CO.STARTERS is a 9 week program that equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the insights, relationships and tools needed to turn their business ideas into action. Over the nine-week journey, you’ll gain real-world experience while building a community of like-minded entrepreneurs.

You—if you have a business idea that is ready to be put into action, or if you’ve already started your business and are looking for clarity in marketing and a fuller understanding of running a successful business. What matters most is that you have a concept you’re ready and willing to share and grow in a collaborative environment.

  • "CO.STARTERS gave me a blueprint for what my business should look like.”

    Margaret Anne Byrd, Blue Byrd Marketing

  • “I learned so many things I didn't know, even though I had been running a business for four years at that point."

    Danielle Barbee, The Math Success Coach

  • "I hate looking at numbers, and it forced me to do that."

    Alice Hardin, Music with Alice

  • "One of the biggest take aways of CO.STARTERS was just the fact that I realized I'm not alone in how I feel.”

    Samantha Wood, Samantha Wood Art

  • “CO.STARTERS provides expert commentary on starting a business.”

    Caleb Merriweather, Haven Insurance Partners

  • “Getting to meet everyone in the class was like a breath of fresh air.”"

    Cameron House, Sunrise Media

  • "They wanted to see the numbers. To scale. So that really gave me insight to think about the other side of business."

    Crystal Brown, Crystal’s Zen & Juice

  • “It gave me a good perspective of what other businesses are up to and coming along with myself and how we can collaborate."

    Lakyn Bowman, The Nine Oh Six

CO.STARTERS is led by a facilitator, an experienced entrepreneur well connected in West Tennessee's business community, who will introduce you to action-driven concepts you can apply to your business or project. Lisa Garner, theCO's CEO and owner of Garner Blue, is our current facilitator. This isn't a lecture but a creative and interactive program designed to help you fine-tune your business.

We love the collaborative nature of CO.STARTERS. You will be learning from and encouraging each other, building a network that helps your ideas grow during the program and beyond. This program is rare because its language is approachable while still challenging you to identify and test business assumptions that will help launch your business rather than just theorize how they might play out.

  • Applications for the 2026 CO.STARTERS program are now open.

    We ask businesses to apply so we can ensure participants are at a stage where our team can best support them. After you apply, we’ll follow up with any questions and confirm if you’ve been accepted.

    The deadline to apply is January 20, 2026.

  • The nine-week program meets Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 PM, starting February 3, 2026.

  • The program costs $275 and includes all course materials plus a CO:membership for the entire duration of the program. This membership also gives you full access to theCO’s Makerspace.

  • Want to learn more? Join us for Mini Strategy Night on December 9 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM at theCO.

    This hands-on workshop will help you clarify your business purpose, understand your customers, and explore marketing ideas while learning more about the CO.STARTERS program.