Entrepreneurs Behind A "Men-Only" Work Space Thrashed With Criticism Before Quietly Receding Back Into The Shadows

Two Australian entrepreneurs reckon a co-working space exclusive to men is an "innovative way to address male related social issues".

The duo call themselves Nomadic Thinkers, and this is the big idea they've cooked up: A "hybridised co-working model with a gym space" where membership is only made available to men.

Junkee reports this is the first time a co-working space has been established to cater specifically to men in Australia. "The lack of investment in male only working spaces could be down to the fact that currently three in four startups in Australia are founded by men," the article reads.

Speaking to Samuel Monaghan, one half of the Nomadic Thinkers, Junkee asked what had led them to the idea.

Monaghan said: "We'd been working in coffee shops and at home and it wasn't that conducive to working... we both had a mate who ended up in a violent situation with his wife. He pushed his wife over."

Hey guys, if this male-only Nomadic Thinkers working space was to discuss the perils of societally enforced masculinity, that's cool BUT...

— Ashna Basu (@ashnabasu) November 2, 2016

The notion that Nomadic Thinkers' male-only working space is to preserve men's mental health is ??? OTHER MEN are the cause of the issues

— Ashna Basu (@ashnabasu) November 2, 2016

Nomadic Thinkers published a statement to its official Facebook page (which has since been deactivated) addressing the reactions.

The post reads as follows: "Firstly, we would like to acknowledge the public anger as a result of a Junkee article on Tuesday... unfortunately, it has come across that we trivialise the significance of domestic violence and depression."

"We would like to express our apologise as this is not the case."

The pair has also switched their Twitter account to private.

Popular online personalities Bondi Hipsters have also taken aim at Nomadic Thinkers with a hilarious Facebook post.

Have to throw in a few more Twitter gems, because why not?

I presume Nomadic Thinkers is basically a club for private boys school bros who are still quite scared of sharing the stage with women.

— Wyn 🍺 (@WynRichards) November 1, 2016

How long before the Nomadic Thinkers blame women and feminism for their new project to fail before it even started?

— daniel (@bookshopaddict) November 1, 2016

Photo: Facebook (Nomadic Thinkers and Bondi Hipsters)