From Mountain BizWorks:
Mountain BizWorks Announces Fourth ScaleUp WNC Cohort – Seventeen area entrepreneurs hope to get their businesses growing this summer
ASHEVILLE, NC (May 23, 2016)—Mountain BizWorks (MBW) has selected 17 small businesses in the region with strong potential for growth and job creation, their largest group yet, to participate in the fourth cohort of ScaleUp WNC, which begins Friday, June 10. The initiative, made possible with funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration, provides local entrepreneurs with intensive growth strategy development, mentorship, access-to-capital support, and a rich network of peer business owners. This is the final cohort to meet in 2016, but interested CEOs can learn about the 2017 application cycle and other program events by signing up for the nonprofit’s e-newsletter.
Cohort 3 concluded the growth-planning phase of the program earlier this month and are now working to achieve their goals. Many have obtained the loan capital needed to execute their expansion plans.
“Now that they’ve taken the critical time to work on their business and not just in their business, these companies have quickly positioned themselves for impressive growth,” says Matt Raker, director of community investments and impact. He’s confident the same will hold true for Cohort 4.
The 2016 ScaleUp WNC Cohort 4 participating businesses are: Addison Farms Vineyard (Leicester), ADORAtherapy (Asheville), All American Food Fights (Asheville), Big Boom Design (Asheville), Blue Ridge Solutions (Asheville), Brewed for Her Ledger (Asheville), Bright Star Touring Theatre (Arden), DuinoKit (Whittier), Duncan & York (Asheville), Elements (Asheville), JB Media Institute (Asheville), Jennythreads (Asheville), Jukebox Junction & Soda Shoppe (Canton), The Sunset Motel (Brevard), Smoky Mountain Cabin Builders (Bryson City), and Sunburst Chef and Farmer (Asheville).
“Collectively, the businesses in this new cohort provide more than 100 jobs across five WNC counties,” notes Raker. “And half of the businesses are women-owned.”
Cohort 4 will run through September, after which the public will be invited to a Demo Day to meet members of Cohorts 2-4. More information about the program can be found at scaleupwnc.com.
ABOUT MOUNTAIN BIZWORKS
Mountain BizWorks is a nonprofit CDFI helping small businesses in WNC start, grow, and thrive. The organization generates jobs and ensures economic resiliency in the region by providing peer-to-peer business coaching and loans to companies that may find it difficult to receive funding from traditional sources. For more information about their work, visit mountainbizworks.org or call (828) 253-2834.
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