Looking to grow & launch your cooperative?
Start.coop is now accepting applications for our first ever Lean Co-op incubator, sponsored by Shared Capital Cooperative
FEBRUARY 5, 2026 - MARCH 19, 2026
Work with other cooperative founders like you in this series of 8 live workshops with your designated founder group.
Faciliated by members of both the Shared Capital and Start.coop teams, you’ll learn the Lean Co-op approach, designed for early stage co-op entrepreneurs.
Plus, you’ll gain access to on-demand Lean Co-op learning modules. Check out this intro to Lean Co-op.
What is the Opportunity?
-
Over 8 weeks, the Shared Capital & Start.coop teams will work with you to:
Clarify your cooperative purpose, and customer problem you're addressing
Brainstorm and test solutions and business models
Build a plan to drive sales and grow your revenue
Understand how cooperative financing works for your business
Develop your cooperative ownership model
-
Designed for early stage entrepreneurs, our Incubator is designed to help entrepreneurs explore and develop their business ideas into the beginnings of a business.
We are open to all kinds of projects, including but not limited to those interested in starting child care cooperatives, home care cooperatives, housing cooperatives, food-related cooperatives, and more.
-
You’ll gain access to the following e-learning modules:
What is a Cooperative?
What is Your Cooperative Purpose?
What's the Customer Problem?
Your Product or Service
Your Business Model
Your Financial Model
Your Ownership Model
-
Application Open Date: Dec 3rd, 2025
Application Close Date: Jan 21, 2026
Notified of your Selection Status: no later than Jan 23, 2026
Program Dates: February 5 - March 19, 2026
Workshops will be held on Thursdays at 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm ET / 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm PT!
An online, 7-week facilitated incubator program that uses the Lean Co-op approach, specifically designed for early-stage co-op entrepreneurs.
The program consists of asynchronous modules for learning, in addition to 7 live workshops facilitated by members of both the Shared Capital and Start.coop teams!