Cooperative Academy by Cooperation Buffalo

For 12 Wednesdays from August 30th through November 15th, teams will engage in classroom training with experts in the skills required to start successful worker cooperatives, including business development, finance, governance, democratic decision making, and participatory management.

After completing the course and pitching your cooperative business concept, Academy graduates can receive up to $2,500 in seed capital as a reimbursement for eligible start-up expenses, one-on-one technical assistance from Cooperation Buffalo to guide you through legal requirements, securing additional start-up capital, and navigating other resources on your way to launching your co-op.

• Over 30 hours of training by skilled experts
• Up to $2,500 of seed capital for eligible start-up expenses
• One-on-one technical assistance from cooperative business developers
• Training and support in fundraising, legal, and other start-up requirements
• Access to a peer-support network beyond the length of the course
• Greater visibility and name recognition for your cooperative
• Meet and network with member-owners of existing Buffalo cooperatives