What Start Co. does

Start Co. is a privately held venture architect firm headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, providing strategy, consulting, and programmatic services focused on entrepreneurship-led economic development. Founded circa 2008-2010 (sources conflict), the firm serves startups and entrepreneurs, academia, economic development practitioners, corporate innovation teams, and civic innovation pursuits. Its core offerings include accelerator program design, demonstration and idea accelerators, competitions and challenges, corporate and government innovation consulting, equity programming, civic entrepreneurship advisory, and management of up to 50,000 square feet of incubator and co-working space. Start Co. does not offer a software product; its "technology" is professional services delivery backed by proprietary content such as the Founder's Journey Program (self-paced online tools and video) and a body of published research on innovation-driven economic development.

The firm's revenue model rests on three streams: (1) government and institutional grant funding, exemplified by a $465,000 State of Tennessee Economic Development Assistance Program grant for the 2026-2027 CBID Accelerator Program; (2) consulting and strategy engagements, such as the EMPOWER Program delivered with the CalAsian Chamber of Commerce across 20 states; and (3) programmatic services including accelerators, design sprints, competitions, and training delivered to corporate and government clients. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and engagements are quote-based. Distribution runs through direct consulting, partnership-based delivery (e.g., CalAsian Chamber, MEMx, EDGE), and online self-service tools. Key partnerships include the Organization of American States and U.S. Economic Development Administration (America's Competitiveness Exchange, May 2026), the City of Memphis and EDGE (Catalytic Investment Fund, MEMx co-founding), CalAsian Chamber of Commerce, HR&A Advisors, and the More For Memphis Plan.

Cumulatively, the firm claims to have touched thousands of entrepreneurs, assisted in creating thousands of jobs, and generated hundreds of millions of dollars in investment and new revenue for program participants across dozens of accelerator programs since inception. Leadership comprises Eric Mathews (CEO), Andre Fowlkes (President), and Ryan Ramkhelawan (VP of Venture Development). The firm operates from a 1-10 person team, is privately held with no disclosed institutional ownership, and has not raised traditional venture funding.

Name

Start Co.

Legal name

Start Co.

Website

https://neverstop.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Start Co. is a Memphis-based venture architect firm providing consulting, strategy, and programmatic services to advance entrepreneurship-led economic development, serving startups, government agencies, chambers of commerce, and corporate innovation teams nationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Consulting

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Venture Studios & Incubators (Build/launch ventures) (FSANAHAC), Venture Studios / Company Builders (FSANAAAH), Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship consulting
• Economic development services
• Venture development
• Startup accelerator programs
• Innovation strategy consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Start Co. receives grant funding from government economic development programs, such as the State's Economic Development Assistance Program $465,000 grant for the CBID Accelerator Program.
2. Consulting & Strategy Services: Revenue generated through consulting engagements with organizations such as the CalAsian Chamber of Commerce for entrepreneurial training programs across 20 states.
3. Programmatic Services: Revenue from designing and delivering accelerator programs, innovation sprints, competitions, challenges, and training services for corporate and government innovation teams.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Start Co. is a venture architect firm that delivers strategy, consulting, and dynamic programs focused on entrepreneurship-led economic development. It supports startups, academia, economic development practitioners, and corporate and civic innovation pursuits by aligning policies, capital structures, advocacy vehicles, and resource networks. Its offering spans accelerator program design, entrepreneurial training, capital formation research, civic entrepreneurship services, and managed incubator/co-working space.

Product overview

Start Co. is a venture architect firm offering a portfolio of programs and services focused on entrepreneurship-led economic development. The portfolio includes named programs such as the CBID Accelerator Program, EMPOWER Program, Sky High Initiative, Founder's Journey Program, Catalytic Investment Fund, and Innovation Exchange. These are complemented by a suite of support services including Demonstration/Idea Accelerators, Competitions & Challenges, Corporate & Government Innovation, National Network of Resources, Equity Programming & Systems, Civic Entrepreneurship, and Incubator & Co-Working Space management. Start Co. does not offer a traditional software product but rather delivers strategy, consulting, and dynamic programs to support startups, academia, economic development practitioners, and corporate and civic innovation pursuits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CBID Accelerator Program A 2026-2027 accelerator program serving entrepreneurs and small businesses in Memphis' Central Business Improvement District through business strategy support, design sprints, dynamic events, and place-based investment support.
• EMPOWER Program Entrepreneurial training program delivered in partnership with CalAsian Chamber of Commerce across 20 states, focusing on sales and business development, executive leadership and organizational structure, and capital and investor readiness.
• Sky High Initiative A 2026 initiative bringing entrepreneurial building methods to ecosystem partners and entrepreneurs in South Memphis through train-the-trainer services, accelerators, events, incubator creation, and one-on-one coaching.
• Founder's Journey Program An online resource with self-paced tools and video content designed to help founders and business owners with growth and operational modeling; also serves as reference modules for ecosystem builders supporting entrepreneurs and firms.
• Catalytic Investment Fund

Quantifiable outcome

• Touched thousands of entrepreneurs through dozens of accelerator programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Organization of American States (OAS) & Economic Development AdministrationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2026America's Competitiveness Exchange (ACE) is a partnership with OAS and EDA. Memphis will host ACE May 10-16th, 2026, hosting 75 delegates from over 32 countries. This economic collaboration and tour of Memphis' economic and cultural assets will build new partnerships and business transactions.
• MEMx (Memphis EconomicBuilders)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Start Co. and EDGE, MEMx is an economic development cooperative strategically aligning partners within the Memphis region to implement an innovation-driven economic model that creates sustained capital structures and new policy to grow jobs and talent at all stages of firm development.
• The City of Memphis & EDGEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStart Co. is working with The City of Memphis & EDGE and other regional partners to research and develop a catalytic investment fund for needed economic interventions. The partnership coordinates and intersects investments in businesses, entrepreneurs, place-based projects, and future of work investments.
• HR&A AdvisorsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHR&A Advisors was engaged to research and develop an economic development fund that will coordinate investments. They completed a landscape analysis to be followed by fund and governance recommendations for the Memphis Catalytic Fund.
• CalAsian Chamber of CommercecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe CalAsian Chamber of Commerce engaged Start Co. to provide entrepreneurial training to firms across 20 states with a focus on sales & business development, executive leadership & organizational structure, and capital & investor readiness.
• ACE (America's Competitiveness Exchange)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemphis will host America's Competitiveness Exchange May 10-16th, 2026 with 75 delegates from over 32 countries, creating an economic collaboration and tour of Memphis' economic and cultural assets to build new partnerships and business transactions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Village Capital: Impact-focused accelerator and venture development organization running cohort-based programs and supporting underrepresented founders. Highly comparable to Start Co.'s mission-driven accelerator and equity programming work.
• Newlab: Innovation hub operating applied accelerator programs, venture studios, and corporate innovation partnerships. Comparable to Start Co.'s blend of corporate innovation, accelerator design, and ecosystem convening.
• Techstars: Global accelerator operator running dozens of cohort-based programs for early-stage startups, with corporate innovation and accelerator-in-residence offerings. Directly comparable to Start Co.'s accelerator design and delivery, though at materially larger scale.
• gener8tor: Operator of multiple accelerator programs and venture funds with a portfolio approach and corporate innovation partnerships. Comparable to Start Co.'s venture architect positioning and accelerator-as-a-service model.
• Camelback Ventures: Accelerator and venture fund focused on Black and underrepresented entrepreneurs, with cohort programming and leadership development. Directly comparable to Start Co.'s equity-focused programs such as The 800 Initiative.
• 1871: Chicago-based startup hub combining incubator/co-working space, accelerator programming, and corporate innovation services. Closely comparable to Start Co.'s blended model of incubator management, accelerator cohorts, and ecosystem convening.

Regional players

• EPIcenter Memphis: Memphis-based entrepreneurship support organization offering accelerator programming, coworking, and founder services. Directly comparable mission and geography to Start Co. but operates as a separate local player.
• Innovation Works: Pittsburgh-based seed-stage venture development organization combining accelerator programs, funding, and ecosystem-building. Similar regional economic development focus but serves a different US metro.
• BioEnterprise / Bounce (JumpStart): Cleveland-based entrepreneurship and venture development organization operating accelerators, funds, and ecosystem programs. Comparable venture development organization model but anchored in a different US region.

Emerging players

• TechPlace / Launch Fishers: Indiana-based entrepreneur center combining coworking, accelerator programming, and corporate innovation services. Comparable in scope to Start Co.'s incubator/co-working space management and cohort-based programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Start_Co
• Facebookfacebook.com/launchmemphis
• Instagraminstagram.com/start_co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments26 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Start Co.