PROFILE OF THE ENTREPRENEURS
NEW ENTREPRENEUR
Annabell Schwarz (Germany)
Sector of activity: Tourism / Content Creation
Company name/Status (would-be): The Coliving Way
HOST ENTREPRENEUR
Maria Ines Silva Liste (Spain)
Sector of activity: Hospitality
Company name: iSlow Coliving
DURATION: 4 months (from 12/02/2025 to 12/06/2025)
INTERMEDIARY ORGANIZATION OF THE NEW ENTREPRENEUR: CCI
PRESENTATION OF THE EXCHANGE
Description of activities, objectives reached, and outputs
Annabell Schwarz, founder of The Coliving Way, joined the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme to gain practical experience in the coliving industry. Her host, Inés Silva, runs iSlow Coliving, a rural community space in Galicia, Spain.
Annabell wanted to explore the operational side of coliving while contributing her skills in digital marketing and communication.
Inés, on the other hand, saw in Annabell the opportunity to bring fresh ideas and external perspective into her business.
Their shared passion for meaningful, values-driven community life led to a strong and fruitful collaboration — both professionally and personally.
Annabell’s work included optimizing the iSlow website (incl. Google Tag Manager setup, UX structure), creating and managing content for social media, producing a newsletter, developing an onboarding concept, documenting coliver experiences, and writing articles and reels about the coliving lifestyle. She also represented iSlow at regional events and supported the host in reviewing project applications.
Inés provided mentorship, shared industry insights, and introduced Annabell to her professional network.
Their close collaboration was supported by a warm personal connection — Inés and her family fully integrated Annabell into their daily life, making the experience truly immersive.
The exchange helped Annabell sharpen her entrepreneurial vision, deepen her understanding of community building, and expand her professional and personal network. Her contributions significantly boosted iSlow’s online visibility, improved its onboarding and communication strategy, and brought fresh energy to its brand messaging.
Inés reported that working with Annabell gave her new motivation and a strategic partner to reflect on long-term positioning and growth. She benefited from having a sounding board with strong digital know-how and received valuable input she wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Both agree that the connection will last far beyond the programme — as colleagues, collaborators and friends.
QUOTES
"I never thought I’d find a second home while on a professional exchange — but at iSlow, I did. Being part of Inés’ family reminded me that coliving is about people first."
"Hosting Annabell through the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme was a truly enriching experience. Her creativity, professionalism, and deep interest in the coliving movement brought fresh energy to our team. She not only supported our communications and community initiatives with great care, but also helped us reflect on how to better share the values behind our project. It was a mutually inspiring exchange, and we’re excited to see how she continues shaping TheColivingWay with the insights gained during her time at iSlow."
