A new website launched by Ten at the Top to connect entrepreneurs with business resources across the Upstate was introduced to Anderson County entrepreneurs at a recent meeting of The Brew.
StartGrowUpstate.com includes information on funding sources, business plans, training and other programs for new business owners. The site also includes information on individuals, events and almost 100 organizations that offer entrepreneurial assistance and networking opportunities.
“As Board Chair of Ten at the Top and a business owner, I know the importance of being able to locate resources needed to start and grow an Upstate business,” said Terence Roberts, owner of Terence Roberts State Farm Insurance, in a Ten at the Top press release announcing the new website. “This innovative platform will provide the resources our local entrepreneurs, small business and entrepreneur service providers need to thrive.”
The online platform is user-friendly for entrepreneurs at all stages and generates available resources through specific search terms or by navigation through the Explore, Programs, Organizations or Events pages.
Searches can be filtered by various characteristics to ensure that resources are based on individual needs. For example, filters can include: Type of founder, such as veteran or underserved; Type of industry; and Type of resource needed.
The website also includes a page dedicated to funding where resources for Hispanic entrepreneurs, artists, high impact, micro and main street founders are listed.
Types of funding include angel investors, accounts receivable, crowdfunding and loans from non-traditional lenders.
Start GrowUpstate.com also is a tool for those who assist business owners with day-to-day operations, such as accountants, real estate professionals and outsourcing groups.
“Connecting entrepreneurs to available resources has long been a focus of Ten at the Top’s Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem,” said Ten at The Top Executive Director Dean Hybl. “The solution was found in EcoMap, an online platform model utilizing technology to make it easy to find and promote resources and build strong entrepreneurial communities.”
