Speak Shop Joins Starve Ups Incubator

Online Spanish tutoring company gains membership into nonprofit group created to help entrepreneurs succeed.

Beaverton, OR (PRWEB) November 16, 2006 -- Speak Shop, http://www.speakshop.com, an award-winning leader in live online Spanish tutoring, has been inducted into Starve Ups, a nonprofit organization in Portland, Oregon that brings together local entrepreneurs to exchange information, collaborate and accelerate progress.

In a competitive process that included a written application, personal presentation and Q&A from the Starve Ups membership committee, Speak Shop was chosen as one of three new member companies bringing the current membership to 19.

"This is a terrific opportunity for us. We have participated in several of Starve Ups' public events over the last year, and this group has proven to be among the best in breed of entrepreneurship organizations," said Clay Cooper, CEO. "They are truly helping build successful entrepreneurs."

Starve Ups, founded by seven young companies in 2000, boasts an exceptional survival rate of 84%: Of the 32 total member companies since Starve Ups' inception, 27 are still in business. The organization hosts approximately 20 events per year, divided among public and members-only activities.

"One of the things we love about Starve Ups is their emphasis on altruism," said Cindy Cooper, Chief Marketing and Social Impact Officer. "Everyone in the group gives at least as much as he or she receives. It is very well-aligned with our own mission and values."

About Speak Shop
Speak Shop was founded by Clay and Cindy Cooper to increase access to cross-cultural foreign language education and to generate economic opportunity for people in Latin America. People around the world use Speak Shop to take live Spanish lessons online while supporting international economic development. For more details on Speak Shop visit http://www.speakshop.com. For more information, or to schedule an interview, call (267) 295-2862.

About Starve Ups
Founded by a group of 7 young companies in October of 2000, Starve Ups is a non-profit organization that is now 19 companies strong and dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create and sustain successful businesses. Unlike other organizations, Starve Ups membership is only open to the founders, management and core team members of idea and emerging stage companies. For more about Starve Ups visit www.starveups.com.

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