The Northside Development Group is partnering with the USC Upstate Business School to pilot an entrepreneurship accelerator program. It is based on a successful model program in Atlanta, Georgia called Start: ME. Entrepreneurship accelerator programs work with aspiring small-business owners in their early stage of development to grow their business and business plan.
Start:ME began at Emory University in 2013 and has helped over 80 entrepreneurs kick-start their businesses. The program develops a small business environment in communities by identifying promising local entrepreneurs, providing them with 14 weeks of business training, connecting them with a robust business network, and financing the most promising businesses.
The George Dean Johnson Jr. College of Business and Economics at USC-Upstate is a key partner in this effort, providing support for the 14 weeks of training sessions and pairing future business owners with mentors from the local community.
At the end of March 2017, our program entered Week 7 for our 13 entrepreneurs, who are working diligently with 30 mentors on their businesses. At the end of the 14 week program, entrepreneurs will present their business services and products at a Customer Experience Event and Showcase at the Farmers Market at Harvest Park. The event will be from 8am-12pm on Saturday, May 6th.
Stay up to date on the progress of our Start: ME program by visiting their website: http://www.startmespartanburg.com/info-sessions
You can also follow their twitter updates at: https://twitter.com/startmehubcity
