photography gallery at Minimistan. Combines contemporary photography programming with the gallery's existing expertise.
• Café ChulominorOthers · 1 January 2024Local partner providing specialty coffee from Guatemala, slowly roasted specifically for Minimistan. Coffee served at café from 8h.
• Alpes ConsignesminorOthers · 1 January 2024Bottle return partner for L'Alchimisterie consignment system. Bottles with 'Rapportez-moi' logo can be returned at Alpes Consignes caskets or any network collection point.
• PressableminorOthers · 1 January 2024Web hosting provider for minimistan.org website
• MexiiicominorOthers · 1 January 2024Design and development agency for the Minimistan website
• Un Toit Pour TousminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Housing association partnering with Minimistan for Université Libre programming including exhibition 'Considérables!' and conferences on mal-logement topics.
• Les HabilesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Non-profit association promoting and accompanying participatory housing development in Isère, partnering for Université Libre workshops.
• Paste-Up Festival France (PUFF)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Grenoblois association organizing collage festivals in Minimistan's corridors. Edition in October 2024 and October 2025 with hundreds of international artists creating urban art.
• AGIRabcdminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Association partnering for film screening 'Une deuxième vie' and discussions around retirement and habitat choices.
• Communic'actionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner for café-débats held every 6 weeks at Minimistan, addressing societal topics with diverse stakeholders.
• Maison des Habitants Centre VilleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024City neighborhood association partnering for table ronde 'Habiter les lieux, habiter la ville' and café-débats.
• Convivium (Association Loi 1901)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Convivium is the association that carries the social and societal project of Les Minimes. Created the Université Libre des Minimes as a tool for co-construction of alternatives through collective knowledge sharing.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• La R\u00e9cyclerie: Paris third-place housed in a former railway station offering restaurant, bar, coworking, and educational programming with strong community and ecological values. Highly comparable third-place positioning, civic engagement, and adaptive reuse of a heritage site.
• Ground Control Paris: Paris-based multi-use venue combining food hall, bars, coworking, and cultural events. Closely comparable in integrating F&B, workspace, and event programming under a single roof, though at much larger scale and with a more commercial orientation.
• Now Coworking: French coworking chain operating across multiple French cities with flexible workspace, meeting rooms, and on-site caf\u00e9/bar service. Direct competitor in the coworking-with-F\u00e6B segment, particularly relevant in second-tier French cities.
• La Cord\u00e9e: Lyonnaise multi-site cooperative venue combining coworking, caf\u00e9, restaurant, and event programming. Operates under a cooperative/social-economy model very similar to Minimistan, with comparable citizen-investor governance and mixed-use revenue architecture across workspace and hospitality.
• Anticaf\u00e9: French coworking-cafe concept charging by time spent rather than monthly subscriptions, with locations across France. Directly comparable work-cafe positioning and self-serve booking experience, focused on freelancers and remote workers.
• Le Comptoir G\u00e9n\u00e9ral: Paris urban hospitality venue combining restaurant, bar, boutique, cultural events, and community programming in a former industrial canal-side building. Similar multi-vertical mix and event-driven GTM motion, though without a coworking anchor.

Broad incumbents

• WeWork: Global coworking and flexible office giant with broad presence in France. Comparable in providing flexible workspace, meeting rooms, and community events, but operates at much larger scale and does not integrate F\u00e6B, distillery, gallery, or educational programming.

Emerging players

• La Mutinerie: Paris coworking space with attached caf\u00e9 and event programming, oriented toward women and non-binary professionals. Comparable in mixing workspace and hospitality with community-led programming, though with a narrower demographic focus and no on-site production (distillery/gallery).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/minimistan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/minimistan
• Instagraminstagram.com/minimistan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Minimistan