Resources to Grow

Learn more about the drivers of minority-owned businesses and grow your own with these resources.

Book an Intake & Assessment Meeting
Get an assessment and learn resources available
-- Request at info@the800.org

Costarters Early Stage Discovery, Prototyping, & Business Case Programming
Coming Early 2019
More Information Here

Apply for Portfolio Management Support
Continued One on One Support of Assistance & Connections to Resources; fill out an intake form and someone will contact you.
More Information Here

Propel Minority Business Accelerator
Assisting Companies with Revenue Between $250,000 & $2MM
Coming Spring of 2019
​More Information & Application Here

Loan & Grant Fund Opportunities
Fill out an intake form and someone will contact you.
More Information Here

Christian Brothers University Paid Student Job Program for Minority Firms
Waiting list; for more details email info@neverstop.co

Technology Accelerator Programs Applications Open
For High Growth Startups in Medical Device, Home Services, Logistics

January 2019- Christian Brothers University Entrepreneurship Class Offering & Scholarships- Details Coming Soon

Background on the Plan

The 800 Initiative sets out on a path to grow minority business through the deliberate investment of assistance, capital, corporate engagement, and other resources.  The focus is on minority firms with paid employees, as well as promising minority businesses with no paid employees.

Grow Your Business

Current Entry Points:
Co.Starters at Epicenter: For Early-Stage Minority Firms
Propel: City of Memphis Accelerator Program for Growing Minority-Owned Businesses
High Tech, High Growth: Visit Start Co. to Learn about High Tech, High Growth Programs
Universal Life: Set an Appointment for a Business  Assessment

Partners

City of Memphis

The City of Memphis Office of Diversity and Compliance works to increase the number of M/W/SBEs certified with the City of Memphis and assist with strengthening the capacity of these companies so that they might better compete for opportunities in City of Memphis government contracting.

Christian Brothers University 
​

Christian Brothers University is consistently rated one of the best Universities in the Southeast and in the nation. It is providing educational programs, and talent for minority firms as part of the 800 Initiative.

Epicenter
​​

Epicenter leads the connected and collaborative entrepreneurship ecosystem in Memphis by working with its partners to connect entrepreneurs and their innovative ideas to the resources they need to start, launch, and scale a business. 

Powered by Start Co.

Start Co. is a nationally recognized nonprofit 501(c)(3) venture development organization based in Memphis, Tennessee, that relentlessly builds founders and companies, promoting entrepreneurship for everyone with a focus on digital startups. Start Co. is a member of the Global Accelerator Network and aims to advance Memphis’ economic growth through entrepreneurship.