Who are you and what is your organization?
Our company is called CO.STARTERS. We launched in 2008 as a program that provided business support to creative starters, and have since grown to a support network with members in hundreds of cities, focused on equipping local leaders with the best resources to help communities thrive through entrepreneurship.
Give a brief history of its background and ties to Chattanooga.
We got our start on Main Street as part of CreateHere, a five-year downtown revitalization project which launched The Company Lab (CO.LAB), which is where CO.STARTERS began. Many Chattanoogans don’t know that in addition to being a program offered locally by CO.LAB, Causeway, Launch Chattanooga and others, CO.STARTERS spun out as a separate for-profit company and now has a global reach with a range of offerings supporting entrepreneurs and community development.
What are some important programs or deadlines coming up that you want people to know about?
We’ll be hosting our annual member gathering in Chattanooga this October 2–4 and celebrating five years of work together!
What is the most rewarding part of the work that you all do?
We love that as a company we are able to serve communities by connecting people to each other and to helpful resources. It is rewarding to see communities at different stages of development grow as they tap into their unique potential and support one another through entrepreneurship.
What’s your favorite team bonding activity for your organization?
Our team is spread across several states, so it’s rare we all get together, but it’s hard to beat a good dinner in an amazing setting for bonding.
What are you most excited about being a member of Society of Work?
CO.STARTERS is all about individuals thriving in community, so we love that aspect of SOW. We also enjoy being in the heart of the Innovation District every day and benefiting from the energy and potential that is created by crossing paths with other like-minded people on a daily basis.
