Our Cooperative Model
Our cooperative model makes us very different from other business accelerators and entrepreneurship programs. As a cooperative, we are owned by our members. This means that you are part of a real community that shares in our profits and has a say in how our accelerator is run.
Our Cooperative Members
We are a multi-stakeholder cooperative comprised of entrepreneur members, worker members, and investor members.
Entrepreneur Members
These are participants in our accelerator programs who have met all the membership requirements for their program.
Worker Members
These are our instructors and mentors, who support you in building a thriving business, as well as our staff, who run the day-to-day operations of the accelerator.
Investor Members
These are the investors who provide the capital for our accelerator to exist and be financially sustainable.
Become an Entrepreneur Member
To become an entrepreneur member, you must enroll in one of our programs and meet our membership requirements.
Freelancers
To become an entrepreneur member as a freelancer, we require payment of the fees for your enrollment in our freelancer courses and classes.
Small Business Owners & Startup Founders
To become an entrepreneur member as a small business owner or startup founder, we require payment of the fees for your enrollment in our business courses and classes as well as a one-time contribution of an equity stake in the business that you create. Your equity stake goes into a fund that is shared with other accelerator members.
Entrepreneur Member Benefits
Create a Thriving Business
Through your accelerator program, you receive hands-on guidance in implementing processes to support you developing your business. Even after completing your accelerator program, we provide you with opportunities to extend your experience and plug into our alumni network to help your business thrive.
Be a Part of a Community
You are part of a larger community that includes other members, other participants and alumni of our accelerator programs, our business mentors and staff, and our partnership network. Through this community, you have ongoing access to our online content, community discussions and special discount offers to events and business resources.
Share in Our Profits
You are investing in a business accelerator that shares wealth with its community. That includes providing you with a share in the operating profits of the accelerator and the cash proceeds from the fund created by the equity stakes of past, present, and future entrepreneur members.
Shape Our Direction
You have the opportunity to participate in shaping the cooperative. As an entrepreneur member, you can help direct and influence the policies of the cooperative by electing the Board of Directors to represent you. You also have the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors or one of its committees and vote on items relevant to maintaining a healthy cooperative.
