A not-for-profit cooperative association of independent service business owners, founded from an economic development research project on the importance of startup business development
We operate entirely without grants, gifts, donations, contributions or public funding.
We don't have our hand out and we are NOT your tax dollars at work!
We're independent business owners, entirely self-funded and very proud of it.
Some of the companies we've worked with are "brand names" in Houston!
When you want assistance with your business, seek only those who have actual hands-on business ownership experience. You'll be glad you did! It makes for a world of difference!
Since our first Co-Op meeting held March 14, 1983, we've worked with 100,000+ people, generating 75,217 tips, leads, referrals and items of new business, generating revenues exceeding one billion dollars, founded the Entrepreneurial Development Center - Houston's first and Texas' oldest small business incubator and co-working space, First Houston Small Business Seed Capital Fund - literally the first small business seed capital fund in Houston, the Womens Business Center - first business incubator for women business owners in the United States with residency space and the Virtual Business Center - the first remote business incubator in the world - all totally without public funding, grants, gifts, donations or contributions.
Our Entrepreneurial Research conclusively demonstrated A) "entrepreneurship" could be taught in a classroom environment, resulting in colleges and universities, globally, commencing entrepreneurial courses and B) that women starting businesses were seeking a hand-up and a level playing field rather than a hand-out or charity and C) that business incubators actually accelerated business growth resulting in the next generation being named accelerators and D) incubators/accelerators could be entirely self-sufficient by charging a modest royalty interest in client companies and E) that entrepreneurship was color blind and gender neutral.
Here are some of the organizations we've worked with.
We grow companies, build careers and advance ideas.
May we assist with yours?
