Success Stories

14 Days to the Congressional Showcase!

State: Illinois
SBDC: Illinois SBDC at Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
SBDC Advisor: Florence Hardy
SBDC Client: SpiderSense

SpiderSense is a haptic wearable jacket for the blind and the visually impaired that enables the user to navigate safely around objects and enjoy the outdoors.

“The SBDC’s help is very crucial to our success. Our background is in engineering, so we need help with the marketing and business side of things. We are frequently meeting with Florence and getting advice and guidance on various topics — from how to interact with investors to business planning and pitch deck editing. What we love about Florence is that she provides actionable answers to our questions. Sometimes it is templates that we can use, other times sample material (like business plans), and other times people that she connects us with. She really knows Chicago’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and wants to help as much as possible.” — Victor Mateevitsi, CEO, SpiderSense

Read more about SpiderSense here and here. Follow SpiderSense on Twitter @SpiderSenseSuit and @mvictoras.

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The America’s SBDC 2017 Client Showcase Reception will be at 5:30 pm on Monday, February 6, 2017, at the Rayburn House Office Building. Invite your Members of Congress now!

For more information about America’s SBDC or to find an SBDC near you, go to www.AmericasSBDC.org.

America’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) are excited to announce the Client Showcase Reception is back again this year! The following SBDC clients will be joining us on Capitol Hill on February 6th: (more…)

Success Story: Colorado

Lynn Brittner started planning the Southern-Ute Cultural Center and Museum more than 10 years ago. The Center’s opening this past May was her reward for years of holding the vision.

Brittner’s relationship with the Southwest Colorado Small Business Development Center started way back at the beginning. She needed help and only had three staff. A grant from the Administration for Native Americans provided funds for her to take Board members to visit other successful and non-successful museums around the country, with an emphasis on tribal museums. They had a lot to learn about creating a world class structure inside and out in Ignacio.

The Southwest Colorado SBDC Director had students from a business class at Fort Lewis help with the research Brittner would need to write the business plan. “The SBDC has been a consistent support and on-going resource. They have introduced me to people who could help with various aspects of the project and found us grant money to update the strategic plan,” says Brittner.

Brittner was surprised at how many details have to be considered in creating a museum and exhibits. “We had to consider the exterior design, the interior design, signage, height of the educational plaques, size of the displays, as well as their user friendliness and degree of engagement.”  (more…)

Success Story: Idaho

The Idaho SBDC’s Business Accelerator in Nampa, Idaho recently celebrated the graduation of one of it’s residents: Idaho Recognition, a locally owned and operated business that markets recognition products and provides graduation and spirit needs and school rings throughout the Pacific Northwest.

The company has grown from two accounts to almost 50, with two full-time and five part-time employees. The growth in sales, along with the sale of its photography business, has allowed the company the opportunity to build its own office building.

Jake Lee, Idaho Recognition’s founder, started with the Idaho SBDC Business Accelerator in June of 2013. He had a vision to grow his business and needed a location to train employees as he was adding product lines and finding new markets.

Being housed at the accelerator, Jake received those resources as well as valuable advice and mentoring from in-house SBDC coaches that had real-life business experience. He also found a community in the other residents; calling on their expertise when needed.  (more…)

Success Story: Missouri

Josh Holstein, founder and CEO of CellARide in Springfield, Missouri, created CellARide based on a great idea, a degree in computer science and a diverse background that includes five years with the Springfield Police Department and in sales.

CellARide began six years ago when Holstein came across a vehicle with the age-old, all-too familiar for sale sign in a window. “Someone had written a novel on this car for sale, and I thought, ‘There has to be a better, more efficient way to get that information out there!’ ” he says.

Why not use text messaging? he thought. Texting has been almost universally embraced and everyone knows how to use it. Texting is also far more comfortable and convenient than dealing with unpredictable, perhaps unavailable used car owners. And — taking this concept one step further — texting the volumes of information inherent in every car purchase directly to the shopper allows them to skip a sometimes uncomfortable dealer experience. (more…)