CO.STARTERS @ Flint Food Works
For FOOD.Starters
CO.STARTERS is a nine-week program that equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the insights, relationships, and tools needed to turn business ideas into action and turn a passion into a sustainable and thriving business.
This program will focus on helping food business entrepreneurs start, shape and/or grow their food based businesses during our first CO.STARTERS @ Flint Food Works For FOOD.Starters
Participants will fine tune their businesses and business ideas in a hands-on, approachable way. Utilizing the business model canvas, participants will test their ideas, tweak next steps through real-time customer feedback, learn valuable management and marketing skills, and receive constructive feedback from advisers, peers and local business owners. This specialized curriculum will also address essential food-biz topics, including food branding, navigating local and state food regulations and financial planning.
Participants will fine tune their businesses and business ideas in a hands-on, approachable way. Utilizing the business model canvas, participants will test their ideas, tweak next steps through real-time customer feedback, learn valuable management and marketing skills, and receive constructive feedback from advisers, peers and local business owners. This specialized curriculum will also address essential food-biz topics, including food branding, navigating local and state food regulations and financial planning.
Fall 2019 Cohort Starting in October
9 Class Sessions Meeting on Tuesday Evenings from 6pm-9pm at the Flint Farmers' Market.
Classes Begin October 15th and run through December 17th.
CO.STARTERS @ Flint Food Works For FOOD.Starters Costs $200
A limited number of scholarships may be available for each cohort depending on need.
Classes Begin October 15th and run through December 17th.
CO.STARTERS @ Flint Food Works For FOOD.Starters Costs $200
A limited number of scholarships may be available for each cohort depending on need.
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.
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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.
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CO.STARTERS @ The Flint Food Works Costs $200 which includes course materials, office hours with the course facilitator and mentors to address your business development needs, and access to community events, networking opportunities and small business resources. All class participants will receive a free application to the Flint Food Works, including the ability to attend classes and workshops, access to our shared use kitchens. A limited number of scholarships may be available for each cohort depending on need.
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Curriculum
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.>>>
- 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, Break-Even Point)
- 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: Pitch Night/Sharing Your Story
Applying
Application Guidelines- Whether you’re an owner of an existing business, or you are simply exploring a start-up concept, we encourage you too 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 startup concepts. We screen our applicants, and space is limited.
Info Session- We occasionally offer a free, one-hour information session about CO.STARTERS at Coalesce. This information session is optional, and is intended for potential applicants who have questions about the program. We do not currently have an information session scheduled, but please check back for details.
Deposit & Registration- There is no application fee. If accepted into the program, a 50% deposit will be required immediately to reserve your seat. This deposit applies toward the course fee and is non-refundable. The balance of the registration fee will be due fourteen (14) days prior to the start of the course.
Application Policy- CO.STARTERS applications are accepted at any time. If you are accepted into the program, you’ll be given an option to cite your preference for an upcoming session, based on availability. Space is extremely limited for each session, and spots are first-come, first-served.
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 startup concepts. We screen our applicants, and space is limited.
Info Session- We occasionally offer a free, one-hour information session about CO.STARTERS at Coalesce. This information session is optional, and is intended for potential applicants who have questions about the program. We do not currently have an information session scheduled, but please check back for details.
Deposit & Registration- There is no application fee. If accepted into the program, a 50% deposit will be required immediately to reserve your seat. This deposit applies toward the course fee and is non-refundable. The balance of the registration fee will be due fourteen (14) days prior to the start of the course.
Application Policy- CO.STARTERS applications are accepted at any time. If you are accepted into the program, you’ll be given an option to cite your preference for an upcoming session, based on availability. Space is extremely limited for each session, and spots are first-come, first-served.
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About CO.STARTERSCO.STARTERS equips local leaders, problem solvers, and unconventional starters with the best tools and resources needed to accelerate culture and empower communities. They help communities build vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems in three ways. First, they connect community leaders with one another to collaboratively solve problems and identify solutions, thus exponentially increasing their effectiveness. Second, they connect communities with proven models and tools. By partnering with the most innovative leaders in the nation, CO.STARTERS curates the best tools for startup communities and connects leaders to them to better serve the specific needs of their communities. Third, they develop their own programs and tools to address gaps in entrepreneurial ecosystems and help communities better support their entrepreneurs. CO.STARTERS’ flagship offering is a nine-week, cohort-based program that equips entrepreneurs of all kinds with the insights, relationships, and tools needed to turn ideas into action.
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