What is a cooperative?

A cooperative is a values-based business, owned and operated for the benefit of its members. Cooperatives are structured around seven principles deeply rooted in democracy, economic participation, and sustainable growth of both the businesses and communities they serve.

Meet Start.coop

We equip cooperative entrepreneurs with skills and tools needed to build a thriving cooperatively-owned business.  From helping you explore and test your co-op idea to helping you launch and grow your business, we support you all along your journey.

Our remote programs embed a rigorous business curriculum with the best of the values-aligned cooperative ownership.  We support entrepreneurs who are expanding ownership in business sectors ranging from healthcare to the gig economy. We prioritize businesses that create wealth for people of color, women, immigrants and other marginalized populations.

Get to Know a Cooperator.

Sustainergy of Cincinnati, Ohio is a worker-owned green energy cooperative.

The Drivers Cooperative is a driver-owned ride hailing cooperative in New York City.

Cooperative Home Care Associates (CHCA) is a nationally recognized and the largest worker-owned home care agency in the Bronx, New York.

Co-ops: a better way to build a business. Start.coop is cultivating the next generation of cooperative businesses. It’s time to start. It’s time to bring workers together to share ownership in their business, giving everyone a voice. It’s time to give more money back to worker-owners and offer better benefits compared to similar investor-owned businesses. It’s time to empower people and time to offer more opportunities.