My startup worked out of 5 different spaces in a year. Here's how we found our dream office.

Sami Akkawi, the 26-year-old cofounder of Petra Labs, described how his startup outgrew five different office spaces in just one year.

Office #1: Akkawi's Dumbo apartment lounge was the startup's first workspace, featuring a pool table and portable monitors. However, the chairs were uncomfortable and lacked adequate privacy.

Office #2: Petra Labs then moved to Akkawi's Lower East Side apartment lounge, which offered meeting rooms and phone booths. The space saw increased foot traffic and a memorable encounter with a contestant from The Bachelor.

Office #3: The company then relocated to Afore's San Francisco office, where they had their own monitors and snacks. Despite the motivation from neighboring startups, the hot phone booths were a drawback.

Office #4: In SoHo, Petra Labs rented a WeWork space for five months. While they enjoyed amenities like free kombucha and a rowdy Italian startup neighbor, the cramped space and lack of natural light were problematic.

Office #5: Finally, Petra Labs secured their current SoHo office through a real estate agent and Tandem. The new space features a conference room with a Costco couch, an open layout with tall ceilings, and abundant natural light. However, the startup is outgrowing the two-year lease and faces a personal guarantee obligation from the landlord.