CO.STARTERS POST-GRADUATE RESOURCES
CREATE CONSULTS
This professional assistance program will provide consultations for local ventures with experts recruited by Create Birmingham. Every participant will have an initial intake meeting with a Create Birmingham staff member. Using the CO.STARTERS Business Model Canvas, the entrepreneur will “walk” staff through each building block of their business, allowing for self-discovery of potential weaknesses and knowledge areas that might need strengthening. This process will also better inform staff of how to create a customized firm-learning track with three consultants who can be most beneficial.
CREATE MARKET
Create Market is an online marketplace featuring the products, talents, and services of the graduates of our CO.STARTERS program. With traditional markets, pop-up events, and other brick & mortar options closed or operating at limited capacity due to COVID-19, we want to offer an easy way for customers to shop and support their favorite local ventures and discover new ones right in their own neighborhoods. The best part is that you can shop Create Market knowing that, as a service of Create Birmingham, 100% of the proceeds from your purchases go directly to the vendors
30/60/90 ROADMAP
Feeling the need for an annual checkup? This is your chance! This workshop is an opportunity to establish goals with corresponding tasks and assess current needs for your growing business. Using the CO.STARTERS canvas as a guide, you’ll determine tasks and milestones over the next 30, 60, and 90 days to move your business forward. While this workshop uses the canvas as a guide, it is not necessary to be a CO.STARTERS graduate. This workshop is for current and aspiring business owners, entrepreneurs, artists, makers, musicians, and advocates.
ADVISOR FUND
The Advisor Fund defrays early-stage costs related to legal, financial, or branding expertise. After submitting the application, a follow-up meeting will be scheduled by staff to discuss the application and evaluate your needs. Additional materials may be requested.
Funds are available to CO.STARTERS graduates in the concept and start-up phase who missed no more than two classes and participated in the Celebration Night presentation. Graduates in the business phase are eligible to apply for the Revolving Loan only.
Applicants may request amounts ranging from $500 – $1,000.
MARKETPLACE FUND
The Marketplace Fund defrays costs related to pop-up events, market booth fees, on-line or mobile retail, leasehold improvements, and other distribution-related costs. After submitting the application, a follow-up meeting will be scheduled by staff to discuss the application and evaluate your needs. Additional materials may be requested.
Funds are available to CO.STARTERS graduates in the concept and start-up phase who missed no more than two classes and participated in the Celebration Night presentation. Graduates in the business phase are eligible to apply for the Revolving Loan only.
Applicants may request amounts ranging from $500 – $1,000.
CO.SHOP
CO.SHOP offers subsidized shared retail space located at Square One Goods, owned by CO.STARTERS graduate Kate Hardy, at Founders Station. Your products remain at Square One Goods as a semi-permanent product. CO.SHOP is set up as a consignment model. You’ll be paid on a monthly basis, receiving 70% of your sale with 15% going to Square One Goods and 15% going to Create Birmingham.
CO.SHOP is open to CO.STARTERS graduates with a product (or products) in the start-up or business phase who missed no more than two classes during their CO.STARTERS course and participated in the Celebration Night presentation.
CO.WORK
CO.WORK offers subsidized shared office and meeting space located at Forge Coworking Space, owned by CO.STARTERS graduate Kim Lee, at The Pizitz.
CO.WORK is open to CO.STARTERS graduates with service-based ventures in the start-up or business phase who missed no more than two classes during their CO.STARTERS course and participated in the Celebration Night presentation.
REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM
The Revolving Loan Program is a traditional loan program created in partnership with The Welch Group Foundation and Sabre Finance, which will administer and track the loans. Its purpose is to serve as the small-town banker with a heart, a lender who knows the unique skills, abilities and passions that the aspiring or growing entrepreneur brings to the table. The loan can be an entry point to establishing credit worthiness and history for entrepreneurs whose business model is not of immediate interest to traditional lenders. It can be a source of gap funding that completes the jigsaw for a small launch. Loans from the program cannot be the sole source of capital to start a venture.
OFFICE HOURS
We know entrepreneurship is a lonely journey. We love the collaborative nature of CO.STARTERS and offer you support even after graduation. Office Hours give you the opportunity for a one-on-one meeting with our Director of Programs, Jessica Moody. Whether you are an early stage, mid-career, or established, we are here to help answer your questions and offer actionable tips and practical advice in person.
We encourage you to think about specific questions or goals you have in mind in order to take the best advantage of your appointment. After you use the calendar to select a date, you may use the form that follows to provide this information. This will enable us to give you with more focused feedback when we meet.
VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS
Stepping away from your day job or your role as an entrepreneur is often tricky or even impossible. Virtual Office Hours gives you the opportunity for a one-on-one online meeting with our Director of Programs, Jessica Moody. We are here to help answer your questions and offer actionable tips and practical advice to help you move forward.
In order to make the most of your appointment, we encourage you to think about specific questions or goals you want to discuss. After you use the calendar to select a date, you'll be given the option to provide supplemental information. This will allow us to give you a more focused feedback when we connect.