ABOUT US

Craft+Graft was founded by Ceylan and Ian Thomson, two entrepreneurs with a shared passion for supporting early-stage businesses and building thoughtful services that help them grow. The pair met while completing their MBAs at IESE Business School and bonded over a vision: to create solutions that blend craft — creative thinking, design, and storytelling — with graft—the grit, hustle, and strategic execution required to grow a business.

Together, they bring years of experience in business strategy, marketing, venture building, and coaching. Ian is a founding CEO, venture builder, and business coach. Ceylan is a seasoned marketing executive and fractional CMO who helps brands define their identity, launch with clarity, and scale with purpose. She also brings her creative vision to life through property development and interior design.

The Origin Story

Their journey began with a shared understanding of the environments entrepreneurs need to thrive. After managing a coworking space in San Francisco, Ceylan and Ian saw firsthand how good design and strong community can help early-stage teams do their best work.

When Ian launched a new startup in Cape Town, he sought a space that reflected these values — one that was flexible, founder-friendly, and community-driven. That idea led to the launch of Craft+Graft in 2017, transforming a once-rundown building on Gordon Street into a dynamic coworking and event space. As Ian’s startup and other resident businesses grew, Craft+Graft expanded in 2021 with a second location, becoming a vibrant hub for founders, creatives, and small teams.

From Space to Service: The Shift to Virtual

In 2020, Craft+Graft introduced virtual office services — designed for founders and remote teams who didn’t need a desk, but did need a credible business address and a trusted local presence.

By 2024, with Ian’s company having grown from startup to scaleup, and a changing landscape for remote work, the Craft+Graft team made the decision to close its physical coworking spaces. We now operate from a property we own and manage directly — giving our clients a reliable, professional foundation for their businesses, with full control over service quality and continuity. The focus shifted entirely to virtual office services, continuing the original mission: to support small businesses and entrepreneurs with flexible, high-value services that grow with them.

Why a Virtual Office? Why Now?

If you’re a founder, freelancer, remote worker, or small team, you might not need a full-time office — but you still need to show up professionally.

A virtual office gives you:

• A reputable Cape Town business address to use on your website, invoices, and registrations
• Mail handling and forwarding so you stay connected
• A cost-effective way to scale, especially when working from home or abroad

The professionalism and trust that helps you make the right impression with clients, partners, and authorities.

We’ve been in your shoes. We’ve launched, bootstrapped, scaled, and pivoted. And we know how important it is to have support that grows with you.