Now Recruiting for the Spring and Fall 2018 Cohorts for CO.STARTERS

San Mateo County Libraries has successfully graduated four CO.STARTERS cohorts of inspiring entrepreneurs as of December 2017, and is now recruiting for the Spring and Fall 2018 cohorts that will be held at the San Carlos Library. CO.STARTERS is a nationally renowned platform that helps communities grow local business. The nine-week program equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the insights, relationships, and tools needed to turn business ideas into action. Unlike traditional platforms, CO.STARTERS applies the lean business modeling methods popular among high-growth startups to businesses of all kinds.

The CO.STARTERS program has been adopted by more than a dozen entrepreneurial organizations in cities around the country, including Phoenix, Cincinnati; Nashville, Tennessee; Lakeland, Florida; Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Chattanooga.

At the San Carlos Library, CO.STARTERS will be implemented and facilitated by San Mateo County Libraries. We are proud to be the only organization offering this program at no cost to the cohort members. The nine-week CO.STARTERS program will kick off in March of 2018, with another offering in Fall of 2018. We are currently accepting applications for both these cohorts.

On-line applications are now being accepted. You can signup to be a participant, opens a new window or mentor/facilitator, opens a new window.

For more information, visit the CO.STARTERS site, opens a new window. To learn more about the San Mateo County Libraries' CO.STARTERS program, visit our Small Business Development page or find out more at one of our informational sessions at the San Carlos Library:

Small business remains one of the fundamental economic drivers for local economies and job creation, but these smaller-scale startups have not received the same level of support as their high-growth counterparts. San Mateo County Libraries and CO.STARTERS aim to narrow that gap.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ally Garcia, Branch Manger of the San Carlos Library at (650) 591-0341 ext. 227.

Have you participated in the CO.STARTERS program? Let us know about your experience in the comments below.