Ignite Memphis Doubling Event Capacity
(Memphis Daily News) Ignite Memphis, an event at which Memphis creatives give a series of slide-based presentations on a range of diverse topics, sold out its gathering in November. That’s why the next incarnation of Ignite is more than doubling its venue capacity by moving from Crosstown Arts to Playhouse on the Square, where 12 speakers next week will challenge, inform and perhaps inspire the crowd that’s come to hear them. That’s the goal, anyway. What will definitely happen is the dozen Memphians participating in Ignite on April 8 will fire off 20 slides in five-minute, rapid-fire talks covering such topics as film, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Barbie, corporate America and Japanese media. Read the full article at The Daily News
Top 5 Benefits of Interning at Start Co.
As I’m nearing the end of my time as an undergraduate I am reminded of a scene from Good Will Hunting. It’s the scene at the bar where Will shares his opinion on higher education to an arrogant grad student. Will tells the guy he “wasted $150,000 on an education you coulda got for a buck fifty in late charges at the public library”. While my education was certainly worth more than a buck fifty, I still want to make sure it was money well spent. That’s why I reached out to Start Co. to fill in the gaps of my education before I enter the “real world”. Here are my top 5 reasons for interning at Start Co: 1) Start Co. Atmosphere I find there to be nothing more inspiring and empowering than witnessing ideas turn into realities and solving problems that have the power to shape the future of humanity. It has been motivating to be a part of the co-working space of the Start Co. Lab and seeing the sense of purpose that drives entrepreneurs. 2) Memphis Entrepreneurship Ecosystem When people think of Memphis, they generally think of BBQ and Elvis before they think of entrepreneurship. However, there are several entrepreneurial success stories which call Memphis home (FedEx, AutoZone, and Holiday Inn etc.). Through the Start Co. Lab and the MEMx fund, Start Co. is equipping not just startup businesses, but Memphians with the entrepreneurial skills to solve real problems in our community: unemployment, poverty, and the social divide to name a few. 3) Hands-on
New Incubator Aimed At Social Entrepreneurs Launches In Washington D.C.
(Startup Memphis) Hollie Slade in a new post at Forbes.com describes an innovative incubator launching in Washington, D.C., aimed at social entrepreneurship. That should be interesting for like-minded Memphis entrepreneurs because the folks at Start Co. are launching a similar incubator later this year. Check it out. Here’s her intro: The S&R Foundation is launching a new Washington, D.C- based incubator program aimed at social entrepreneurs called Halcyon Incubator. Successful applicants will live rent-free in a multimillion dollar newly- renovated 18th century townhouse in the center of Georgetown for four months. The 12-16-month fellowship also includes eight months of rent-free workspace, complimentary strategic, legal and PR resources, mentorship, as well as access to a network of potential funders from all sectors. Read the full article at Startup Memphis
Memphis to be EPIcenter of entrepreneurship
(Startup Memphis) The idea is audacious, innovative and perhaps a little crazy, but if it works, brilliant. A coalition of Memphis leaders propose to recruit 1,000 entrepreneurs to launch 500 new startups in Memphis over the next decade. Sounds great, but how? First off, provide them with support and resources and opportunities to take chances. Next, hold them accountable to the mission of developing solid companies staffed by energetic creatives who will ignite this city with a belief that anything is possible. That mindset fueled historic entrepreneurship in Memphis and it’s the premise and the promise of the Entrepreneurship Powered Innovation Center or EPIcenter. The initiative was developed by local business, civic, education and nonprofit leaders under the auspices of the Chairman’s Circle at the Greater Memphis Chamber and launched to sizable fanfare last week. Read the full article at Startup Memphis Read more about the EPIcenter of entrepreneurship at Memphis Business Journal and The Commercial Appeal
CBU MBA students working with Start Co. companies
(Memphis Business Journal) Christian Brothers University will provide a group of MBA students to work with a group of entrepreneurs affiliated with Start Co., the local entrepreneurship accelerator. Students in CBU’s analytical business research course will consult with the owners of seven startups. Some of those companies have gone through Start Co.’s accelerator programs, but the contacts were made through the organization. Read the full article at Memphis Business Journal
Embracing Startups as the Key to Our Future
We often hear that startups are the key to future economic growth. That is mainly because all net new jobs in the last 30 years have come from high growth entrepreneurial companies five years in age or less. I think many times people don’t believe this because our country was established in agriculture, followed by an industrial revolution that we, in my opinion, still cling on to. With information technology leading the way, startup companies are so intangible, it is hard for brick and mortar cities to embrace the risk. Memphis is such a city and we are not alone, as most fly over cities are in the same boat.The next time you are approached by a startup, don’t roll your eyes, but rather thank them at bare minimum. They are doing what everyone talks about doing in terms of economic development and progressing this city forward. How many times do we hear that we need to advance our talent; secure more capital, invest more capital, create new technologies, give back to the community, be more socially inclusive, and so much more. A startup company is the perfect intersection of all those things. The Memphis Chamber brought in Jim Clifton last year, who spoke on his book “The Coming Jobs War”. One of the things I carried away with me was his delivery on why startups are the key to the future of communities. He talked about how each startup company is a center of action that is building a small village of business and community activity
Start Co. moves office to downtown Memphis
Larger co-working space lends to networking for entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs MEMPHIS, Tenn. (March 13, 2014) – Start Co. today announced the organization’s move to 88 Union Ave. at the corner of Main St., nearly doubling their former footprint. With 24 startup teams participating in this year’s Summer of Acceleration, new employees and mentors and expanded programming, the organization needed more co-working and functional space for entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs year-round. “We’re thrilled to become a part of the innovation hub that already exists in downtown Memphis, especially at the heart of the city’s densest intersection,” said Eric Mathews, CEO and founder of Start Co. “The solid creative class here will allow us to organically attract entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs looking to utilize a space like this for access to mentorship, programming, workshops and more.” The new Start Co. office has a total of 4,200 square feet and provides improved facilities and amenities to Memphis-area entrepreneurs. The new space features an open co-working space, five meeting rooms and community space that includes a kitchen and lounge area. Beginning on May 1st, the 75 entrepreneurs in the accelerator teams participating in the Summer of Acceleration will be using the new space daily to build their businesses and interact with other downtown businesses and organizations. Start Co. is in the process of building partnerships with several downtown shops and restaurants to offer “startup” discounts for accelerator enterpreneurs to encourage them to interact and network with local businesses. The new location is also within walking distance
Seed Hatchery graduate startups receive more than $700K in angel investments
MentorMe, Musistic, Screwpulp achieve post-accelerator funding Memphis, Tenn. (Jan. 30, 2014) – Start Co., a venture development organization that focuses on building startup companies and their founders, today announced more than $700,000 in angel investments for three Memphis-based Seed Hatchery graduate startups from the 2013 cohort. These investments, made by the Start Co. Angels, represent the largest percentage of a cohort that has received post-accelerator validation funding. “This is a significant milestone for startups in the Memphis community and we’re proud of the graduates and our role in building out an angel fund and network in Memphis, something the community has not seen in nearly a decade,” said Eric Mathews, founder and CEO of Start Co. “We see these funding rounds as a tipping point for our current programs, where later-stage investment will be less of an exception and more of an opportunity for the teams that move through our programs and utilize our resources.” The three Memphis-based startups receiving funding are: MentorMe ($175,000): MentorMe is an online mentoring platform that matches mentors with mentees and provides management and measurement tools throughout the program. Founder Brit Fitzpatrick began utilizing Start Co. resources at the idea stage and participated in the first Women’s 48-Hour Launch program in the fall of 2012. She is also a graduate of the NewMe accelerator program in San Francisco. Musistic ($200,000): Musistic is an innovative music networking plug-in that defeats the limitations of geography and technology, allowing musicians to collaborate with anyone, anywhere, on virtually any
Start Co. and JumpStart Unveil Plan to Grow Entrepreneurship in Memphis
Regional innovation plan encourages “entrepreneurship for everyone” MEMPHIS, Tenn. (January 6, 2014) – Memphis-based venture development organization, Start Co. today announced the blueprint of MEMx, a development plan to spur entrepreneurial growth in the Memphis market. MEMx was developed by Start Co. with assistance from seasoned venture development practitioners at JumpStart Inc. and the input of over 200 Memphis partners and community leaders. With more than 30 committed partners on board, MEMx is now a movement, with key collaborators coming together to leverage entrepreneurship’s potential to be a catalyst for economic and community transformation. The MEMx plan provides a roadmap for encouraging a more diverse and inclusive ecosystem that will create potential for building flourishing high-growth businesses in Memphis. “MEMx plan partners have an aligned vision to advance entrepreneurship in Memphis through this new approach that encourages an entrepreneurial mindset and appreciation across the entire community,” says Andre Fowlkes, co-president at Start Co. “To help Memphis establish the building blocks of a thriving economy, it’s absolutely critical that we’re deliberately inclusive in our effort.” The Memphis economy has consistently underperformed compared to national averages. The MEMx plan was developed to offset the region’s sluggish deal flow and nominal investment support for early stage companies, specifically the low number of qualified high growth potential deals and historically low participation of underrepresented populations in economic development. The plan implements a collaborative, multi-phased approach that applies entrepreneurial principles to address challenges and opportunities and is designed to: Build on Memphis’ strengths and opportunities: Enhance current programs and
Start Co. Joins Global Accelerator Network
Upstart, Sparkgap, and Seed Hatchery accelerators become members of network that includes the strongest startup accelerators around the world Memphis, Tenn. (Dec. 17, 2013) – Start Co., a venture development organization that focuses on building startup companies and their founders, today announced its membership in Global Accelerator Network (GAN) to the benefit of the entrepreneurs participating in its three accelerators: Upstart, Sparkgap, and Seed Hatchery. GAN is an alliance that includes dozens of the strongest and most successful independent startup accelerators from across the United States and around the world. The GAN was originally championed by Techstars and was created as part of the White House’s Startup America Initiative. “We’ve been impressed with the Start Co. programs and management team over the last year and are ecstatic to have them in the network. Their accelerator programs embody the values, ethos and high quality of the Global Accelerator Network,” said Patrick Riley, Executive Director of the Global Accelerator Network. “Start Co. has already done much to fuel the burgeoning Memphis startup community. With the addition of the Upstart program for women-led startups and the Sparkgap program drawing on Memphis’s logistics industry expertise, there is no doubt this is just the beginning of what will be a thriving startup community in Memphis.” Upstart, Seed Hatchery, and the soon-to-launch Sparkgap each provide $15,000 in funding coupled with mentorship, modeling, and a healthy dose of motivation to both develop founders and their scalable, technology-powered startups. Upstart invests in women-led startups exclusively. Sparkgap will focus