ZenBusiness’ Post

Our annual report is out! Highlights include: ->Assisting 81 very early stage entrepreneurial starters through our 1:1 startup support services, delivered both in English and Spanish. 57% of entrepreneurs served through this work identified as women, and 47% as BIPOC. Through this completely free support, 10 entrepreneurs launched new businesses this year, creating 16 new jobs in the community. ->Hosting 74.5 hours of free or very low cost early stage business education. ->Graduating 26 entrepreneurs from CO.STARTERS business education cohorts, an intensive 10 week process to go from idea to next actionable steps. Graduates of this program maintain an 89% 1-year startup survival rate, have created 34 local jobs, and raised $875K in capital this year alone. -> Adding 19 new members to our vibrant coworking community. ->Increasing the visibility of 33 local businesses through our storytelling work.

Please do check our Website Homepage to know more about what PBM Group does and how we do what we do for the Community......#PBM Hey there, community leaders,, Business Owners & Entrepreneurs and fellow humans! Today, I want to share something close to my heart about PBM Group's unique approach to business. You see, in the world of business, profit often takes centre stage. But at PBM Group, we believe it’s about more than just the bottom line. It’s about giving back to the world / community we live in that nurtures us. Now, you might be wondering, what sets PBM Group apart from other business establishments? Why should you choose us over countless other options? Well, here’s the thing. At PBM Group, we have a core belief that defines everything we do. We believe in the principle of Freely We Received, Freely We Give. Think about it. The talents, blessings, and opportunities that have come our way are gifts from our Creator. We didn’t earn them on our own; they were given to us freely. And because of that, we feel a profound responsibility to freely give back to the world with the same generosity. This isn’t just a mantra for us—it’s a way of life

August 1st ChicoSTART had the opportunity to travel down to the Sacramento State Carlsen Center of Innovation to catch a fireside chat with Victor Hwang, CEO of Right to Start, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that fights to expand entrepreneurial opportunity for all. You may remember Victor as our GrowTECH FEST Keynote in 2021. Victor shared about how starting and growing a business is such a huge challenge for entrepreneurs, filled with barriers that make it difficult to even start. Through the Right to Start organization, Victor and his team team want to "drive civic change through: grassroots organizing and mobilizing, policy advocacy and engagement, and lifting the voices of entrepreneurs through media and storytelling". Below are the Statement of Principals Right To Start agrees with and supports policies to realize them: 1. Everyone has the fundamental Right to Start. 2. We must protect and nourish starters. 3. To level the playing field, tilt it. 4. Renewal comes bottom-up. 5. Grow ecosystems to grow economies. 6. All of us matter. Right now, Victor is driving across country from California to D.C. to deliver signatures supporting the rights of entrepreneurs. If you would like to join the movement and sign the petition and read the full Right to Start Statement of Principles here is the link: https://lnkd.in/gEyxv-t2 You can also follow Victor on his advocacy trip here Right to Start California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship Growth Factory Chico Chamber of Commerce Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce The Work Hub California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce California State University, Chico - College of Business Chico State Center for Entrepreneurship Foundri Social High Rise MC2 Half a Bubble Out Tri Counties Bank Victor W. Hwang CAMEO Network #righttostart #entreprenuerialrights #growecosystems #nobarriers #jointhemovement #chicoca #buttecounty

Hey there, community leaders,, Business Owners & Entrepreneurs and fellow humans! Today, I want to share something close to my heart about PBM Group's unique approach to business. You see, in the world of business, profit often takes centre stage. But at PBM Group, we believe it’s about more than just the bottom line. It’s about giving back to the world / community we live in that nurtures us. Now, you might be wondering, what sets PBM Group apart from other business establishments? Why should you choose us over countless other options? Well, here’s the thing. At PBM Group, we have a core belief that defines everything we do. We believe in the principle of Freely We Received, Freely We Give. Think about it. The talents, blessings, and opportunities that have come our way are gifts from our Creator. We didn’t earn them on our own; they were given to us freely. And because of that, we feel a profound responsibility to freely give back to the world with the same generosity. This isn’t just a mantra for us—it’s a way of life.

Hey there, community leaders,, Business Owners & Entrepreneurs and fellow humans! Today, I want to share something close to my heart about PBM Group's unique approach to business. You see, in the world of business, profit often takes centre stage. But at PBM Group, we believe it’s about more than just the bottom line. It’s about giving back to the world / community we live in that nurtures us. Now, you might be wondering, what sets PBM Group apart from other business establishments? Why should you choose us over countless other options? Well, here’s the thing. At PBM Group, we have a core belief that defines everything we do. We believe in the principle of Freely We Received, Freely We Give. Think about it. The talents, blessings, and opportunities that have come our way are gifts from our Creator. We didn’t earn them on our own; they were given to us freely. And because of that, we feel a profound responsibility to freely give back to the world with the same generosity. This isn’t just a mantra for us—it’s a way of life.

Do you have the support and community you need for the journey you are on? The past year has taught me the true power of conscious, cultivated and intentional community spaces and the immense impact it creates. I've always loved the saying "it takes a village to raise a child" and I know the argument has been made that starting a business is like having a baby or raising a child. So it begs the question, do you have a village to help you grow your business? Both in my work as a founder and my work within men's work, this past year has shown me another, much deeper level of support that exists within the right communities. The "right" community being the important part. Because there is plenty of distractions out there. Not an echo chamber, not a bunch of folks nodding their heads and agreeing with everything you say. Find your people that are in it with you, know what it's like to stand in the fire, be held accountable and will push one another to dig deeper and keep going. Traverse City is stepping up in big ways and there is an amazing, quickly growing core group of humans dedicated to disrupting traditional business happy hours and networking. Instead, opting to truly ask, what do I need? What does my community need? The growth of the Michigan Founders Fund TC Chapter is proof of that. Hats off to Broc Crandall, Chase Bonhag, Josh Hart AIS, ASLI, AU 💭 for leading the charge. All of it is built on the ethos of walking through the fire that is the journey of building a business and a desire look back and extend a real helping hand to those who are starting to walk their own path. Thanks for the sweet video nick beadleston!

Feel like you're in the dark when it comes to #resources available to help you launch or grow your business? Come see me and Queen of Commerce Chanta Winston during an #economicdevelopment forum with the City Of Huber Heights and the Huber Heights Chamber of Commerce. I'll share details about the 10,000 Small Businesses program plus tips on other initiatives from our Sinclair Workforce Development department. The Oct. 19 event is free and open to the public! #business #smallbusiness #entrepreneurs #entrepreneurship #Ohio #OhioMeansJobs

Three Start Garden alumni are now semi-finalists for Pharrell Williams' Black Ambition Prize! The nation-wide program was built to bridge the gap for talented Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs to earn capital and help shape the future with brilliant ideas. Participants are competing for $1 million and have the opportunity to learn with a network of talented founders and business leaders across sectors. We're so proud to cheer them on in this amazing accomplishment and wish them the best of luck heading into the finals! 1. Darren Riley of Just Air - Competed in The 100 (2022), is an alumnus of Accelerate Equity (2023) and served as Start Garden’s first entrepreneur in residence in 2023. The Just Air mission is to protect the 20,000 daily breaths each person takes. They put air quality data into the hands of communities to increase well-being and drive positive, locally led change through trusted partnerships, accessible air quality insights, fostering community led action and growing a team that puts their values into practice. 2. Michael Hyacinthe of Wimage Tech - Winner of 5x5 Night (2020) , The 100 and Demo Day (2021) & an alumnus of Accelerate Equity (2023). Built on the popular PBS children’s show Wimee’s World, Wimage Tech develops interactive edutech applications for kids to connect with the lovable robot, Wimee. Viewers of the show can build their own storybooks with Wimee as they imagine new stories together. The increasing use of artificial intelligence is making Wimee more interactive than ever before. 3. Andrea Wallace of Opnr -Winner of The 100 (2022), an alumna of the Accelerate Equity program (2023) & a current Start Garden entrepreneur in residence. Opnr is an all-in-one, data-powered entertainment marketplace. It removes the time and friction associated with talent discovery & booking while adding the benefit of fanbase-influenced, targeted ticket sales. Let’s Go! …..and there are still 2 days left for submissions to Start Garden’s 100 ➡️ 100.Startgarden.com

Spread the word: Today is the deadline for the Idea Leap Grant applications! If you're an entrepreneur in Chattanooga, Ocoee, or Northwest Georgia, now's your chance to apply for the 2024 Idea Leap Grant Competition! TVFCU is giving away $225,000 in grants to local small business Quick Tips for a Successful Application: Strategic Prep: Due today at 5 p.m. ET, carefully craft your responses on a Word doc before transferring them to the application. Share Your Story: Illuminate your entrepreneurial journey. Community Engagement: Highlight your business's contributions or personal efforts to give back.

Yep, it's that time again folks - RaleighDurham Startup Week!! 🤗 The organizing committee has been hard at work revamping tracks and content. This year will prove the best yet! Have some spare time you'd like to share to get more involved? We'd welcome having you as a volunteer. Just click the link below and we'll be in touch. #durhamregion #raleighnc #trianglenc #entrepreneurship #startups #startupweek