Passion for better, more sustainable or more transparent products and processes inspire hard-working Chattanoogans to embrace entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs are scrappy, using every resource and spare minute to propel their business forward.
These visionaries, found everywhere from coffee shops to home offices, bolster our innovative ecosystem. But what's next when local startups outgrow those spaces? For many of them, it's a move to the INCubator in the Hamilton County Business Development Center, a program of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce.
If you're a regular Chattanooga Trend reader, you've heard about the stellar companies housed in the INCubator to take advantage of the program's enriching services and partnerships.
Since the 1980s the INCubator has been home to about 600 startups and now houses 49 businesses in industries ranging from environmental consulting and graphic design to hot sauce and candle manufacturing.
The INCubator's three to four-year program helps entrepreneurs stabilize their businesses in an environment where they increase their visibility and connectivity. Located on Chattanooga's North Shore, companies housed in the INCubator enjoy convenient access to target markets and business resources.
Competitively priced space makes the INCubator perfect for startups and small businesses in growth mode.
Leases are one-year terms renewable for up to four years. Office suites start at $11 per square foot, manufacturing suites start at $6 per square foot and small offices start at $250 per month. All manufacturing and office space rent includes utilities. Complimentary conference and meeting rooms make it easy to meet with potential clients.
Moonbeam Printing
Chattanoogans love stickers. Have you seen the cars sporting Rock Creek logos, water bottles that encourage you to “See Rock City” or laptops sporting local business logos?
Stickers and printing aren’t only for the well-hydrated and craft coffee lovers. Local businesses print more than we realize. Whether it’s a sticker or a banner for an upcoming event, it’s important to have a printing company your business can trust.
Moonbeam Printing has more than 30 years of experience. The family business is housed in the INCubator in the Hamilton County Business Development Center, printing everything from banners to keg wraps.
“I think the world is full of good people and when I run into those people it makes me want to be a better person myself,” says Moonbeam CEO Wayne Taylor. “In Chattanooga, I’ve always run into good businesses … Almost all of the businesses we’ve talked to in the area have adopted some kind of mission or charity. They get the pay it forward concept. Chattanooga businesses are the example we intend to follow.”
Your company is a great fit for the INCubator if it's an early-stage business with:
* Potential to create local jobs
* Potential to produce significant revenue in four to six years
* Intent to remain in Hamilton County
* Willingness to participate in INCubator program development courses and quarterly meetings
You'll also need:
* Executive summary and/or business plan
* For-profit business plan with three years of financial projections
* Four to six months of working capital
* Complete application for a service or manufacturing space
* Five-minute pitch to present to Entrance Committee
The INCubator partners with local programs and businesses to enrich clients housed in the space. The Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) offers INCubator clients 101 programming, weekly events and workshops, mostly free. They're located inside the Hamilton County Business Development Center alongside the INCubator, making access to their forward-looking services easy for INCubator clients.Public programming topics include:* Vision Boarding with April Corbett, Enercon Services, Jan. 8* Facts Not Feelings with Val Armstrong, American Water, Feb. 5* Small Business Finance with Tim Kelly, March 4"Open to all, our public programming introduces strong, stable business leaders into our entrepreneurial ecosystem and encourages new connections with our clients and other local startups," Baltz says.Growing a business takes a village, or at least that's what the INCubator team believes. That's why they're passionate about connecting clients with resources for each challenge of building a business legacy.The INCubator's competitively priced rent, coupled with local partnerships and programming, make it a spectacular place to house businesses as they grow.