Programs
Discover Our Proven ProgramsAll local partners have access to our programs, designed to provide the right guidance at the right time using the CO.STARTERS Canvas as the framework, facilitated by experienced business leaders.
Check local partner listings to see the programs currently being offered, which may include our programs or variations tailored to their resources and expertise.
A strong foundation
CO.STARTERS Core
Our flagship offering is an accelerator-style program that equips entrepreneurs with essential business fundamentals. Using the CO.STARTERS Canvas, participants are guided through the process of testing and refining their ideas as they bring them to life.
This program is facilitated by a local business leader and conducted in a collaborative cohort format, featuring 10 sessions over 10 weeks.Compare Programs
READY. SET. LAUNCH!
CO.STARTERS Bootcamp
The four-part intensive bootcamp provides entrepreneurs with the business basics. Through hackathon-style peer collaboration, this program challenges participants, stretches their thinking, and gives them the training to build a stronger business.
This program consists of two sessions per day for two days.Compare Programs
TAKE THE FIRST STEP
CO.STARTERS Workshop
This introductory three-hour workshop helps entrepreneurs explore ideas, refine their models, and define next steps.
This program consists of one session across three hours of content.Compare Programs
INSPIRE YOUTH
CO.STARTERS Generator
This modular version of CO.STARTERS Core helps teach teens entrepreneurial thinking as they generate, test, and think about their ideas.
This program varies by grade and goals.Compare Programs
COMPARE
Programs and Content
All local partners can access these programs, but they may offer customized versions based on their resources and expertise. Check local partner listings to see the programs available in your area.
Core
DURATION
10 Sessions
over 10 weeks
WHO IT'S FOR
Great for anyone who has an idea to start a business or needs help building their business.
WHAT WE COVER
Know Yourself
Dig into what's driving you and understand what it will take to achieve your dream.
Understand Your Customers
Pinpoint what your customer wants and how to adapt to their needs.
Business Solutions & Starting Small
Test your solution by starting small and making adjustments as needed.
Getting, Keeping & Growing Customers
Build customer relationships through your messaging and marketing.
Revenue, Pricing & Distribution
Figure out your logistics and how you'll make money.
Legal & Accounting
Understand the systems and structures you'll need to support your business.
Financial Modeling
Determine your costs and whether your business model is financially viable.
Funding & Raising Capital
Know your options for finding the funds you need to grow sustainably.
Growth Plans & Goal Setting
Gain momentum and leave with a strategy for achieving your goals.
Celebrate
Reflect on your journey and celebrate your success. Your future starts now.
PARTICIPANTS WILL ACCOMPLISH
- Ability to ask better questions to challenge assumptions
- Identify key issues and address them
- Understand why specifics matter and how everything works together
- Be able to clearly articulate the business' potential to others
- Learn from other entrepreneurs and build relationships and community that will help foster success
- Know next step
Bootcamp
DURATION
4 Sessions
over 2 days
WHO IT'S FOR
Ideal for individuals who have an idea but need further validation.
WHAT WE COVER
Discover
Evaluate the assumptions behind your business model and refine your idea using the CO.STARTERS Canvas.
Promote
Learn the basics of crafting a message and building relationships through marketing.
Build
Dive into the building blocks - from your startup costs to your break-even point-needed to understand your business's finances.
Launch
Create a plan and stay on track by setting priorities and SMART goals to move your business forward.
PARTICIPANTS WILL ACCOMPLISH
- Build framework for better identifying key issues
- Forge valuable connections
- Identify concrete next steps to focus on
- Feel confident about direction
Workshop
DURATION
1 Session
across 3 hours
WHO IT'S FOR
Designed for entrepreneurs at all stages to gain clarity and confidence.
WHAT WE COVER
Explore Your Idea
Participants are introduced to the CO.STARTERS Canvas and outline their ideal customer and the problem that customer has.
Refine Your Model
The group covers the concept of customer discovery; participants learn the importance of starting small and brainstorm how they might test their ideas.
Define Next Steps
Each participant leaves with a plan for what they can do in the next hour, day, week, and month to move their venture forward.
PARTICIPANTS WILL ACCOMPLISH
- Explore and test ideas to merit further pursuit
- Understand the lean startup method
- Know the importance of starting small
- Meet and learn from others
Generator
DURATION
Varied Format
WHO IT'S FOR
Great tool for engaging teens in a school or extracurricular environment.
WHAT WE COVER
Ideate
Help participants come up with ideas for projects by exploring their passions and identifying problems in the community.
Discover
Lead participants in self-discovery, helping them understand personal strengths, limitations, and the importance of having the right people on your team.
Build
Using the CO.STARTERS Canvas, provide an intuitive visual map to help students understand, organize, and test their ideas.
Launch
The Launch module allows some groups to go more in-depth in certain areas.
PARTICIPANTS WILL ACCOMPLISH
- Pride in having something real and meaningful
- Excitement in exploring passions
- Understand how to test and validate ideas
- Learn how to innovate and iterate on ways of thinking
- Articulate as an entrepreneur on how their ideas work
Core
Bootcamp
Workshop
Generator
DURATION
10 Sessions
over 10 weeks
4 Sessions
over 2 days
1 Session
across 3 hours
Varied Format
WHO IT'S FOR
Great for anyone who has an idea to start a business or needs help building their business.
Ideal for individuals who have an idea but need further validation.
Designed for entrepreneurs at all stages to gain clarity and confidence.
Great tool for engaging teens in a school or extracurricular environment.
WHAT WE COVER
Know Yourself
Dig into what's driving you and understand what it will take to achieve your dream.
Understand Your Customers
Pinpoint what your customer wants and how to adapt to their needs.
Discover
Evaluate the assumptions behind your business model and refine your idea using the CO.STARTERS Canvas.
Explore Your Idea
Participants are introduced to the CO.STARTERS Canvas and outline their ideal customer and the problem that customer has.
Ideate
Help participants come up with ideas for projects by exploring their passions and identifying problems in the community.
Business Solutions & Starting Small
Test your solution by starting small and making adjustments as needed.
Getting, Keeping & Growing Customers
Build customer relationships through your messaging and marketing.
Promote
Learn the basics of crafting a message and building relationships through marketing.
Refine Your Model
The group covers the concept of customer discovery; participants learn the importance of starting small and brainstorm how they might test their ideas.
Discover
Lead participants in self-discovery, helping them understand personal strengths, limitations, and the importance of having the right people on your team.
Revenue, Pricing & Distribution
Figure out your logistics and how you'll make money.
Legal & Accounting
Understand the systems and structures you'll need to support your business.
Build
Dive into the building blocks - from your startup costs to your break-even point-needed to understand your business's finances.
Define Next Steps
Each participant leaves with a plan for what they can do in the next hour, day, week, and month to move their venture forward.
Build
Using the CO.STARTERS Canvas, provide an intuitive visual map to help students understand, organize, and test their ideas.
Financial Modeling
Determine your costs and whether your business model is financially viable.
Funding & Raising Capital
Know your options for finding the funds you need to grow sustainably.
Launch
Create a plan and stay on track by setting priorities and SMART goals to move your business forward.
Launch
The Launch module allows some groups to go more in-depth in certain areas.
Growth Plans & Goal Setting
Gain momentum and leave with a strategy for achieving your goals.
Celebrate
Reflect on your journey and celebrate your success. Your future starts now.
PARTICIPANTS WILL ACCOMPLISH
- Ability to ask better questions to challenge assumptions
- Identify key issues and address them
- Understand why specifics matter and how everything works together
- Be able to clearly articulate the business' potential to others
- Learn from other entrepreneurs and build relationships and community that will help foster success
- Know next step
- Build framework for better identifying key issues
- Forge valuable connections
- Identify concrete next steps to focus on
- Feel confident about direction
- Explore and test ideas to merit further pursuit
- Understand the lean startup method
- Know the importance of starting small
- Meet and learn from others
- Pride in having something real and meaningful
- Excitement in exploring passions
- Understand how to test and validate ideas
- Learn how to innovate and iterate on ways of thinking
- Articulate as an entrepreneur on how their ideas work
BUILT FOR SUCCESS
Why it works
All programs are designed to be collaborative, actionable and simple, with the goal of being effective, helping entrepreneurs break barriers and go on to build a thriving business.
Collaborative
Entrepreneurship isn't a solo sport -- the best ideas originate and are refined with the help of community, online and in person. All programs offer a safe space to share ideas, experiment, fail, and learn together to better realize and then build on business opportunities.
Actionable
You are engaged with actionable steps, which can include gathering and acting on customer feedback to improve on ideas, products or services, and assimilating these insights into business models and resource planning as you progress through the programs.
Simple
Business is hard, but it shouldn't be complicated. All of our courses and content are written with the goal of helping you focus on very practical steps to move more quickly toward your dream of owning and running your own successful business.
STARTER STORIES
CO.STARTERS is an invaluable cornerstone of our work with aspiring and early stage entrepreneurs, helping us to turn local talent and dedication into new businesses.
Buddy Palmer
Executive Director (Former)
Ready to go from business idea to business building?
When you enroll we match you with the right community organization based on your location, needs, and goals. We’re here to help you start, scale, and succeed!
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