CO.STARTERS
AT URBAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACADEMY
A 11 week program designed to put your ideas to the test
The CO.STARTERS program prepares aspiring entrepreneurs with insights, relationships, and tools needed to turn their business ideas into action. CO.STARTERS is designed to shorten the time it takes to develop great ideas into thriving businesses by applying lean business model methods popular with high-growth startups.
Participants will learn how to to identify key assumptions about why and how their businesses will work in real-world scenarios. This approach enables participants to rapidly uncover flaws in their concepts and quickly adjust their business models.
Who is it for?
If you are exploring a new idea, you're someone close to starting up, or even just launched a business that is "stuck," CO.STARTERS is right for YOU.
The one essential element is that you have a concept that you are ready to test and that you are willing to study, shape and fine-tune that idea in a supportive, collaborative, and welcoming environment. If you’re creative, community-minded and serious about turning your passion into a sustainable business, we want you.
Week 1
Knowing Yourself
This week covers testing assumptions, working styles, team building, and common business obstacles.
Week 2
Knowing Your Customer
This session focuses on who your customer is, the problem they have, how to talk to potential customers, and determine how many customers exist for your business.
Week 3
Finding the Right Solution
This session covers your solution to your customer’s problem, the benefit you offer, the advantage you bring to the table, and the importance of starting small.
Week 4
Getting the Relationship Right
This session focuses on marketing, crafting and getting your message out, creating an elevator pitch, and keeping and growing customers over time.
Week 5
Building Blocks
This session focuses on methods of getting your product or service to your customer, as well as some foundational building blocks for your financials.
Week 6
Structures & Systems
This session covers legal and accounting, including business structures, licenses, IP and hiring.
Week 7
Discovering the Bottom Line
This session is all about costs: startup, ongoing, fixed, and variable. We’ll also discuss how to determine your gross profit and break-even point.
Week 8
Getting the Relationship Right
In this session, we review your break-even point, discuss how to project sales, and predict when you will break even from those projections. We’ll also discuss cash flow and different ways of raising capital to cover the gap.
Week 9
Planning for Growth
This session continues to work on your numbers: costs, break-even point, and sales projections. Also, we will look into the sources of capital that make the most sense for your venture.
Week 10
“Pitch” Practice
In this session, we will cover how to tell your story, the elements of a good story, using the Canvas to pitch, and Celebration Night preparation.
Week 11Celebration Night
At the celebration event, you will celebrate your accomplishments, encourage others in the group, go out with purpose, and understand the continued support available.
Participants will graduate from the program with a deeper understanding of how to create a sustainable business, articulate their business model, and repeat the process for future business ideas.
Participants also receive one-on-one time with the facilitators, Q&A with local entrepreneurs, support from Epicenter staff during and post-graduation, invitation to alumni networking & workshop events, one year of access to Epicenter's Cooper-Young coworking facility.