Fresh on the heels of wrapping the most high-impact year of the ScaleUp WNC Program, Mountain BizWorks is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2020 cohort of established area small businesses with strong growth opportunities.
Since its launch in 2015, ScaleUp WNC has served 8 cohorts comprising 120 WNC companies. The program has benefited a diverse group of participants as two-thirds have been rural-based, women-owned, minority-owned, and/or veteran-owned businesses. Participants have also hailed from all corners of WNC from Sparta to Asheville to Robbinsville. ScaleUp provides targeted growth strategy development and implementation assistance to existing WNC small business owners with a compelling opportunity for expansion.
“2019 was a big year for the ScaleUp WNC Program including last month’s sold-out Mountain Raise Pitch event where program alumni showcased their scale-up strategies and over $200,000 in new investment was secured,” explains Matt Raker, incoming Executive Director of Mountain BizWorks.
Applications for the 2020 ScaleUp program are being accepted online through January 31, 2020, with up to 15 regionally headquartered businesses to be accepted into the 90-day accelerator, held this coming Spring. Also in the works is a new alumni program to be launched later in the year, with more information to follow.
In preparation for the applications, Mountain BizWorks is hosting six Founder Networking events around the region featuring Lightning Round Business Pitches. Registration and additional details are available at scaleupwnc.com.
- January 14, 5:00 – 6:00 pm in Boone at Booneshine Brewing
- January 15, 5:30 – 6:30 pm in Bryson City at location TBD
- January 16, 5:30 – 6:30 pm in Marion at Mica Town Brewing
- January 21, 5:30 – 6:30 pm in Shelby at location TBD
- January 23, 5:30 – 6:30 pm in Asheville at Archetype Brewing North
- January 24 Noon – 1:00 pm via webinar
The Cohort is selected through a highly competitive, merit-based process, which is confidentially reviewed by an experienced selection panel and responded to by February 12. Those accepted will receive over 60 hours of training, mentoring, and networking to scale their company in the spring accelerator.