SOLO STORY #1: Connor Tagg, founder of Werksy
“I didn't want to be that guy in the pub 30 years from now going, 'That was MY ideA.'”
Connor didn’t set out to build a tech product. He set out to fix a feeling - the disconnection that came with freelancing and working solo. Something that truly lights him up when we talk.
Werksy is a flexible co-working app built solo (before a partner joined him in March), shaped by burnout, and rooted in autonomy and access. He spoke to me about his story so far, bullshit startup myths, and the mix of grit and luck it takes to keep going.
AT HIS DESK: Connor Tagg, founder of Werksy
A COVID BEGINNING
"During COVID, there was this shift to hybrid work that had this vision of freedom," he explains. "But the reality was that it just led to isolation for most people."
In this observation, Connor saw an opportunity. "I saw an abundance of underutilised spaces, and I wanted to create something that allowed people to get access to workspaces without the high price point, with the ability to move around and not be tied to one location."
His belief in human connection runs deep. "I can't really overstate the power of just being around other creative people who are pursuing their dreams. When you can meet someone who is an expert in something that you might suck at, that's when magic can really happen. I was in a co-working space not too long ago, and someone was struggling to format a PDF to print something out. I could see she was getting really stressed about it. So I just introduced myself and was like, 'By the way, I'm a graphic designer. Do you need a hand?' She said yes, I helped her, and she just became a friend."
THE STORY SO FAR
Connor's path to entrepreneurship wasn't a straight line; it was a series of pivotal moments. "I was working for an amazing startup, and then, like a lot of people, I got offered a better opportunity," he recalls. "Well, I say better, a more lucrative opportunity, which I took and I somewhat regret, but also don't really regret, because it led me to where I am."
The turning point came unexpectedly. "I suddenly got made redundant, and the process was terrible. The CEO announced some people would be let go in an All Hands meeting, and immediately I got a calendar invite from the COO. Then, that call was literally two minutes long." What could have been a devastating moment became an opportunity.
"I was like, 'Okay, I can get a new job, keep slogging, earning decent money and commuting to London, or I can see this as an opportunity to actually just go all in on this thing that I've been working on for years at this point.'"
His motivation was clear: "I didn't want to be that guy in the pub 30 years from now going, 'That was my idea.' I knew that if I sat back and just keep moving on from job to job, I'm just going to see someone else do that."
ASK FOR HELP
"I was cold calling, and I'm not a salesman. I'm rubbish at cold calling. I was sat at home with my script on my laptop, calling these co-working spaces and just getting hung up on." His soon-to-be co-founder approached him after Werksy launched. "He said, 'I really love this concept. I want to get involved.' When I told him I couldn't afford to pay him, he just said, 'Let me show you what I can do. I just want to support you.' He was living his dream of travelling around the world."
The partnership evolved organically. "He started expanding our reach rapidly. Eventually, we decided he should become my co-founder. Now he's still travelling the world, working on Werksy alongside his other job, and we probably have 10 phone calls a day."
Connor's philosophy is clear: "I always heard people say you need to surround yourself with good people. But I thought no one would understand this thing like I do. The reality is, if you have someone really good at their craft, they can see the main value adds far more effectively than you can."
CONNOR’S DOGS - Pickle on the left and Pablo on the right.
KNOW WHEN TO PAUSE, CHANGE OR STOP
For Connor, productivity isn't about grinding endlessly, but about understanding how creativity truly works. "I have a rule when I'm working on a difficult problem," he explains. "I ask myself: 'Am I making progress or just going around in circles?'"
When he realises he's stuck, he has a specific approach. "If I'm not making progress, I get up and go for a walk. Sometimes it's just taking the dog out, or walking around my flat, or calling my dad, or changing my scenery." This strategy is rooted in a deeper understanding of how the mind works.
"I heard an interview with Jony Ive, who designed products for Apple, and he was saying how the headspace you're in when you have a sketchbook on a coffee table is completely different from the headspace you're in a bland meeting room – your mind will wander to completely different places in different environments, which is great for problem-solving."
The key is recognising when pushing through becomes counterproductive. "I've had days where I'd push through and realise I've made so many cataclysmic errors that I'd actually have to revert back to the previous day's version and start over."
DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE
To Connor, entrepreneurship is grounded in a straightforward and honest approach. "When you see people on Instagram talking about how they made loads of money, like, 'Buy my course' - it's all bullshit," he says bluntly.
"When you love what you do, then it's great, but it's not if you want to make money quickly. Don't expect your thing to blow up overnight," he warns. "There's so much behind the scenes that you don't see [in the case of those people]. You don't know what connections someone has, what financing or support they've received."
AUTHENTICITY IS KEY
"I've learned not to make decisions that are at the detriment of our brand's mission and core values, regardless of what it might improve. Our core values are about trust." This means sometimes making difficult choices.
"It's very hard when you're a solo founder and bills are coming through your letterbox. It's difficult not to make financially motivated decisions. But you can't compromise on your long-term vision for a short-term gain."
His advice to other entrepreneurs is clear: "Don't be that person who makes a decision just because it might earn a quick buck. It all comes out in the wash eventually. Sometimes you have to create friction to build trust, which is a difficult thing to do."
Support looks different for every entrepreneur, and for Connor, it's deeply personal. "I'm so glad to have the right people around me," he says. His girlfriend, who is also an entrepreneur, plays a crucial role.
"She reminds me to eat via text on days I’ve been working flat out. And to drink water.” he laughs. “And we sound ideas off each other. She understands when I’m still up at 2am working out a problem."
TAKE A CHANCE, FIND YOUR PEOPLE
Community has been transformative for him. "I saw this guy holding a cardboard sign looking for 'spontaneous entrepreneurs' outside a co-working space in Brighton! I dropped him a message because I wanted to start surrounding myself with like-minded people."
This led him to a founder's network where entrepreneurs connect in person through less conventional methods. "Rather than just exchanging small talk, we go go-karting or play board games. And everyone just shares everything they know - whether it's LinkedIn strategies or how they structure their business."
"Even if you can't provide value straight away, when there is something you can help with, there's no better feeling than being able to actually add value or reciprocate."
Ultimately, for Connor, entrepreneurship is about more than just building a business. "I think entrepreneurship and loneliness are going to become more and more widespread as AI tools allow creators to be more independent. People will take the plunge because they can. But it's really important for people to have human contact - to be surrounded by other people who support them and who they can support."
Find Connor’s product at werksy.io