We are delighted to announce the members of the first ScaleUp WNC cohort, with sessions taking place February through May 2015.
Big congratulations to the 15 small businesses that were selected for ScaleUp WNC, a new program funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration. We received an impressive 67 applicants from all across the region for the first cohort of this highly competitive program.
MEMBERS OF THE 1ST COHORT – SPRING 2015
These 15 growth-oriented small businesses will receive intensive training, one-on-one management support, assistance in connecting with growth capital, and the opportunity to strengthen connections in order to scale up their ventures:
* BRIGHTFIELD TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS
Brightfield Transportation Solutions develops and owns a growing network of grid-connected/solar-integrated public charging stations and sells a line of patent-pending products to meet clients’ electric vehicle charging and sustainability marketing needs.
* CAROLINA NATIVE NURSERY
Carolina Native Nursery has been growing and supplying landscape and garden center quality native shrubs to wholesale and retail markets for more than a decade, secializing in native rhododendron, mountain laurels, and azaleas. They also have capabilities to broker and contract grow to meet plant specifications.
* DIESELJOBS.COM LLC
Dieseljobs.com is the largest niche job board for the heavy equipment and truck industry.
* DOLCI DI MARIA
Dolci di Maria is a producer of Italian-inspired, gluten-free desserts sold in natural food markets and served in restaurants. Inspired by Italian tradition, the brand bespeaks authenticity and elegance.
* EQUINOX
Equinox is a consulting, planning, and design firm with a focus on conservation, sustainability, and environmentally responsible land development projects.
* FARM TO HOME MILK
Farm to Home Milk is an artisan milk distribution company that partners with a North Carolina creamery to develop, market, produce, and distribute (including through home delivery) 100% grassfed non-GMO creamline milk and non-GMO nutribalanced milk as well as ice cream and yogurt.
* HI-WIRE BREWING
Hi-Wire Brewing, located in Asheville’s South Slope district and awarded the most medals at the 2014 NC Brewer’s Cup and Best New NC Brewery for 2013 by RateBeer, embraces its craft from top to bottom – from its hand-produced beers to its artwork, hand-drawn by a local artist.
* LUSTY MONK MUSTARD
Lusty Monk LLC makes spicy, fresh-ground, small-batch mustards blending heat and flavor. Lusty Monk is a family-owned, quality-conscious company, devoted to the idea that condiments should never be boring.
* MOTHER EARTH PRODUCE
Mother Earth Produce is a home-delivery service that works with local farms and food artisans to provide locally grown, organic produce and other edibles to the community, offering a direct connection from local farms to front doors.
* NEW RIVER ORGANIC GROWERS (NEW APPALACHIA)
The mission for New Appalachia is to connect the Old Appalachia’s values, traditions, and skills to the New Appalachia’s markets through distribution, marketing, and education, providing quality product to buyers while telling the stories of the local craft food family.
* OUTRIDER USA
Since 2009, FFR Electrics, LLC dba Outrider USA, has been creating the best way to move one person on and off the road while keeping them safe, healthy, and exhilarated. The team of eight designs, assembles, and ships directly from their shop.
* SIMPLESHOT SHOOTING SPORTS
SimpleShot has taken one of the simplest and oldest shooting tools — slingshots — and updated them with 21st century materials and manufacturing techniques. Made right here in Western North Carolina for the world, SimpleShot is the world’s leading manufacturer of everything slingshots.
* STRIVVEN MEDIA LLC
VirtualJobShadow.com is a multimedia career readiness platform developed by Strivven Media that bridges the gaps between workforce and education in uniquely engaging ways.
* THE FILLING STATION DELI AND SUB SHOP INC.
The Filling Station Deli and Sub Shop Inc. is a locally driven deli and sweet shop with a unique twist, offering deli style, hot pressed and frozen sandwiches. The company aims to a niche in the industry that has been void for many years.
* ULTIMATE ICE CREAM CO.
Ultimate Ice Cream Co. hand crafts small-batch, ultra premium ice cream shop using locally sourced dairy and only the best ingredients. Ultimate Ice Cream can be found in the company’s two ice cream shops and many finer restaurants.
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