This distinctive, cutting-edge program guides entrepreneurs through business development activities to discover their individual interests and goals and develop a business that is structured around their existing life and supports. You can read more about these extraordinary individuals on our SBDC Entrepreneurs page.
Similar to a small business incubator, the Small Business Development Center provides a framework with measurable benchmarks as entrepreneurs go through five phases of business development: Discovery, Business Feasibility & Benefits Planning, Launch/Start-Up, Ongoing Support, and Exit/Retirement.
While each phase is structured and has specific activities that all entrepreneurs complete, the way each entrepreneur utilizes each activity differs on a case-by-case basis. Small Business staff assist entrepreneurs through this process, offering individualized assistance tailored to each, unique business. Taking into consideration an entrepreneur’s level of support outside of Small Business staff, the ultimate goal is for entrepreneurs to “graduate” from the program and continue running their business.
Ability Now’s Small Business Development Center is proud to collaborate with Maker’s Paradise, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes community engagement through diverse art and training programs and services for emerging artists and makers. The Maker’s Paradise gallery is currently closed due to COVID-19, but they have launched an online gallery and marketplace, which currently features several of the entrepreneurs in the Small Business Development Center. Maker’s Paradise is located @ 1790 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709.
