Have a business idea, but you don’t know where to start?
Start with CO.STARTERS.

WHAT IS CO.STARTERS?

CO.STARTERS is a program designed to provide you with the insights, relationships, and tools needed to turn your idea into action and your passion into a sustainable and thriving business.

COVID-19 and storm damage have both created challenging circumstances for many in our community, including our business owners. That is why we have decided to make the CO.STARTERS program more accessible than ever by offering all 2020 programming for free. This will be an opportunity for not only those looking to launch a business in the near future but also for current business owners seeking fresh perspective or re-evaluating their business model.

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FROM OUR GRADUATES

“By walking me through the creation of a business plan, helping me define my target audience, and emphasizing the importance of marketing and promotion, CO.STARTERS helped to demystify the process of entrepreneurship and ensure that I got off on the right foot.”

— Dana Shavin, TheHowl.co

“From knowing yourself to marketing your message and from scaling to cash flow, this program breaks it down to help grow your idea. I am confident this program can help any entrepreneur understand how to navigate from a grassroots perspective and grow into a community game changer.”

— Antole Thelwell, ChattBout Jerk Caribbean Pop-Up

“CO.STARTERS provided me with the most powerful thing in an entrepreneur’s journey: a little shove. Each week it was a critical reminder to keep forging the foundation of my business, and it provided a community of support that continues to prove invaluable in my daily operations and goals.”

— Chantz Yanagida, eLab Repairs

1000+

total participants

200+

businesses launched

Program details

Upcoming Cohorts

Oct 01

Fall CO.STARTERS Cohort 1 (Cohort Full)

October 1 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Oct 07

Fall CO.STARTERS Cohort 2 (Cohort Full)

October 7 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

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During CO.STARTERS, you’ll develop and fine-tune your idea, critically examining every part of it and tweaking your next steps through real-time feedback from people in the community. Over the nine weeks, we’ll cover the following topics.

Session 1: Knowing Yourself
Session 2: Knowing Your Customer
Session 3: Finding the Right Solution
Session 4: Getting The Relationship Right
Session 5: Building Blocks
Session 6: Structures & Systems
Session 7: Discovering the Bottom Line
Session 8: Financial Modeling
Session 9: Planning for Growth
Session 10: Pitch Practice
Session 11: Graduation / Pitch Night

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FAQ

What should I expect in CO.STARTERS?

CO.STARTERS is an action-driven, collaborative process with a small and supportive group of like-minded people. Led by a facilitator who is an experienced entrepreneur, you’ll identify your assumptions about why and how your businesses will work and then talk to customers in order to validate your ideas. This approach enables you to rapidly uncover flaws in your concept and find viable models more quickly. You’ll leave the program with a deeper understanding of how to create a sustainable business, articulate your model, and repeat the process with your next great idea.

Is CO.STARTERS right for me?

If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, or a seasoned entrepreneur looking to launch a new product or service, CO.STARTERS is for you. The only real prerequisites are (1) having an idea you’re ready, willing, and excited to share and pursue and (2) a willingness to study, shape and fine-tune that idea in a supportive, collaborative, and welcoming environment. If you’re creative and community-minded, and you’re serious about turning your passion into a sustainable business, we want you to participate.

How many hours a week should I expect to commit to CO.STARTERS?

Each session meets once a week for 3 hours. The only exception to this is week 9 which will meet for two sessions at a total of 6 hours for the week. Each participant will be challenged to talk to customers—or potential customers—each week, as it is a critical element of building a business.

What happens if I miss a session?

We understand that life happens and things can come up over the course of the program. If you miss a session, you can schedule a time to make it up at a later date.

How much does the program cost and what does it cover?

For the next several months in 2020, we will be offering CO.STARTERS for free. Please reach out to Zac Beker at zac@colab.co for questions about which cohorts this offer will apply to.

Typically, the program currently costs a flat fee of $300 for each participant representing a business. The cost for a business partner to join the initial participant is $150. Fees for the program go towards paying the facilitator, class materials, and a copy of the CO.STARTERS binder that will be yours to keep.