We are a licensed CO.STARTERS entrepreneurship training center.
The 10-week training program is for entrepreneurs at all stages. Participants discuss business concepts and learn through a collaborative process with a small group of entrepreneurs and guest speakers.
CO.STARTERS Application
Pay Here
The CO.STARTERS program walks creative small business owners through lean, effective business modeling methods in simple and intuitive ways. Rather than treating a start-up business like a large corporation and writing a lengthy business plan, participants are encouraged to build and test small models. Participants receive real-time customer feedback, update the models to meet customer needs and avoid creating businesses based on incorrect assumptions.
Aspiring or seasoned entrepreneurs seeking to launch a new product or service will benefit immensely from CO.STARTERS. If you have a business idea you’re ready, willing and excited to share and work on; a willingness to study, shape and fine-tune that idea in a supportive, collaborative and welcoming environment; a creative and community-minded approach; and a commitment to turn your passion into a sustainable small business, we’re looking for you.
The program is not a classroom lecture. CO.STARTERS is an action-driven, collaborative process with a small and supportive group of like-minded entrepreneurs, led by a facilitator who’ll introduce concepts and help you put them to work. Participants discuss concepts, problems and solutions during sessions; apply them to the project or business during the week; and review and fine-tune together. Participants exit the program knowing how to create a viable business and how to repeat the process with the next great idea.
Facilitators include educators and active entrepreneurs. Guest speakers include specialists and professionals from Knoxville’s leading marketing, branding, legal and finance firms and agencies, as well as local
Our 10-week CO.STARTERS class sessions meet annually in the spring and fall. Class dates are March-May and September-November on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon.
The course fee is $250, and includes course materials, office hours with the course facilitator to address your business development needs, networking opportunities, business plan template and other small business resources.
The program develops and fine-tunes business ideas, builds models based on the entrepreneur’s assumptions, adjusts the model with real-time customer feedback, and provides valuable management and marketing skills and useful feedback from advisers, peers and local businesses.
Week 1: Knowing Yourself (Assumptions, Working Styles, Team Building, Obstacles)
Week 2: Knowing Your Customer (Problem, Solution, Benefit, Competition, Advantage, Customer)
Week 3: Getting the Relationship Right (Marketing & Message; Getting, Keeping & Growing Customers)
Week 4: Building the Model to Scale (Starting Small, Distribution, Revenue, Typical Sale, Price)
Week 5: Strengthening Your Structure (Business Structures, Licenses, IP, Hiring)
Week 6: Discovering the Bottom Line (Startup & Ongoing Needs, Fixed & Variable Costs)
Week 7: Accounting for Growth (Break-even Point, Sales Projections, Cash Flow, Accounting)
Week 8: Planning for the Future (Raising Capital, Growth Plans, Goal Setting, Pitch Prep)
Week 9: Sharing your Story
Week 10: Business Plan
Application Guidelines
Whether you’re an owner of an existing business or simply exploring a start-up concept, you are welcome to apply! You will need a well-articulated description of the product or service you offer (or plan on offering) and a description of your consumer, client or target audience.
We’re looking for entrepreneurs that represent a diverse range of sectors and backgrounds, in order to establish a cohort that incorporates both established businesses and start-up concepts. We screen our applicants, and space is limited.
Deposit & Registration
There is no application fee. If accepted into the program, a 50% deposit will be required immediately to guarantee your seat and pay for the curriculum binder. This deposit applies toward the course fee and is non-refundable. The balance of the course fee will be due 30 days after class start date.
Application Deadline
Online application and payment are due 10 days prior to the start of spring and fall classes. Classes start on the first Saturday in March and the first Saturday after Labor Day in September.