These small yet impactful gestures will not only set up startups for success, but also serve as the beginning of a mutually beneficial relationship moving forward. Simple steps - such as introducing an entrepreneur to investors you’ve worked with in the past or featuring a startup in a company blog post - can help bring local startups some much-needed attention. Leverage your network to spread the word about specific startups. Designed to highlight women-led startup business opportunities, WCC helps prevent a lack of funding from becoming a barrier to great ideas while empowering women along the way.Įven if you’re not in position to support local startups yourself, there’s still a way to get them the help they need.
While mentorship is invaluable, an influx of cash also stands to provide businesses with the flexibility and opportunity needed to continue innovating.Įnsure you’re investing in the most promising startups by joining a network of accredited angel investors, such as Women’s Capital Connection (WCC). If a startup’s growth trajectory is particularly impressive, consider opening up your checkbook. More than 60 percent of angel investors live outside of Silicon Valley, New York and Boston. coasts have traditionally served as hotbeds of angel investing, they aren’t the only areas in need of funding. Whether it’s offering feedback on pitch ideas or outlining next steps for an upcoming product launch, there’s no limit to the ways in which you can help startups in your community.Īlthough the U.S. Check out the organization’s Kansas City community to learn how you can start supporting local entrepreneurs. Techstars is one example of the many accelerator programs that are bringing startups and mentors together.
Interested in offering up your expertise and experience? Reach out to startups directly or partner with an organization, such as a startup incubator or entrepreneurship networks, that can match you with a startup in need of some advice. Seventy percent of small business owners who receive mentoring keep their company open for five years or more – twice the rate of those who aren’t connected with a mentor. In today’s highly competitive startup landscape, mentorship is essential to staying afloat.
Better yet, a more robust startup scene can help pave the way for economic growth that will benefit the surrounding community for years to come.įrom becoming a mentor to offering funding, explore the ways in which you can help entrepreneurs find success while also advancing your organization and the local community. However, those who donate just a little bit of time and money can help startups get off the ground while also reaping potential dividends along the way.Īccess to new networks of potential partners along with fresh perspectives on industry issues are just a few of the many perks executives stand to gain from helping startups. It can be easy for industry leaders to lose sight of where they started or how they might inspire those who hope to achieve similar success. Amazon, for example, was started in Jeff Bezos’ garage before becoming the most valuable company on the planet earlier this year. But behind most success stories are humble beginnings. The world’s largest companies are often associated with high-rise offices and massive workforces.
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