Beckley, W.Va. (WVDN) – The West Virginia Hive Network has been offering the nationally-recognized CO.STARTERS business training programs for the past five years, helping entrepreneurs across southern West Virginia turn ideas into thriving business ventures. The next four-part CO.STARTERS Bootcamp begins October 15, 2025. Thanks to the WV Hive’s support, participants can attend for only $50 per person, making the training affordable to anyone wanting to explore or refine a business concept.
Jessica Sansom, a native of Coal City who now resides in Princeton, participated in the CO.STARTERS Bootcamp and is a fan. “The CO.STARTERS Bootcamp program gave me the foundation I needed to get my business ideas out of my head and into a working plan,” she said. “The tools I was given were invaluable when constructing my business plan. Working with others in the group gave me insights into how customers may view my ideas. Our facilitators were the icing on the cake — they were amazing giving each participant guidance and relevant examples. I would tell anyone thinking of starting a business it’s crazy to go it alone when you could build your business with the best resources right here.”
“Jessica is an excellent example of how the CO.STARTERS program can help transform a great idea into a viable business plan,” said Judy Moore, executive director of the WV Hive and deputy director of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority. “Entrepreneurship is an exciting journey, but the path forward isn’t always clear. The CO.STARTERS Bootcamp provides participants with the tools, insights and support one needs to bring their entrepreneurial vision to life.”
During the four-part bootcamp, entrepreneurs will be challenged to stretch their thinking and be offered concrete tools to bring one’s business to life. This bootcamp is not about listening; it’s about doing.
- Part 1: Discover – Refine your business model by exploring mindset, customer discovery, and starting small;
- Part 2: Promote – Learn how to market effectively through messaging, channels, and pitching;
- Part 3: Build – Understand the financial basics: value, costs, pricing, and break-even points;
- Part 4: Launch – Create momentum with goal setting, milestones, and actionable plans.
CO.STARTERS Bootcamp is designed to offer entrepreneurs the following:
- A safe place to share, experiment, fail, and learn together;
- A framework for better identifying and addressing key issues;
- Connections to people and resources to help you make progress in your business;
- Concrete next steps to focus on going forward, starting with the most important;
- Confidence you’re headed in the right direction.
The four-part CO.STARTERS Bootcamp will be held on consecutive Wednesdays, starting October 15, 2025. Each session runs from 8:30am to 11:30am. The schedule is as follows:
October 15, 2025 – Part 1: Discovery
October 22, 2025 – Part 2: Promotion
October 29, 2025 – Part 3: Build
November 5, 2025 – Part 4: Launch
To learn more and register, click here.
If this session’s timing doesn’t work for you, WV Hive will offer another CO.STARTERS Bootcamp beginning in February 2026, with evening classes scheduled from 5:30–8:30 p.m., for those who need a later option to fit their schedule.
WV Hive is the entrepreneurship program of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority. Its 13-county service area includes Raleigh, Fayette, Summers, Nicholas, Webster, Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Monroe, Mercer, McDowell, Wyoming, Logan, and Mingo counties. More information about the WV Hive can be found at https://wvhive.com/.
