The Riveter, a Seattle-based startup that launched a coworking space in Edina and eight other cities, is closing down all of its coworking spaces, it announced in blog post.
“During the course of this devastating pandemic, the safety and health of our employees and members have been our top priority,” founder and CEO Amy Nelson wrote. “As these safety concerns and unforeseen circumstances continue, we’ve been forced to make the tremendously difficult decision to close our coworking operations.”
But The Riveter won’t vanish entirely. It’s shifting gears to focus on an online community that will feature online networking, mentoring and more.
The coworking and events organization launched in 2017, and it raised a $15 million Series A round. Although Riveter was founded by women with other women in mind, the space welcomes all genders – including men. Around 30% of members don’t identify as female, Nelson previously told Minne Inno. The Riveter opened in Edina last summer. It was the company's eighth location and first in the Midwest.
The Riveter reduced its staffing levels after the coronavirus pandemic led to the closure of most physical offices and meetings spaces.
“Our mission has always been to create change for working women,” Nelson wrote. “We launched our digital community in February, and then the world changed. The need for support increased, and our mission became more urgent. The Riveter’s online community has been sharing their stories, resources and experiences, learning new skills and attending virtual events.”
Brent Wistrom contributed to this report.
