Cooperative Business Incubator for Rural Entrepreneurs

Applications Open January 15, 2025

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Applications Open January 15, 2025 〰️

Our Incubator is designed to help entrepreneurs explore and develop their business ideas into the beginnings of a business. In this online, 8-week facilitated incubator program, we use a Lean Co-op methodology that helps you build both your business and ownership models.

Over the 8 weeks of the Incubator, the Start.coop team will work with you to: 

  • Identify the problem your business will address and your cooperative purpose

  • Brainstorm and test solutions and business models

  • Build a plan to drive sales and grow your revenue 

  • Explore different types of financing for your business

  • Develop a cooperative ownership model 

Who is the Spring 2025 incubator for?

With generous support through the USDA’s Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant, we are able to provide support during this Incubator to rural cooperative entrepreneurs whose Founder groups include women, African Americans, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asians and/or Pacific Islanders.

We are open to all kinds of rural projects, including but not limited to those interested in starting child care cooperatives, home care cooperatives, housing cooperatives and food-related cooperatives.

Not eligible for this Incubator program? Please join us at one of our upcoming workshops and check out our Lean Co-op free online course.

Program Dates

This fully virtual program runs March 6-April 24, 2025. Applications will open on January 15, 2025.

What You’ll Get

  • We provide a robust learning experience for entrepreneurs focused on building real world business skills so you can succeed. Each workshop has a hands-on activity designed to support your business development.

  • You’ll receive two 1:1 business coaching sessions with an established cooperative developer.

  • You are connected with a cohort of values-aligned entrepreneurs with whom you can lean on for support as you build your businesses together.

  • We provide access to our online curriculum for on-demand modules when you need them.

  • We curate and secure discounted access to top business management tools and services (e.g. legal, accounting, CRM, and marketing tools) saving you time and money during the critical start-up phase.

  • We are able to provide a $1,000 stipend per cooperative that meets participation requirements.

  • We will kick-off our time together by exploring cooperatives and developing your cooperative purpose

  • In this session you will work on defining your members problem, and also understand the problems of whoever who will pay for your proposed solution.

  • Using the clear and compelling problem statement you developed, it’s now time to turn our attention to designing the solution your cooperative will offer.

  • You will build a working document your team can use to understand, communicate, and tweak your business model over time.

  • In this peer coaching session you will foster mutual support, shared insights, and personalized strategies for your growth and success.

  • This session guides you through ownership and governance considerations, and provides tools that will speed up your incorporation process.

  • In this session we will get started on your financial model and provide an introduction to the cooperative funding landscape.

  • Together we will outline the next steps for continued growth and impact.

Session Preview

Join us for an Information Sesssion

Learn More about Cooperatives

FAQs

 

How often does the Incubator run and when does the next program start?

We are running two incubators in 2025 for rural entrepreneurs. These Incubators are for rural cooperative entrepreneurs based in the United States whose Founder groups include women, African Americans, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asians and/or Pacific Islanders.

How do you define rural?

As this program is funded through a USDA program, we are using the USDA definition of rural. You can use USDA’S eligibility map to verify if your or your businesses’ address is considered rural. Please reach out to us if you have any questions/concerns.

When will I find out if I have been accepted?

We will review applications on a rolling basis with a deadline of 9am Eastern on Thursday, February 20. All applicants will be notified of their status by Tuesday, February 25.

What are program expectations?

  • We ask you to commit to attending at least 80% of sessions so that we can build community.

  • Workshops are 2:00-4:00pm Eastern on Thursdays, March 6- April 24 2025.

Does this program have a cost?

NO! This program is free for all participants.

Does my business need to be incorporated in order to participate?

No. We understand that you may still be in the startup phase.

With regards to the participation grants, we are able to provide participation stipends to individuals. If a group of individuals are participating representing one cooperative, the participation grant would be split.

I am not eligible for this Incubator. What other resources are available to me?

Please join us at one of our upcoming workshops and check out our Lean Co-op free online course. We also have lots of other resources listed on our Build page.