About The Stamford Hub
The Stamford Hub is a joint effort between the Stamford Innovation Center and The Business Council of Fairfield County. The hub meets the needs of two significantly underserved constituencies – start-ups and small growth businesses, “stage 2″ – by addressing structural deficiencies identified to impede business formation and growth in Fairfield County.
The Stamford Innovation Center
Provides a welcoming environment to encourage the growth of startups. Offering:
- Coworking space where entrepreneurs have access to startup advisors, a mentor network, and experienced service providers
- Personal support to help entrepreneurs connect with the right services, programs, and individuals to help them gain a competitive advantage
- Education and accelerator programs to help jumpstart businesses
- Networking opportunities—often several per week—featuring great speakers on a wide variety of topics
- Access to financial communities of local VCs and angel investing groups looking for attractive, proprietary investment opportunities. We help startups understand how to present ideas to investors in a manner that will make them want to hear more.
Startup Company Advisors review your business and goals, helping you tackle a range of challenges and identify valuable resources. In addition, they:
- Talk through your idea and help you validate it as a business
- Work to help you prepare, justify and sell that story
- Help determine who you should tell the story to — and when
- Help you make connections to mentors and programs
- Keep you apprised of new sources of funding and events across Connecticut
Mentors are experienced entrepreneurs or investors who contribute their time, wisdom and energy to our startup community. Mentors:
- Provide specific actionable advice
- Link startups to other Mentors that can add value
- Adopt at least one company every single year
- Expect nothing in return
Business Council of Fairfield County
Growth Company Advisory Services - The Business Council of Fairfield County is the lead resource for small growth businesses – those that have been in business at least one year, have less than 100 employees and are planning or achieving at least 15% annual revenue growth. Some instances where we can help:
- Mentoring – As a relatively new CEO or President, you may have never led a rapid transformation or growth phase and would like to have an experienced mentor help guide your way and work with you to develop your plan, identify likely obstacles and help you reach out to the venture community for additional funding. We can help by referring you to qualified members of the Innovation Ecosystem mentor network.
- Prototyping/Testing – If you need to prototype or test a new product or service but don’t really have the operating funds or connections needed to rapidly develop your concept, we can help you find a prototype lab or research firm that can quickly address your needs.
- Process or Systems Improvement – If you need to add new systems and processes to accommodate planned growth for a new contract, we can help you find experts who have done similar work and assist you in possibly obtaining funding to help you afford the investment.
- Finding New Service Providers – As your company is growing, you realize you may need additional accounting, legal or banking support, or other resources, but you are not sure who to reach out to. We can help with referrals to regional leaders and subject matter experts.
Contact
Janis Collins, Stamford Innovation Center
[email protected]
Gary Breitbart, Business Council of Fairfield County
[email protected]