Echo++ brings the Shared Economy to Business and Startup Growth

by Startacus Admin

Startacus loves a good ol’ fashioned story on the Collaborative or Shared Economy so when we heard of Echo++ an inclusive business growth accelerator designed for East London sole traders, startups and micro businesses - but with no money involved, we were intrigued.

Through a series of 6 week, 3 month and 6 month packages all launching in September 2015 Echo++ will provide masterclass workshops, offer participants the chance to learn and apply new business skills, gain mentoring, consultancy and access a network of over 700 local businesses to help offer advice, share skills and collaborate - the ‘shared part’ here the key to the “no money involved” premised of the programme.

Paid for in Echoes…So the plan with Echo++ is this….

Echo++ is run on and paid for with Echoes, not pounds and pence. Applicants accepted onto the programme, will be provided with an Echo overdraft to cover the value of the course in Echoes. The guys at Echo++ will then help you showcase your business and your offerings to the community and in return you can earn Echoes to pay for the 6 week, 3 month or 6 month programme by offering up your services or skills to other community members.

You can check the current Echo listings to get a flavour of what is needed and what is on offer currently from members.

It might all sound a little new-age, but with support of Echo and the Echo++ Business Growth accelerator coming from LLDC, Nesta and Friends Provident Foundation, they do have the backing to make this “Economy of Hours” a real life living and breathing reality. Who knows? Perhaps we’ll see this idea rolled out elsewhere?

To take advantage of the early-bird window for applicants, apply before midnight on 26th July (i.e. this Sunday)! General applications are being accepted until 16th August 2015, and since there are only 15 spaces per programme available, you’d better get your skates on and your Echoes at the ready!

So if you are a East London business check out all the Echo++ details here via economyofhours.com/echoplus. We look forward to sharing more news on this Shared Economy venture as it progresses.

Event or Program Manager? Here's a few ways you can share your business / startup program with our community of growing Startups and SMEs.

You also might also want to read up about: 

• Could Free Co-working Spaces Be the Way of the Future?

• The Shared Economy - some valuable shared insight
  
  
  

   

• #echo++
• #shared economy
• #collaboration
• #
• #economy of hours

Published on: 24th July 2015