Co-working can be a viable business, and so, too, could WeWork. But it seems doubtful that Neumann, of all people, would be the one to finally make WeWork a going concern. The business of co-working has also changed from what it once was, says Julie Whelan, who leads a research team at CBRE. The aughts-era idea of co-working popularized by WeWork — a bunch of 20-somethings paying monthly fees for individual desks in shared offices where they could meet other entrepreneurs and drink free craft beer — has shifted to a more à la carte office model many different types of businesses are interested in using. Flexible workspaces — smaller, built-out offices with shorter lease terms — allow younger companies to lease spaces without long-term commitments and more established companies to access extra space if they need to accommodate visiting workers, rent extra conference rooms, or open satellite offices with lower overhead.