Co-ops are a common business structure for groovy food emporiums, energy
consortiums, and dairy producers, but now that setup is ready to fuel
more growth at entrepreneurial advocacy group
MOJO Minnesota.
The
collection of Twin Cities attorneys, advisors, entrepreneurs, and
investors came together about a year ago, calling themselves "agitators
for innovation policy and community." The group's main goal is to shine a
light on new technologies through state policy advocacy, unique events,
and mentoring. Creating connections among business leaders, industry
groups, and investors is another strong focus.
Now, it's a
co-operative as well. "Up until this point, we've been an unincorporated
association, which just means there was a collection of us working
together on these particular issues," says co-founder Ernest Grumbles.
"We wanted to formalize our structure, and when we looked at the
available options, we latched onto being a co-op because that's how
we've been functioning."
MOJO has a populist feel to it, he
notes, but more importantly, it allows the group to pursue advocacy
action and potential commercialization that would have been more
challenging if it had sought non-profit status.
"Minnesota has
been a big booster of co-ops," he adds, "where people come together and
share resources. There are a number of power co-ops and consumer co-ops,
but our group is unique in taking that structure."
Grumbles
believes that other business advocacy and networking organizations would
be beneficial for the state, and it's his hope that MOJO won't be the
only business-focused co-op for long.
Source: Ernest Grumbles, MOJO Minnesota
Writer: Elizabeth Millard