Startup Waco
Startup Waco is a nonprofit business growth hub and coworking space in downtown Waco, Texas, that supports entrepreneurs across small-business and high-growth segments through coaching, programs, coworking memberships, and capital-access services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersWaco, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Startup Waco does
Startup Waco is a nonprofit business growth hub and coworking space founded in 2018 and headquartered at 605 Austin Avenue in downtown Waco, Texas. The organization operates at the intersection of Waco's public, private, and philanthropic sectors, functioning as a neutral coordinating entity rather than a single-product vendor. Its service portfolio spans three pillars: (1) structured entrepreneur support programs including Launchpad, Breakthrough, Community Brain, Masterclass Series, Mentor Network, Pro Bono Network, Student Entrepreneurship, Happy Hour, The Meetup, Founder's Retreat, The Pitch, and the forthcoming Accelerated Ventures and Entrepreneur-in-Residence offerings; (2) a four-tier coworking product (Virtual Membership at $50/month, Hot Desk at $150, Dedicated Desk at $250, Private Office at $500+) plus Day Passes at $15 and venue rental (The Atrium up to 75 people, Board Room up to 30, Huddle Room up to 8); and (3) capital access services connecting founders to KIVA 0% loans, PeopleFund, local banks, angels, and grant providers.
The customer base is segmented horizontally into Small Business Owners seeking stability and High-Growth Founders pursuing capital and exits, plus secondary personas for Side Hustlers and Student Entrepreneurs. There is no proprietary technology platform — operations run on Wix, Proximity, and Google Calendar — and the organization employs a small team of roughly six staff (CEO Hob Howell plus Director of Operations, Community Manager, Program Facilitator, and supporting roles) augmented by 40+ volunteer mentors and a 16+ member Board of Directors drawn from Baylor University, Extraco Banks, the City of Waco, Waco Foundation, local chambers, and other anchor institutions.
The revenue model blends earned income (coworking subscriptions, day passes, venue rentals, occasional fee-based programs) with mission-driven funding (donor and sponsor contributions from Baylor, Extraco, Alliance Bank, American Bank, Waco Foundation, Google for Startups, H-E-B). Most coaching and programs are provided at no cost to entrepreneurs. Stated forward targets under the Waco 2035 plan include serving 500+ entrepreneurs annually, supporting 2,500+ jobs, activating $10M+ in capital, launching 100+ startups, developing 3+ high-growth ventures, and building a $5M+ endowment — indicating a deliberate shift toward institutional permanence rather than purely programmatic output.
Startup Waco firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Startup Waco
- Legal name
- Startup Waco
- Website
- https://startupwaco.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Startup Waco is a nonprofit business growth hub and coworking space in downtown Waco, Texas, that supports entrepreneurs across small-business and high-growth segments through coaching, programs, coworking memberships, and capital-access services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Startup Waco industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Entrepreneur Support Services
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA), Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB), Entrepreneurship, Business & Innovation Camps (EDAMALAL), Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK), Virtual/Hybrid Conference Production & Platform Management (THAHACAM)
Keywords
Where Startup Waco is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Waco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Startup Waco business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Coworking Memberships: Monthly and annual membership fees for coworking space access, including virtual, hot desk, dedicated desk, and private office options. This is the primary revenue-generating service with set price points.
- Coworking Day Passes: One-time daily passes for temporary coworking access, providing flexibility for occasional users.
- Conference Room Rental: Hourly and block bookings for The Atrium, Board Room, and Huddle Room spaces, with revenue from venue rental.
- Coaching and Programs: Most coaching and support services are complimentary thanks to community partners. Some specific programs, retreats, or deep-dive workshops may include fees.
- Donor and Sponsor Contributions: Investment from donors and sponsors who support Waco's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The organization positions investment as catalytic capital for economic development.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Virtual Membership - For professionals needing business presence and occasional space |
| Subscription | Monthly | Hot Desk Membership - Flexible community workspace access |
| Subscription | Monthly | Dedicated Desk Membership - Personal workspace with drawer |
| Subscription | Monthly | Private Office - Secure, quiet space for teams or individuals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Day Pass - Single-day flexible access |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | The Board Room - Conference room seating up to 30 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | The Huddle Room - Small meeting space seating up to 8 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | The Atrium Venue - Primary event space accommodating up to 75 |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Startup Waco product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Startup Waco runs a multi-tier coworking space and event venue at 605 Austin Avenue in Waco, Texas, alongside a portfolio of entrepreneur support programs, coaching, and capital access services. Its paid offerings include Virtual, Hot Desk, Dedicated Desk, and Private Office memberships, Day Passes, and hourly rentals of The Atrium, Board Room, and Huddle Room. Its entrepreneur programs (Launchpad, Breakthrough, Mentor Network, Pro Bono Network, Masterclass Series, Community Brain, Student Entrepreneurship, Accelerated Ventures, Entrepreneur-in-Residence) and recurring events (The Meetup, Happy Hour, Founder's Retreat, The Pitch, MVP Bootcamp) are largely delivered at no cost thanks to community partners and are organized along two tracks: Small Business and High Growth.
Product overview
Startup Waco is a unified business growth hub and coworking space in Waco, Texas, offering a single integrated portfolio of physical infrastructure and support programs. Its product suite consists of four coworking membership tiers (Virtual, Hot Desk, Dedicated Desk, and Private Office), plus a Day Pass option and venue/conference room rental; alongside a structured set of entrepreneur support programs including The Meetup, Community Brain, Launchpad, Breakthrough, Mentor Network, Pro Bono Network, Masterclass Series, Student Entrepreneurship, Accelerated Ventures, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Happy Hour, Founder's Retreat, and The Pitch events. A third pillar—Capital Access Services—connects founders to loans (including Kiva 0% interest loans), local lenders, grants, and investor introductions. All programs are available independently of coworking membership and are largely no-cost thanks to community partners. The organization operates in two tracks: Small Business (for local, lifestyle-oriented owners seeking stability and smart growth) and High Growth (for tech, IP, or scalable-venture founders raising capital or pursuing exits).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Coworking Membership A subscription coworking offering with four tiers: Virtual Membership (open workspace access, business address, 4 day passes/mo, 4 hrs conference room), Hot Desk Membership (24/7 access, complimentary printing, 8 hrs conference room), Dedicated Desk Membership (personal desk with lockable drawers, 12 hrs conference room), and Private Office (secure private office space, 16 hrs conference room). Targeted at professionals, founders, and small teams needing flexible workspace in Waco.
- Coworking Day Pass A flexible one-day pass providing 9AM–5PM Monday–Friday access to open coworking space, fast Wi-Fi, and full amenities including unlimited locally-roasted coffee and beer, starting at $15/day with no expiration. Targeted at occasional users and visitors needing short-term workspace.
- Venue & Conference Room Rental Rental of three on-site spaces: The Atrium (primary event space powered by Baylor University, up to 75 people, $199 for 2 hours then $75/hr thereafter), The Board Room (powered by Extraco Banks & Alliance Bank, up to 30 people, $75/hr with 2-hour minimum), and The Huddle Room (powered by American Bank, up to 8 people, $50/hr with 1-hour minimum). Targeted at organizations, founders, and community groups hosting meetings, classes, and events.
- Programs & Coaching Hands-on coaching, group programs, and workshops for entrepreneurs and small business owners, accessible independently of coworking membership. Services include mentoring, skills development, business planning, capital access support, and exit strategy guidance, delivered through one-on-one coaching, cohort-based programs, and expert-led workshops across the Small Business and High Growth tracks.
- Capital Access Services Support helping businesses access funding, from small loans and Kiva zero-interest loans to investor preparation and introductions to local lenders and equity investors. Available to both small business owners and high-growth founders seeking capital.
- Launchpad A three-day bootcamp for early-stage entrepreneurs to transform ideas into minimum viable products through intensive training and mentorship, culminating in a pitch to judges with funding awarded to top concepts. Cohorts include the MVP Bootcamp held November 6–8, 2025. Targeted at idea-stage and early-stage founders.
- Community Brain A quarterly problem-solving forum where entrepreneurs present business challenges to a curated panel of Waco's experts, unlocking insights, solutions, and momentum through collective wisdom and real-time guidance.
- The Meetup A weekly networking gathering where small business owners connect over tacos, coffee, and founder stories, fostering inspiration, community, and meaningful relationships across Waco's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Breakthrough A three-month growth program helping established businesses overcome plateaus through an intensive kickoff, guided traction milestones, and a final pitch competition awarding capital to top-performing founders.
- Pro Bono Network An application-based program providing entrepreneurs monthly access to donated legal, accounting, marketing, and professional services, connecting founders with top firms offering expertise at no cost.
- Masterclass Series A flexible workshop series offering practical Entrepreneurship-101–style education covering topics from finance to branding and beyond, through expert-led classes designed to strengthen every founder's foundational knowledge. Available for both early-stage and established business owners.
- Student Entrepreneurship A semester-long high school program teaching juniors and seniors core startup skills—MVP building, branding, finance, and pitching—culminating in a judged pitch competition with scholarship funding.
- Mentor Network An application-based program matching entrepreneurs with experienced local leaders, pairing founders with trusted mentors who offer guidance, accountability, and real-world support to accelerate personal and business growth. Startup Waco has over 40 experts in various industries available for one-on-one sessions.
- Accelerated Ventures A Baylor University for-credit program where student founders launch real businesses, receive seed funding, and learn advanced startup skills, while Startup Waco supports growth and takes an equity stake. Coming Fall 2026.
- Entrepreneur-in-Residence A competitive program offering a year of free downtown housing and workspace, enabling high-growth founders to redirect personal capital into scaling their business while embedding in Waco's startup community. Coming Summer 2026.
- Happy Hour A monthly, invitation-only gathering where high-growth founders and business leaders connect over drinks—no agenda, no pitches—just authentic relationships and Waco's most energizing entrepreneurial crowd. Held at Sloane's - Waco.
- Founder's Retreat A four-day, application-based retreat for high-growth founders to step away, gain clarity, and build deep connections in an intimate, inspiring setting designed for reflection and community. Scheduled for August 20–23, 2026.
- The Pitch An annual, application-based pitch event where revenue-generating founders present to local investors, bridging Waco's capital and deal flow by showcasing high-potential businesses seeking funding. Scheduled for November 5, 2026, at Startup Waco, 605 Austin Ave, Waco, TX 76701.
Quantifiable outcome
- 500+ businesses supported
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Startup Waco
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Startup Waco technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Startup Waco partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- Baylor UniversitycoreKey founding partner and anchor institution. Supports The Atrium venue space (Powered by Baylor University), student entrepreneurship programs, and Accelerated Ventures program. Board representation through Jeremy Vickers and Doug McNamee (Athletic Director).
- City of WacocoreMunicipal partner supporting Waco's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Board representation through Bradley Ford (Former City Manager) and Andrea Barefield (Waco City Council).
- Sendero Provisions Co.secondaryLocal company and community partner. Founder Hunter Harlow serves on Board of Directors.
- CenTex Hispanic Chamber of CommercesecondaryPartner organization supporting Hispanic entrepreneurs. Board representation through Alfred Solano.
- CenTex African American Chamber of CommercesecondaryPartner organization supporting African American entrepreneurs. Board representation through Rachel Pate.
- Brotherwell BrewingsecondaryLocal brewery providing beer for coworking space. Founder David Stoneking serves on Board of Directors.
- Apex Coffee RoasterssecondaryLocal coffee roaster providing unlimited coffee for coworking members.
- Greater Waco Chamber of CommercesecondaryRegional chamber partner. Board representation through Kris Collins.
- Waco Family MedicinesecondaryHealthcare anchor institution. Board representation through Fernando Arroyo.
- GooglesecondaryTechnology partner supporting startup ecosystem through Google for Startups. Referenced in partner logos section.
- H-E-BsecondaryMajor Texas retailer and community partner. Referenced in partner logos section.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Startup Waco competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Techstars: Global accelerator and startup support network offering mentorship, capital access, and programs for early-stage founders; comparable to Startup Waco's high-growth track in serving founders with mentorship, programs, and investor connections, but operates globally rather than in a single local market.
- WeWork: Large national coworking operator offering memberships, private offices, and event space; comparable to Startup Waco's coworking and venue rental business, but at much larger scale and with a broader geographic footprint.
- Galvanize: Campus-style coworking and education provider combining workspace with workshops and community for tech entrepreneurs; comparable to Startup Waco's coworking-plus-programs structure but with a national footprint and stronger technology-program emphasis.
Direct peers
- SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives): U.S. nonprofit network providing free mentoring, workshops, and small-business education to entrepreneurs nationwide; directly comparable to Startup Waco's small-business coaching, masterclass series, and Pro Bono-style expert network serving local entrepreneurs at no cost.
- 1871 (Chicago's Technology Hub): Chicago-based nonprofit startup hub offering coworking, programs, mentorship, and corporate partnerships for tech and growth-stage founders; directly comparable to Startup Waco's integrated hub model that combines physical coworking, programs, and ecosystem coordination in a single city.
Emerging players
- LaunchCode: Nonprofit providing training, mentorship, and apprenticeship pathways for individuals entering tech careers and launching businesses; comparable in mission and nonprofit structure to Startup Waco's skills-development programs and free coaching model for early-stage founders.
Regional players
- Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC): Waco-based university-led entrepreneurship and innovation initiative affiliated with Baylor University; directly comparable as a regional, university-anchored entrepreneurship support entity operating in the same Waco market with overlapping programmatic and capital-access goals.
Others
- KIVA: Global nonprofit micro-lending platform providing 0% interest loans to small businesses; comparable as an adjacent capital-access partner that Startup Waco itself refers founders to, illustrating the type of nonprofit small-business capital provider in Startup Waco's referral network.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Startup Waco social profiles
Digital presenceStartup Waco financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Startup Waco leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Startup Waco funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Startup Waco M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Startup Waco
What does Startup Waco do?
Startup Waco runs a multi-tier coworking space and event venue at 605 Austin Avenue in Waco, Texas, alongside a portfolio of entrepreneur support programs, coaching, and capital access services. Its paid offerings include Virtual, Hot Desk, Dedicated Desk, and Private Office memberships, Day Passes, and hourly rentals of The Atrium, Board Room, and Huddle Room. Its entrepreneur programs (Launchpad, Breakthrough, Mentor Network, Pro Bono Network, Masterclass Series, Community Brain, Student Entrepreneurship, Accelerated Ventures, Entrepreneur-in-Residence) and recurring events (The Meetup, Happy Hour, Founder's Retreat, The Pitch, MVP Bootcamp) are largely delivered at no cost thanks to community partners and are organized along two tracks: Small Business and High Growth.
Is Startup Waco a public or private company?
Startup Waco is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Startup Waco founded?
Startup Waco was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Startup Waco based?
Startup Waco is headquartered in Waco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Startup Waco make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Coworking Memberships are the primary driver. The others are coworking Day Passes, conference Room Rental, coaching and Programs and donor and Sponsor Contributions.
Who are Startup Waco's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Techstars, WeWork and Galvanize. Direct peers are SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) and 1871 (Chicago's Technology Hub). LaunchCode is listed as an emerging player. Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC) is listed as a regional player. KIVA is listed as an others.
Does Startup Waco have an API?
No public API is recorded for Startup Waco.
What industry is Startup Waco in?
Startup Waco's product category is Entrepreneur Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAFAK, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education, with a secondary code of EDAMAHAA, Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics. Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.