America’s SBDC Blog

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2018 Client Showcase Countdown #10 – Florida SBDC Client Dignitas Technologies Trains the Warfighter

February 3, 2018

Meet Dignitas Technologies (dignitastechnologies.com | @DignitasTech)

Dignitas TechnologiesDignitas Technologies, LLC is a certified Woman Owned Small Business, developing software engineering applications to train the Warfighter. Dignitas provides advanced technology modeling and simulating of the equipment, environments and behaviors of opposing and friendly forces, ensuring our soldiers are equipped with immersive training prior to being deployed.

SBDC: FSBDC at the University of Central Florida (sbdcorlando.com)
SBDC Advisor: Jill Kaufman (more…)

2018 Client Showcase Countdown #11 – Colorado SBDC Client Alt Ethos Uses Experimental Design to Create Unforgettable Experiences

February 2, 2018

Meet Alt Ethos (altethos.com | @altethos)

Alt EthosAlt Ethos is an experiential design studio that creates engaging environments. They transform physical spaces into memorable experiences by melding creative technology with compelling stories. Alt Ethos helps organizations amplify brand awareness, meaningfully connect with loyal customers, and differentiate their products and services in competitive markets.

SBDC: Denver Metro SBDC (denversbdc.org), Colorado
SBDC Advisory Team: Jim Olp, Wendy King, Dale Clack, Jennifer Kurtz, Dixie Malone, Dave Schohl, Jeff Sachs (more…)

America’s #SBDC 2018 Client Showcase Countdown – 12 Days to the Congressional Showcase

February 1, 2018

ShowcaseAmerica’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) are excited to announce that the Client Showcase Reception is back again this year! The following clients will be joining us on Capitol Hill on February 13th:

– Colorado: Alt Ethos
– Florida: Dignitas Technologies
– Iowa: Gross-Wen Technologies, Inc.
– Louisiana: Tadpole LLC
– North Carolina: KBI (Kepley BioSystems, Inc.)
– Ohio: WaterStep
– Pennsylvania: Play Impossible
– Rhode Island: S2S Surgical
– South-West Texas Border Region: Taste Elevated
– Washington: Whooshh
– Wisconsin: MobCraft Beer  (more…)

Teaching Tool Turns Into Business Venture, Parlor Game

January 16, 2018
Success Story, Vermont –

StorymaticAsk Brian Mooney what he does for a living and he says, with a very big smile on his face, “I make boxes of Yes!” It always stops people in their tracks and then he gets to explain what he does. “At least that’s how I like to think of it, anyway. The Storymatic is a family of card-based creative writing prompts and games. There are ten thousand stories in every box,” Mooney says.

Brian came up with the idea when he was teaching creative writing to high school and college students, and they told him the writing prompts he created for them were a whole lot of fun to use as a game to play with friends outside of class. From there the Classic Storymatic Game was born.

Now, Brian’s unstoppable, creative mind has created several more games, including Storymatic Kids, The Storymatic Colonial History Edition and Rememory. They are sold worldwide via The Storymatic website, bookstores, toy stores and museum shops. A perfect gift for a family game night, an aspiring writer, or a writer in need of some inspiration, The Daily Beast calls them “super, super fun!,” and the Chicago Tribune says the games are “perfect for just about anybody who loves a good story at a party.”  (more…)

Planning Makes Perfect For Brothers’ Auto Shop Dreams

December 17, 2017
Success Story: Idaho

Casiano's Auto RepairCollege of Southern Idaho alums Ivan and Jose Casiano graduated with certifications in automotive repair. When they inquired about starting their own business, instructors directed them to the Idaho SBDC.

They attended the center’s business planning course and developed a draft business plan with a target market of the Hispanic population in the Mini-Cassia Area. One of the most valuable pieces of advice from the SDBC was to develop key relationships with the banker, accountant, and attorney.

In 2014, when financing was secured, Casiano’s Auto Repair began operations in a leased facility. In 2016, they decided to purchase the building and land as well as the adjacent lot for future development. By 2017, they had added the sale and support of tires and rims. (more…)