C2BE

What C2BE does

C2BE (Center for Community-Based Enterprise, Inc.) is a Detroit-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 that develops worker-owned cooperatives and supports business succession transitions to employee ownership across Detroit and Michigan. The organization operates four programmatic offerings: Cooperative Development Advisory Services (advisory work for entrepreneurs and existing cooperatives), Succession Planning & Business Transition to Worker Ownership (helping retiring owners sell to employees), Community Development Partnership (engaging community members in cooperative wealth-building), and the Jump Start Program (structured intake for prospective partners).

Its business model is donation- and grant-driven: C2BE is funded by foundations including W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Ford Foundation, New Economy Ventures, New Economy Initiative, and United Way Southeast Michigan, supplemented by individual contributions. Pricing for advisory services is not publicly disclosed and is structured through partnership arrangements rather than fee-for-service. The organization is community- and event-led in its go-to-market, using social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), email newsletters, and online intake questionnaires to connect with business owners seeking succession planning, emerging community-based entrepreneurs, and existing cooperatives seeking "tune-up" support.

Operationally, C2BE runs a lean team of six staff headed by Executive Director Karen Tyler-Ruiz (since 2021) and CFO Terry Lewis, Esq., supported by a seven-member Board of Directors co-chaired by Steve Dubb and Judith Williams. It operates from Cass Commons in Detroit. There is no proprietary technology stack; delivery of services is human-advisory in nature. C2BE's named cooperative partners include PizzaPlex, Pingree, Ryter Cooperative Industries, SMPLFD, and ArborAssays.

Name

C2BE

Legal name

Center for Community-Based Enterprise, Inc.

Website

https://c2be.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

C2BE is a Detroit-based nonprofit founded in 2007 that develops worker-owned cooperatives across Michigan, offering cooperative development advisory, business succession-to-employee-ownership planning, community partnership programs, and intake-driven onboarding funded by foundations and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cooperative Development Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Cooperative development services
• Worker ownership advisory
• Business succession planning
• Community economic development
• Nonprofit consulting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

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, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: C2BE operates as a nonprofit organization that relies on donations and charitable support from foundations and individual donors to fund its operations and programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Center for Community-Based Enterprise (C2BE) is a Detroit-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers advisory, technical assistance, and partnership programs supporting cooperative development, worker ownership, and business succession planning. The organization works with existing business owners, retiring entrepreneurs, and emerging cooperatives across Michigan to transition businesses into worker-owned structures, while also providing community education, outreach, and cultural programming.

Product overview

C2BE (The Center for Community-Based Enterprise) is a nonprofit organization offering a suite of interconnected advisory and partnership programs centered on cooperative development and worker ownership. Its core offerings include advisory services for emerging cooperatives (Cooperative Development Advisory Services), succession planning for business owners transitioning to employee ownership (Succession Planning & Business Transition to Worker Ownership), community partnership recruitment (Community Development Partnership), and a structured intake process (Jump Start Program). These programs work together to support the creation, development, and sustainability of worker-owned cooperatives in Detroit and throughout Michigan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cooperative Development Advisory

Quantifiable outcome

• C2BE helps businesses transition to worker ownership, preserving jobs and community wealth

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered supporting.

• University of Detroit Mercy Law SchoolsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing legal expertise and support for cooperative development initiatives.
• Ford School (University of Michigan)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner from University of Michigan's Ford School of Public Policy supporting C2BE's mission.
• Equal Justice WorkssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal-focused nonprofit partner supporting access to justice in cooperative development.
• Venture For AmericasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization supporting entrepreneurship and economic development, with Detroit chapter involvement.
• CoAct DetroitsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDetroit-based nonprofit focused on economic development and community action.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Local Enterprise Assistance Fund (LEAF): A nonprofit CDFI providing financing and technical assistance to cooperative and community enterprises — adjacent to C2BE's economic development mission with a broader financial services orientation.
• National Cooperative Business Association (CLUSA International): The largest U.S. membership organization for cooperatives, providing advocacy, education, and development services at a national scale — a broader incumbent in the same cooperative development space.

Direct peers

• The Working World: A nonprofit that provides financing and non-extractive support to cooperative businesses and worker-owned enterprises, comparable to C2BE's community enterprise development mission.
• Cooperative Development Institute: A regional nonprofit (Northeast U.S.) providing cooperative development technical assistance and business transitions, comparable to C2BE's advisory and formation services.
• ICA Group: ICA Group provides cooperative and employee ownership consulting, technical assistance, and convert-to-coop advisory services — a closely aligned peer in cooperative development and conversions.
• Shared Capital Cooperative: A national cooperative loan fund providing financing to housing and worker cooperatives, complementing C2BE's cooperative development work in the same ecosystem.
• U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives: The national trade association for worker cooperatives, providing education, standards, and advocacy — comparable as a peer organization supporting the same cooperative-owner ecosystem.
• Project Equity: Project Equity is a nonprofit that helps business owners transition to employee ownership through succession planning and cooperative development, directly comparable to C2BE's core succession-to-worker-ownership offering.
• Seed Commons: A national cooperative and loan fund providing financing and technical assistance to cooperative enterprises, overlapping with C2BE's capital-adjacent economic development work.
• Democracy at Work Institute: The educational and research arm of the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, providing cooperative development and practitioner training; overlaps with C2BE's advisory and education programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/c2bedetroit
• Facebookfacebook.com/C2BEdetroit
• Instagraminstagram.com/c2bedetroit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/c2be

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about C2BE