WHAT IS CO.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.


WHO'S IT FOR?


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: having a business idea you're ready, willing and excited to share and work on; and 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 small business, we'd love to hear from you.


WHAT TO EXPECT


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.


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. Inspired by The Business Model Canvas, the CO.STARTERS Canvas provides an intuitive visual map to help participants understand, organize and test their business ideas.


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-Event 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


WHY CO.STARTERS


Approachable

Uses simple, easy to understand language and addresses the full spectrum of adult learning styles.

Practical

Offers a tangible process for identifying, testing and adapting business assumptions to create a viable startup, and provides practical steps to launch, rather than theoretical concepts.

Collaborative

Brings people together to learn from one another, creating a strong network of support for startups.

Community Centered

Helps you and your business benefit from our welcoming community of creative entrepreneurs.

Customer Focused

Assumes customers should be the primary concern in every aspect of creating a business.

Inclusive

Helps shape passions into viable and sustainable business models, whether you're a graphic designer, a jewelry maker or the next next big software success story.


COURSE DETAILS


CO.STARTERS at ConneXion Spot lasts nine weeks, meeting one evening a week for three hours. Facilitators include educators and active entrepreneurs, and guest speakers include specialists and professionals from Castle Rock’s leading marketing, branding, legal and finance firms and agencies, as well as local entrepreneurs.

Pricing

The total course fee for our CO.STARTERS General Session is $1995, which includes course materials, office hours with the course facilitator to address your business development needs, and access to community events, networking opportunities and small business resources. All class participants will receive a three-month Part Time Spotter Membership to ConneXion Spot, including discounts on classes and workshops and discounts with partner businesses in Castle Rock.

Program Dates

We are currently accepting applications for the next CO.STARTERS cohort. Dates will be announced shortly.

Location

The class will be held at ConneXion Spot, 165 Caprice Court, Unit A, in Castle Rock.

APPLYING


Application Guidelines

Whether you’re an owner of an existing business, or you are 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 develop a cohort that incorporates both established businesses and startup concepts. We screen our applicants, and space is limited.

Deposit & Registration

There is no application fee. If accepted into the program, a 10% 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 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.


Click below to apply for CO.STARTERS at ConneXion Spot