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CO.STARTERS by Hatch Accelerator Cultivates Local Innovation and Entrepreneurial Spirit

CO.STARTERS participants

The entrepreneurial momentum in Southwest Virginia continues to build as the fifth CO.STARTERS cohort wraps up a successful program marked by innovation, collaboration and community. Since its launch in 2022, CO.STARTERS, powered by Hatch Accelerator, has equipped aspiring business owners with the tools, knowledge and support they need to transform ideas into viable ventures.

Guided by a nationally recognized curriculum, the program offers hands-on learning, peer collaboration and mentorship opportunities to help participants refine their business models and confidently move toward launch or expansion. Hatch Accelerator, an initiative of the UVA Wise Office of Community and Economic Development, plays a pivotal role in cultivating a regional ecosystem that fosters sustainable entrepreneurship and economic resilience.

The most recent cohort, which began in March, brought together 15 driven individuals from across the region who took part in hands-on, peer-supported sessions focused on shaping, testing and advancing their business concepts.

“These are people who didn’t necessarily envision themselves as entrepreneurs,” said Blake Salyer, innovation and ecosystem manager at UVA Wise. “They simply responded to unmet needs in their communities and stepped up with solutions. CO.STARTERS meets them exactly where they are with passion, need and possibility.”

The program culminated in a celebratory pitch night in Wise, where participants presented their ventures and competed for $4,650 in cash awards. The event highlighted businesses rooted in purpose and resilience, including Anchoring Hope Counseling, founded by Stephanie Strouth.

With offices in Abingdon, Pennington Gap and Wise, and telehealth services extending across Virginia, Anchoring Hope Counseling offers premiere outpatient mental health counseling. What began as a leap of faith for Strouth has grown into a mission-driven practice powered by a 12-person team that has served over 1,000 clients.

“I started Anchoring Hope with no big vision, just faith,” said Strouth. “But we found our voice, our vision and our purpose. This turned into a passion for empowering clinicians to provide outstanding, consistent care for our clients. CO.STARTERS helped me see the big picture and provided me with a roadmap to get there,” said Strouth.

Anchoring Hope is driven by its values of empowered living, unfiltered authenticity and ethical excellence, helping clients achieve meaningful personal growth. During the program, Strouth deepened her understanding of operations, scaling and performance metrics with crucial skills as her practice expands beyond therapy into medication management and new service offerings.

The pitch night awarded three standout ventures with funding to accelerate their growth:

  • First Place ($2,500): Stephanie Strouth, Anchoring Hope Counseling
  • Second Place ($1,250): Tara Greear, Healthy 360
  • Third Place ($500): Andrea Hicks, The Coffee Station

Participants were evaluated on criteria including market fit, value proposition and pitch delivery. For many, the greatest reward was the sense of connection and mutual encouragement found within the cohort.

“We won CO.STARTERS on Monday and placed second in the GAUNTLET Business Competition on Tuesday. Our ask was funding for a building expansion, and someone in the crowd stepped forward to fund it. That kind of support is rare and powerful. I never realized how crucial community and networking were until CO.STARTERS,” said Strouth.

"There's a shared understanding in the region that this kind of work matters, and we've found real alignment with partners who want to be part of the solution," Salyer added.

Applications for the spring 2026 CO.STARTERS cohort are now open and being accepted on a rolling basis. In addition, the program is actively seeking experienced entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals interested in giving back by serving as mentors or facilitators. Facilitators play a key role in guiding cohort members through the curriculum and sharing real-world insights that enhance the learning experience.

Those selected to facilitate will receive virtual training through the CO.STARTERS national network and are eligible for a stipend to support their time and travel commitments.

View more information or apply as a participant or facilitator.

How to Support CO.STARTERS Ventures:

Anchoring Hope:

Healthy 360:

The Coffee Station: