9 Concepts from the Startup World to Explore Before Starting a Community Project: CO.STARTERS for Causes

One of the signature programs we offer at Causeway is CO.STARTERS for Causes. We offer this program because we often meet people who have a new idea for a project, nonprofit, or socially minded business — but they usually need structure and guidance to further explore the idea’s viability. The only real prerequisites for joining a cohort are (1) having an idea you’re ready, willing, and excited to share and pursue, and (2) a willingness to study, shape and fine-tune that idea in a supportive, collaborative, and welcoming environment.

The class involves principles from design thinking and the lean startup. It centers around the concept of the “Business Model Canvas” developed by Alexander Osterwalder to help starters develop workable business models.

The CO.STARTERS Canvas. Want to get a head start? You can download a fillable PDF of the Canvas directly from CO.STARTERS here.

During CO.STARTERS for Causes, you’re not being lectured. It is an action-driven, collaborative process with a small and supportive group of like-minded people, led by a facilitator who’ll introduce concepts and help you immediately put them to work. You’ll leave the program with a deep understanding of how to create a viable endeavor, and how to repeat that process with your next great idea. Each week builds on the previous and centers on a particular topic from the startup and entrepreneurship world:

1. Knowing Yourself
   Startups all start with the founder. This class will focus on identifying and testing your assumptions, articulating your vision and mission, discovering personal strengths, and identifying obstacles.
2. Understanding the Problem
   Before you can solve a problem, you have to understand it. This class will focus on identifying alternative solutions, getting into the mind of your customers and using feedback for your benefit.
3. The Solution
   This week we will talk about the benefits of starting small, innovation, and competitive advantage. We will also focus on your concrete plans for distribution.
4. Crafting Your Story
   A good idea that can’t be articulated isn’t making an impact. This week we will focus on your marketing, messaging, pitching and communications plan.
5. Determining What You Need
   The more you know about WHAT you need, the easier it is to get where you need to be. This week we will focus on specifically identifying your startup and ongoing needs.
6. Funding and Sustainability
   It’s no secret: we all need money to do what we do. By identifying your variable costs, making an accurate budget, and identifying funding sources, you can make your money work for you.
7. Systems and Structures
   You have a plan. Now you have to put it into action. Identifying roles, logistics and processes will help you do that.
8. Planning for the Future
   Setting goals for the future will keep you on track to become sustainable and open doors to replicate and share your idea. We will also focus on practicing a polished pitch for your idea.
9. Celebration Night
   The final gathering is structured as a “pitch” night where you’ll share a short pitch of your idea with the friends and family and a panel of community advisors who will provide feedback and help celebrate how far you’ve come — because we all know you can’t get something off the ground without being able to pitch it!

Who? Any individual can take the class, and your idea can be at various stages. The class usually has around 10 participants. It’s facilitated by a professional guide who will be with you all along the way.

What? 9-week class that meets for 3 hours per week, plus field work focused on understanding your customer better.

When? Causeway offers the class quarterly, ususally in the evenings 6–9pm.

Where? We host the class at our studio space at 701 Cherry Street, second floor.

Why? Because you have an idea for bettering the community and you want to turn it into a sustainable and thriving endeavor.

How? Sign up online. The course fee is $150, which includes course materials, office hours with the program facilitator to address your individual needs, and access to community events, networking opportunities, and other resources. We don’t want cost to be a barrier, so we offer a weekly payment plan of around $20 per class when needed.

Think CO.STARTERS for Causes might be right for you? Set up an intro meeting with us to talk through your idea and get a better sense for what next steps might be.