Ten weeks, and you are ready to turn your ideas into actions. Learn the in’s and out’s of how to start your business with CO.STARTERS, a program that equips current and aspiring creative entrepreneurs with the necessary tools for success.

What is CO.STARTERS?

CO.STARTERS is a nationally renowned business development platform to help communities grow local business, offered in Birmingham by Create Birmingham in partnership with REV Birmingham, with additional support from MAKEbhm. This ten-week program equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the insights, relationships, and tools needed to turn business ideas into action. Unlike traditional platforms, CO.STARTERS applies the lean business modeling methods popular among high-growth startups to businesses of all kinds.

CO.STARTERS was developed by The Company Lab (CO.LAB) in Chattanooga, where program graduates who went on to launch their enterprises have seen a success rate of more than 75%.

How does it work?

Participants enter into a facilitator-led, collaborative process with a small (12-16 people) and supportive group of like-minded peers. Working together, participants identify their assumptions about why and how their businesses will work, and then talk to current and potential customers in order to validate their ideas. This approach enables entrepreneurs to rapidly uncover flaws in their concepts and find viable models more quickly. Participants leave the program with a deeper understanding of how to create a sustainable business, articulate their models, and repeat the process with the next great idea.

A History of success
Since its inception in 2008, CO.STARTERS has honed traditional business training techniques, met with thousands of entrepreneurs, led over 700 people through microbusiness support program, and helped over 350 successful businesses launch. Success stories and support networks of entrepreneurs create a culture where business ownership becomes attainable for anyone. While former methods proved a good beginning, by applying the knowledge of the high-growth startup methodologies to experience with microbusiness, an even greater opportunity for impact emerged. The biggest barriers to successful launch were in the areas of customer-focused development and starting small. To meet this need, CO.STARTERS combines the knowledge of small businesses with proven startup methodologies of the high-growth community.

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CO.STARTERS is presented by Create Birmingham, REV Birmingham, and MAKEbhm. 

Financial Aid is available. Please inquire.