November 13, 2018
(Asheville, NC): It is a well-known fact that small businesses are a major driver of our economy. In fact, according to the Small Business Administration, businesses with fewer than 20 employees account for 90 percent of all U.S. firms and 97 percent of all new jobs. Less well-known however is that the vast majority of these new jobs are created by the sustained, incremental expansion of existing small businesses, and that start-ups account for only 7% of net new jobs.
The ScaleUp WNC program offered by Mountain BizWorks and partners is specifically focused on this economic opportunity: providing targeted growth strategy development and implementation assistance to existing Western North Carolina small business owners with strong opportunities for growth.
“Spending the time and energy to develop and refine our pitch was worth its time investment ten-fold.” – Adam Charnack, CEO of Hi-Wire Brewing (ScaleUp WNC alumni)
Applications are now being accepted for the 2019 ScaleUp WNC program which will include the seventh and eight cohorts for the program and will serve up to thirty area companies with strong prospects for growth. The deadline to apply is January 27. Full program details and the application form are available at ScaleUpWNC.com. Interested applicants are also invited to attend one of the informational sessions to be held across the region:
Wednesday 12/5 4:30pm at Innovation Station in Dillsboro Wednesday 12/12 5:30pm at Hatchet Coffee Roastery in Boone Thursday 12/13 5:30pm Hatch Happy Hour in Asheville Wednesday 1/16 2pm Informational WebinarWhat’s new for 2019?
“The coming year will build on the program’s successful track record from the seven prior cohorts and will add a few new elements that we’re very excited about,” shares Chris Grasinger, the ScaleUp program manager at Mountain BizWorks.
Hatch, the Asheville-based entrepreneurial development organization with a “10x10x5” goal to build 10 companies with revenues over $10 million in 5 years, has joined the ScaleUp delivery team bolstering the program’s mentor network and expertise for scaling product-based firms. For more information about the ScaleUp approach and local business alumni click here!