Start Co.

Start Co. sources primarily through regional accelerator cohorts and open calls in Tennessee and the broader Mid-South. Founders enter structured programs like UpStrt, where they receive seed capital, mentorship, and curriculum over a fixed period. The studio provides hands-on operational support — including talent recruiting, product strategy, and corporate introductions — that extends beyond the program's end. This model creates a year-round sourcing pipeline fed by university partnerships, corporate sponsors, and a network of regional angel investors.

Investment decisions are led by Founder and CEO Eric Mathews, with Co-President Andre Fowlkes overseeing accelerator operations and portfolio support. The firm uses an investment committee that includes Mathews, Fowlkes, and select mentor-operators with domain expertise. Final check sizes and terms follow a standardized seed template, though follow-on investments are evaluated on a company-by-company basis.

Start Co. operates a hybrid model combining both. It runs several structured accelerator programs — including general tech and logistics-focused cohorts — and manages a rolling venture fund that makes direct equity investments. Companies can enter through an accelerator, receive seed capital from the fund, or both. The firm also generates revenue through corporate innovation partnerships and grant-funded entrepreneurship initiatives, which subsidize the studio's operating costs.

The firm invests broadly but has concentrated expertise in logistics and mobility technology — reflecting Memphis's position as a global logistics hub — as well as enterprise software and healthcare services. Portfolio companies have also included media, consumer products, and real estate technology startups. Start Co. explicitly aligns sector focus with regional economic strengths rather than chasing coastal venture trends.

Start Co. integrated operations with Launch Tennessee's regional accelerator network in 2018, aligning its studio model with the state's broader entrepreneurship strategy. While Start Co. remains independently operated, the partnership provides access to Launch Tennessee's statewide mentor pool, corporate sponsors, and grant resources. This relationship reinforces Start Co.'s hybrid posture as both a for-profit venture investor and a community economic-development engine.