Recent Rebrand and New Memphis HQ Offer Tech Startups Enhanced Programming and Support
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (July 15, 2013) – Start Co. (formerly LaunchYourCity) today announced the organization’s expansion to the West Coast with the opening of an office in San Francisco to serve as a launch pad for the Memphis-based organization to encourage technology talent and startup investors look into Memphis to grow and prosper.
The office will be led by Mara Lewis, a serial entrepreneur, who will serve as an entrepreneur-in-residence with expertise in women’s and minority acceleration.
“We believe that having a beachhead on the West Coast is the right thing to do to ensure we are attracting top-notch resources for Memphis startups, said Eric Mathews, founder and CEO of Start Co. “Mara will serve as an on-the-ground ambassador who will help evangelize Memphis as a go-to destination for technology startups.”
This announcement follows the organization’s recent rebrand and move to Memphis’ Overton Square, a mecca for up-and-coming creative and entrepreneurial organizations. The Playhouse on the Square Office Tower location is centrally located and ideal for the type of programing and resources offered by Start Co. for early-stage technology startups.
“We believe our new home in Overton Square will enable us to reach and interact with the entrepreneurial and strategic groups already flocking to this emerging hotspot in Memphis,” added Mathews.
Start Co. also added three employees to support the organization in Memphis, Hillary Quirk, Rachel Wilhite and Al Pickett. Quirk and Wilhite will serve as the community and relationship managers, respectively, and Pickett will serve as the mentorship director. Quirk’s responsibilities will include serving as the point of contact for entrepreneurs looking to get started with Start Co. and overseeing and managing entrepreneurial operations. Wilhite will work to establish and maintain connections between Start Co. and its supporters in Memphis and across the country, and Pickett’s role is to recruit seasoned serial entrepreneurs and business leaders to become mentors to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Memphis.
For additional information on Start Co. and employee biographies, please visit www.neverstop.co.
About Start Co.:
Start Co. is a nationally recognized non-profit (501c3) serving as the nexus of public-private efforts to accelerate the success of diverse entrepreneurs and their high growth companies while enhancing the Memphis’ startup ecosystem that supports them. Start Co. partners include archer>malmo, Baker Donelson, The Marston Group and Mosaik Solutions. More information can be found at www.neverstop.co.