Investing in the Cuddle Economy

We believe there is a large market for being held, and an even larger one for never having to admit that’s what you paid for. Young professionals already spend evenings navigating dating apps, ambiguous invitations, and people they don’t particularly like for the possibility of a little physical affection. Paying for it directly still feels like crossing a line. Comen puts a desk on the other side of that line. Suddenly, you’re investing in a better work environment.

Today, we’re pleased to announce our investment in Comen, a coworking space offering professional, platonic cuddling for $499 a month. Members bring their laptops, share their comfort preferences, and settle in with trained cuddlers who understand consent and boundaries. Work can continue throughout the experience. A spreadsheet remains a spreadsheet whether you are reviewing it alone or against someone’s chest.

The team understands something important about this customer: knowing what you want does not necessarily make you comfortable asking for it. A hookup introduces expectations. An escort may feel like a larger decision than the evening warrants. Booking a professional cuddler requires becoming, in your own estimation, someone who books a professional cuddler. A coworking membership requires no such reconsideration. You needed somewhere to work. You found somewhere supportive.

We met Comen’s founders long before there was a company. They had been running informal sessions out of a Mission District apartment, where young professionals brought their laptops and stayed well beyond their battery life. What interested us was how members described the experience. They spoke about focus, productivity, and finally having a reason to leave the house. They also knew exactly which evenings particular cuddlers would be there. The founders understood that both things could be true. By our third visit, so did we.

That understanding extends to why members return. Within clearly defined professional boundaries, they can build familiarity with the same cuddler over time. Conventional coworking operators work hard to convince customers that their particular arrangement of desks constitutes a community. Comen offers someone who remembers that Wednesday is when you speak to your manager. We believe this gives members a compelling reason to renew, even after a meeting room becomes available closer to home.

Comen plans to open first in the Castro, with Hell’s Kitchen to follow. We’re proud to support a team making physical affection easier to access and considerably easier to explain. During diligence, several partners asked when memberships would become available. One asked whether the invoice would say coworking. We considered this a strong indication of purchase intent.