Co.Starters Cohort 6

New to Business or have a great Business idea?

If you have a great business idea or start-up and an entrepreneurial mind-set, we want to help you develop it further.

The Co.Starters programme helps entrepreneurs and business start-ups by equipping them with the best tools and resources needed to support and grow their business.

This nine week programme will provide you with the knowledge you need to start your business and grow your understanding of running a business. It’s not a course with lectures, course notes and a certificate of completion. Co.Starters is 'hands-on' – where you will work on your idea and have a facilitator coach you along the way and you’ll receive access to world class tools and methodologies you can re-use even after our workshop has ended.

Co.Starters is based at Business Hawke’s Bay (and other venues in due course and based on demand) where 10-15 like-minded business start-ups can work together with two facilitators to widen their understanding of what their business is and needs.

What will I learn?
The programme follows a set learning path where you will look at your business and ensure you understand your strengths, what your customer is looking for, how you might market to your customers and understand your revenue stream, business model options and costs amongst other options to help you refine your business ideas.

Week 1: Knowing Yourself Assumptions, Canvas, Working styles, Team building, Obstacles.
Week 2: Knowing Your Customer Customer Problem, Alternatives, Solution, Benefit, Advantage
Week 3: Getting The Relationship Right Marketing, Message, Getting, keeping & growing customers
Week 4: Building the Model to Scale Starting small, Distribution, Revenue, Typical sale, Price
Week 5: Strengthening Your Structure Business structures, Legal considerations
Week 6: Discovering Your Bottom Line Startup & ongoing needs, Fixed & variable costs, Breaking even
Week 7: Accounting For Growth Break-even point, Sales projections, Cash flow, Accounting
Week 8: Planning For The Future Raising capital, Growth plans, Goal setting, Pitch prep
Week 9: Celebration Night / Sharing Your Story

What do you get out of this?
You don't know what you don't know. This programme will give you insights and tools to help you start your business and accelerate your business knowledge. One of the most powerful things you can do for yourself and your business is learn fast about your idea to give it the best chance of being successful. Too many new businesses fail and many from a lack of knowledge about their market or their business understanding.