PIONEER VALLEY ENTREPRENEURSHIP THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES
THE WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP ECOSYSTEM Since George Washington chose Springfield as the site for the U.S. National Armory in 1777, the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts has been a hub of innovation. Agriculture, wood products, rural enterprises, metal and precision manufacturing, and colleges have all made their home in the area. Intellectual, financial, and practical networks have long linked the doers and the makers of western Massachusetts, and in recent years, organizations supporting entrepreneurs have gained traction to help everyone with great venture ideas find the best ways to bring them to life.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR EVERYBODY
The nonprofit EforAll aims to foster inclusive entrepreneurship in communities with the goal of accelerating economic and social impacts. The Holyoke, Mass., site started in 2015 as SPARK, a program of the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce; SPARK joined forces with the Lowell-based EforAll in 2018, and last year launched a Spanish-language version of the program, called EparaTodos. EforAll’s approach is predicated upon the understanding that under-networked and under-funded groups face barriers to entry into entrepreneurship, which impede their success. The organization provides would-be entrepreneurs with the three necessary components for success that they so frequently lack—business know-how, access to capital, and a professional network—by offering a year-long accelerator program twice a year, and four pitch contests. The programs are totally free, thanks to generous funders and corporate and individual donors. These three local entrepreneurs have participated in Holyoke EforAll programs: Nicole Ortiz, Crave Food Truck & Restaurant: Ortiz (pictured left) is the proud owner of Crave Food Truck, which opened in August 2020. Her delicious tacos and rice bowls made with local fresh ingredients became an instant hit in Holyoke. This business is the culmination of Ortiz’s long-time fascination with food trucks, which led her to culinary school to get her start. Like many EforAll graduates, Ortiz’s first experience with the organization was participating in a Pitch Contest, where she won first prize. In addition to her thriving food truck, Ortiz opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant that now employs 10 people. Mike Bennion, LifeBooch Kombucha: Like many entrepreneurs, Bennion started his business based on passion (in his case, a love of kombucha) and identification of a market (his neighbors wanted to buy it from him). Bennion and his partner teamed up and started slowly, brewing in a shared kitchen and, occasionally, selling small quantities at farmers’ markets. After completing EforAll, Bennion and his partner moved out of the shared kitchen and into their own 1,200-square-foot custom-built brewery, where they run LifeBooch Kombucha. They also got their wholesale license and expanded their brewing capacity from 75 gallons/month to 600 gallons/month. Jessika Rozki, Rozki Rides: Rozki was a bus driver for 15 years, but after her baby was born, she wanted to be more present in her daughter’s life. She launched Rozki Rides, a transportation service taking families to and from school and day care, and to medical appointments or sports activities. Rozki was accepted into the Winter 2020 Accelerator Cohort, where she received the support of mentors and lessons ranging from finance to marketing, allowing her to take her business to the next level. After graduating, Rozki expanded her business to work with local foster care agencies and added a second driver to her team.
Find more information at eforall.org
28 STATE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP
