The rise of remote work and digital nomadism has created a growing need for cafes that accommodate people who work or study outside their homes. A major frustration is the uncertainty of finding spots with available power outlets or knowing how long one can stay without overstaying their welcome. An idea to address this could involve creating a crowdsourced platform that helps users locate cafes with reliable workspaces.

The Core Problem and Opportunity

Remote workers, students, and freelancers often waste time searching for cafes with available power outlets and comfortable seating. Worse, they may hesitate to stay longer even when cafes are open to it, simply because expectations around stay duration aren't clear. A solution that bridges this gap could save time and reduce stress for a large and growing demographic—while also helping cafes attract steady customers who value these amenities.

How It Could Work

One approach might be an app or web platform where users share real-time updates on outlet availability, Wi-Fi quality, seating comfort, and general cafe tolerance for extended stays. Key features could include:

• A map overlay showing cafes with available outlets, color-coded by real-time usage.
• User-generated ratings on "average stay duration" and peak hours.
• Filters for noise level, food options, and other work-friendly amenities.

Cafes could opt into verified listings, ensuring accuracy and potentially offering promotions to users. To encourage contributions, gamification elements (like badges for frequent reporters) or small rewards from partner cafes might help.

Positioning Among Alternatives

While apps like Workfrom list workspaces and Google Maps includes scattered reviews about outlets, this idea would specialize in real-time, structured data about power availability and stay duration—addressing the specific pain points of mobile workers. Unlike general coworking directories, it could focus exclusively on cafes, leveraging crowdsourcing to create a network effect that larger platforms can't easily replicate.

For validation, a simple MVP could start as a shared Google Map or layer atop an existing service. If traction builds, expanding into a dedicated app with partnerships, premium features, or marketplace elements could make the concept sustainable.