Start Co. Origins
Beginning in 2010 Start Co. has run dozens of technology accelerator programs in the Memphis region and in various parts of the country and the world. These programs primarily aimed to foster early stage ideas in a region of the country that has fallen behind in terms of startups and new technologies. After touching thousands of entrepreneurs, assisting them in hiring thousands of jobs and generating hundreds of millions of dollars in investment and new revenue; Start Co. turned its capabilities to fostering environments that are conducive to entrepreneurship. These environments spoke to the upskilling needed for talent to build better companies, creating communities with the peer and self learning needed for success, and ensuring the ecosystem of resources are driven by the policies, advocacy, and capital structures needed for greater performance. Entrepreneurship led economic development is where Start Co. spends its time today.
Today
Entrepreneurship-led economic development goes beyond job creation through the support of startup companies, it applies entrepreneurial building methods (iterative idea development & application) to civic, corporate, and academic economic pursuits. Open sourcing the innovation process across the actors in these economic pursuit areas creates greater opportunity for both incremental improvements and breakthrough change.rating hundreds of millions of dollars in investment and new revenue; Start Co. turned its capabilities to fostering environments that are conducive to entrepreneurship. These environments spoke to the upskilling needed for talent to build better companies, creating communities with the peer and self learning needed for success, and ensuring the ecosystem of resources are driven by the policies, advocacy, and capital structures needed for greater performance.
Innovation Driven Economic Development
Attracts & retains large companies through incentives & support
TRADITIONAL
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
COMPANY FOCUSED
TRADITIONAL
WORKFORCRE
DEVELOPMENT
COMPANY FOCUSED
Prepares and connects individuals for employment opportunities
ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT
PEOPLE CREATING COMPANIES FOCUSED
Prepares individuals to become self-employed or create companies that provide employment opportunities
The Numbers Today Demand More
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Memphis’ high rate of sole proprietorship may be indicative of a stagnant job market and insufficient funding for entrepreneurs. Memphis has a very high rate of nonemployers.
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Employment in young, small firms is associated with higher rates of growth and innovation. Memphis has relatively lower employment in these firms
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Net job creation is lagging in Memphis, particularly for young and small firms.
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Incorporation of new establishments is associated with innovation. Tennessee ranks lowest among states in this measure.
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Sectors of the economy vary in their growth rate. Of the 50 largest sectors in Memphis by employment, 8 are high growth based on national data. On average, most sectors in Memphis are growing more slowly than the rest of the nation.
-Urban Institute, Memphis Data Fact Sheet
Support Services
Start Co. is architecting solutions for driving more entrepreneurship led economic development. Through strategy, consulting, and dynamic programs, Start Co. supports startups, academia, economic development practitioners, and corporate and civic innovation pursuits. Start Co. is focused on aligning needed policies, capital structures, advocacy vehicles, and resource networks into a value delivery system for change.
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​Demonstration/Idea Accelerators
weekly or monthly innovation sprints of moving concepts or existing firms forward towards better product market fit
Competitions & Challenges- recruitment, screening, and the selection of startups and small businesses as winners of investment, grants, pilots, and other resources
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Corporate & Government Innovation
Bringing innovation and entrepreneurship building activities and processes to corporate innovation teams or internal talent for ideation and commercialization purposes
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National Network of Resources
A venture and civic network of investors, startups and firms, customers, funders, grant opportunities, government and economic support, and other entrepreneur support organizations and economic partners
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Equity Programming & Systems
Led research, program delivery, and systems building to better support diverse ecosystem building and the creation of better learning and business development journeys for black, hispanic, jewish, and impoverished populations.
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Civic Entrepreneurship
Efforts to develop and organize economic assets and public & private sector relationships for launching and/or recruiting new civic solutions
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Incubator & Co-Working Space
Has managed up to 50,000 square feet of space for emerging and existing entrepreneurs and firms; services included community management, building and operational oversight, executive in residence services event management, accelerator programming, network connectivity, capital cultivation.