The Better Business Bureau of Phoenix and Scottsdale-based GoDaddy recently announced their partnership to launch an incubator for young businesses in the Valley.
The incubator – Ignite by BBB – will primarily target what are known as “Main Street” entrepreneurs, which are those with businesses in trades sectors. This includes HVAC, plumbing, automotive, retail, landscaping, and anything in between.
“Historically, service industry entrepreneurs are not the target audience for incubator programs which is a major reason this incubator will stand out,” Better Business Bureau representative Kimberly Roland said. “It can also be identified as a non-tech venture, although in the 21st century even the smallest businesses do have important tech components. Additionally, there will be specific tracks for women, veterans, and refugee entrepreneurs.”
As a member of the partnership, GoDaddy will provide online tools, hands-on support, and $150,000 worth of free workshops to help fuel the incubator’s 12-month pilot program. GoDaddy has been the quintessential partner for the BBB, according to Roland.
“GoDaddy’s mission of ‘radically shifting the global economy to small business’ aligns seamlessly with BBB’s focus on small business indexed heavily in service-based businesses,” Roland said. “When seeking a partner to pilot this program we could not think of a better pairing of two iconic American brands to deliver a best-in-class business incubator geared towards serving small business ventures in Arizona.”
Arizona is a hot market for entrepreneurs, according to the Kaufmann Foundation’s Indicators of Entrepreneurship. 0.39 percent of the population started a new business in 2017, which is above the national average of 0.33 percent. Additionally, 77.85 percent of Arizona-based startups remain active after one year. Because of this startup growth, incubators are becoming increasingly crucial.
“Incubators are immensely important for our community because they provide education and resources to entrepreneurs as they launch their businesses so that they can strategically, ethically, and legally grow a company,” Roland said. “Having a top-notch incubator in Phoenix geared specifically towards Main Street businesses will be an amazing asset not just for our business community but all residents who will be impacted positively by the economic development that stems from business creation and growth.”
Businesses can apply to the pilot program in September or apply for free day-passes to see the facility. Those that don’t partake in the pilot program can enjoy the other amenities, which include reliable WiFi, Cultivate coffee and tea, meeting rooms, and more.
“GoDaddy brings a wealth of knowledge, best practices, programming, and staff volunteer subject matter experts to the table in our pilot,” Roland said. “BBB Serving the Pacific Southwest is incredibly excited to forge this new partnership with Empower by GoDaddy to better serve Valley entrepreneurs.”
This story was originally published at Chamber Business News.
