Resources for your small business

The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative (NewBoCo)

NewBoCo makes our state more resilient to a changing economy by supporting entrepreneurship, innovation, and tech education. Specific to entrepreneur success in our ICR region, NewBoCo's focus has been on the following:

Startup Accelerators - NewBoCo's world-class startup accelerators are exactly what your big idea needs to find product-market fit and adapt to be competitive and sustainable in rapidly changing markets. https://newbo.co/entrepreneurship/accelerators/

Vault Coworking - Vault is NewBoCo’s coworking space designed to promote collaboration and community in the New Bohemia District in downtown Cedar Rapids. https://newbo.co/vault-coworking/

Microlending Through Kiva - There is a lack of affordable microloans available to small business owners and budding entrepreneurs. It’s difficult to get capital unless you make it to a certain size, with a certain revenue under your belt.  And if you’re a woman, a person of color, someone with a low or no credit score, it’s even more difficult.

To address this challenge here in the state of Iowa, NewBoCo partnered with a global nonprofit organization called Kiva to create a statewide Hub for Iowa that gives these entrepreneurs access to a microlending platform to raise zero interest, zero fee, extended grace period loans from active lenders motivated by social impact. These loans range from $1-$15k and lenders can give as little as $25 at a time. https://newbo.co/kiva

Services for Startups - NewBoCo offers web and application development, Agile and leadership coaching, creative and design services, marketing, WordPress development, hardware prototyping and engineering, and more. NewBoCo Studios: NewBoCo offers services that include web and application development, design and creative services, marketing, WordPress development, and hardware engineering and prototyping to take your big idea or product to market. https://newbo.co/innovation/studios/ Innovation Services: NewBoCo offers opportunities that range from 1-hour webinars to our 1-year Intrapreneur Academy and focus on areas of internal and external leadership, building a culture of innovation, and working with an Agile mindset. https://newbo.co/innovation/services/

Entrepreneurial Development Center (EDC)

The EDC is a community sponsored business accelerator. EDC's mission is to provide economic growth through the creation and expansion of high-impact Iowa businesses. From start-ups to well-established entities, EDC is focused on fostering innovation and creating vital and diversified entrepreneurial communities. EDC provides guided professional and business direction, networking and educational programs, and connection to qualified community and state resources. Learn more about the EDC, here.  https://www.edcinc.org/about-us/

One of EDC’s key differentiators is its staff of seasoned business experts who provide hands-on guided assistance to Iowa entrepreneurs. Learn more about the types of assistance the EDC can provide here. https://www.edcinc.org/how-we-help/ 

Kirkwood Small Business Development Center

Successful entrepreneurs possess vision, determination and a relentless desire to obtain sound advice from outside experts. The Kirkwood SBDC provides free counseling to entrepreneurs who are planning or operating small businesses.

Services available include:

  • One-on-one, confidential counseling by qualified professionals;
  • A variety of learning opportunities, including workshops, classes, online assistance, publications and other resources;
  • Connections to other service providers, federal, state and local resources, sources of capital, and similar small-business assistance.

Learn more here. 

IASourceLink

IASourceLink is the premier online resource connecting entrepreneurs and small businesses to more than 320 resource providers across Iowa. IASourceLink benefits for small businesses include:

IASourceLink is brought to you by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) in collaboration with MyEntre.Net at the University of Northern Iowa. 

Advance Iowa

Advance Iowa is the State of Iowa’s comprehensive consulting program designed to work with mid sized companies to enhance their growth. It is often lonely at the top for business owners, we are here to be a third party sounding board and trusted advisor. Advance Iowa assists firms in overcoming their obstacles and helps to identify new opportunities.

Learn more about Advance Iowa here.

The University of Iowa's John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC)

JPEC is committed to being a national leader in teaching and supporting innovation and entrepreneurial development. They're proud to play an important role in the development of Iowa-based technology and high-growth start-up companies.

Learn more about JPEC here. 

East Central Iowa Score Chapter 0227

Score serves the counties of Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Cedar, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Fayette, Howard, Iowa, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Keokuk, Washington and Winneshiek. SCORE offers free and confidential mentoring to help entrepreneurs start, grow and fix their small business. Learn more here.

 

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