Boulder Sbdc Foundation

BOULDER SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (SBDC) IS A HANDS-ON, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS ASSISTANCE NONPROFIT WHOSE MISSION IS TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH AND RESILIENCY OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN BOULDER COUNTY BY PROVIDING FREE BUSINESS CONSULTING, PRACTICAL WORKSHOPS & EVENTS AND CONNECTION TO RESOURCES, INCLUDING FINANCING. THE SBDC HELPS ALL TYPES OF SMALL BUSINESSES - FROM STARTUPS THROUGH 2ND STAGE, FROM MAIN STREET THROUGH HIGHLY SCALABLE TECHNOLOGY VENTURES.

CORE MAIN STREET BUSINESSESTHE CORE SBDC PROGRAM FOCUSES ON SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE COUNTY - RETAIL, RESTAURANTS AND SERVICE BUSINESSES - WHAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEFINES AS SECONDARY EMPLOYERS (GREATER THAN 50% OF THEIR REVENUE COME FROM OUTSIDE THE AREA). WE SUPPORT THE GROWTH AND RESILIENCY OF THESE SMALL BUSINESSES PROVIDING FREE BUSINESS CONSULTING, PRACTICAL, LOW-COST OR FREE WORKSHOPS, AND CONNECTION TO RESOURCES, INCLUDING FINANCING. ENTREPRENEURSHIP SERIES ARE PRODUCED TO HELP STARTUPS. SPECIAL PROGRAMMING (I.E. CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES FAIR) IS PRODUCE ANNUALLY TO PROVIDE NEW REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES. CONSULTING IS PROVIDED BY THE CENTER STAFF AS WELL AS BY A LARGE POOL OF CONTRACT SPECIALIST CONSULTANTS.

COLORADO EMERGING VENTURESCOLORADO EMERGING VENTURES (CEV) IS A TARGETED CONSULTING AND EDUCATION PROGRAM DEVELOPED TO ASSIST SCALABLE PRE- AND POST-REVENUE BUSINESSES THAT ARE POISED FOR HIGH GROWTH - INCLUDING BIOTECH, IT, AEROSPACE, CLEANTECH, OUTDOOR AND NATURAL PRODUCTS AND OTHER KEY INDUSTRIES. CEVS SIGNATURE PROGRAM IS THE TECH VENTURE ACCELERATOR (TVX), A COHORT PROGRAM TO HELP ACCELERATE THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF BOULDERS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY BUSINESSES.DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ACCELERATORS AND INCUBATORS, THE FOCUS IS ON NON-DILUTIVE CAPITAL SOURCES FOR SMALL INNOVATIVE BUSINESSES (WHERE THE COMPANY DOES NOT GIVE UP OWNERSHIP), INCLUDING SBIR/STTR GRANTS, FEDERAL R&D TAX CREDITS AND SUPPORT FOR TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION TO GET TO MARKET FASTER. AFTER PILOTING CEV/TVX LOCALLY FOR SEVERAL YEARS, THE PROGRAM EXPANDED STATEWIDE AS THE COLORADO SBDC TECHSOURCE. IT SUPPORTS THE LAUNCH AND GROWTH OF COLORADO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY VENTURES-STARTUP THROUGH SECOND STAGE-WITH SPECIALIZED CONSULTING, ACCELERATOR PROGRAMS, WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS - WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

COVID-19 ASSISTANCE FOR BOULDER COUNTY SMALL BUSINESSESPROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO SMALL BUSINESSES IN BOULDER COUNTY TO OVERCOME THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC ON THEIR BUSINESSES. STARTING ON MARCH 13, 2020, THE CENTER PULLED TOGETHER ITS STAFF, ITS CONTRACT CONSULTANTS AND PRESENTERS AND ITS BOARD MEMBERS TO PLAN IMMEDIATE AND LONGER-TERM, RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THE CENTER TEAM WORKED WITH ITS STRATEGIC PARTNERS ON THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS (COUNTY AND MUNICIPALITIES, CHAMBERS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRY ORGANIZATIONS, ALL FUNDING RESOURCES) TO COLLABORATE AND MINIMIZE DUPLICATE EFFORTS, ALL IN SUPPORT OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. COVID RELIEF CONSULTING ASSISTANCE - THE CENTER BUILT A TEAM OF 12 CONSULTANTS (4 SPANISH-SPEAKING) PLUS OUR CENTER STAFF (4) TO ASSIST WITH 1)NAVIGATING THE CARES ACT AND OTHER STATE AND LOCAL GRANT/LOAN RELIEF PROGRAMS, 2) TO UNDERSTAND COLORADO UNEMPLOYMENT OPTIONS FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES (AS THEY MADE DECISIONS ABOUT LAYOFFS) AND 3)TO FIND WAYS TO KEEP THEIR BUSINESS SOLVENT DURING THE PANDEMIC (REDUCING FINANCIAL COSTS AND INCREASING REVENUE SOURCES), IN ADDITION TO JUST BEING A SOUNDING BOARD TO RELIEVE THE STRESS OF THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC. BOULDER COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES - THE CENTER DEVELOPED AND MAINTAINS A WEBPAGE OF CURRENT FUNDING SOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. THE SOURCES INCLUDE FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, MUNICIPAL, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES, AND IN-KIND ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. THE INFORMATION FOR THE FUNDING SOURCES IS MADE AVAILABLE IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR UNDERREPRESENTED BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUR COMMUNITIES.