Small business funding and resources.
Get the resources and funding your new business needs – accelerate growth and success! Discover the small business funding and resources available right here at YBI.
Our value-added services mean success for startups and entrepreneurs.
JUMPSTART ENTREPRENEURS TOOLKIT
Use our in-depth guides to create financial forecasts and pitch investors. Benefit from our time-tested templates for customer discovery and go-to-market strategy. Unlock a library of resources to make your entrepreneurship journey a success.
From beginning to end – initial business plan concept to handling grant applications – YBI has you covered.
GREAT ADVICE FROM YCOMBINATOR
YCombinator is a startup fund and program that provides resources to support small business owners throughout the life of their company. Head to the YCombinator YouTube channel to check out some helpful videos about everything YCombinator does!
EVERYONE GETS A MENTOR
We make sure that every entrepreneur is assigned an entrepreneur-in-residence (EIR). This mentorship opportunity and unique small business program helps develop a top-notch pitch deck, raise funds, hire key team members, and set (and achieve) milestones critical to success. Managing a business, commercialization, or grant application process can be challenging, but our mentors are ready and waiting to help!
ACCESS TO A SHARED NETWORK
As part of the Northeast Ohio Entrepreneurial Signature Program (funded by the Ohio Third Frontier Program), the YBI has access to a network of small business grant programs and many other loan/grant funding options. These organizations are all after the same goal — growing your ideas, creating jobs, and fostering wealth in our communities.
DEVELOPING AN EPIC PITCH
Yikes! The thought of securing federal grant opportunities from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can be overwhelming. But, it’s often an essential part of growth for American businesses in need of investors.
We’ll work with you to create a pitch deck to pursue opportunities for working capital and meet their eligibility requirements. Use the expertise of our team to get honest feedback and develop a superior presentation that gets you the business financing you need.
MARKET VALIDATION STUDIES
Your startup might sound good on paper, but is it a viable for-profit business idea? Will it actually be profitable? Conducting a market validation study answers these questions by determining if there is a need for your product while flushing out your target demographics and providing product feedback.
IN-HOUSE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
Being self-employed doesn’t mean you have to go it alone! Our in-house team of technical experts — including developers, designers, and engineers — is ready to help you on your next project!
BOOKKEEPING + ACCOUNTING
Any business, nonprofit organization, or for-profit company can struggle with bookkeeping. If you’re not familiar with business credit scores, interest rates, or handling credit cards, we have in-house accountants who offer basic bookkeeping and accounting support for little to no cost.
MARKETING + COMMUNICATIONS
Our in-house marketing and communications director is ready to help develop your marketing strategy and connect you with local marketing firms to build your brand presence.
INTROS TO MOVERS + SHAKERS
Sometimes, it’s who you know. Our extensive list of internal and external networks allows us to make high-level introductions to customers and investors. You don’t need to solely rely on federal government agencies or small business loan programs that may or may not offer grants or other funding. Small business development centers like ours can introduce you to those who can help!
USER INTERFACE + USER EXPERIENCE TESTING
Your product’s visual appearance and usability are two key components of a great website. Use our focus groups to test your website and provide feedback on its user experience and overall feel.
STUDENT WORKER ASSISTANCE
Portfolio companies can apply for partially- or fully-subsidized student workers based on their location and level of engagement with the YBI. This program is project-based, funding-dependent, available only to clients in good standing, and not guaranteed. For more information, please contact [email protected].
HUBSPOT FOR STARTUPS
As a “HubSpot for Startups” incubator, we’ve partnered with HubSpot to offer up to a 90 percent discount on marketing and sales tools to increase leads, accelerate sales, and streamline your customer service.
MICROSOFT BIZSPARK PARTNERS
YBI has access to codes for startup entities to become BizSpark clients, which delivers access to Microsoft programs, OS downloads, tools for software development, and so much more!
LEADFEEDER
LeadFeeder software utilizes Google Analytics to show you what prospects and customers do on your website so you can convert them into high-value leads. Even better, it integrates with your CRM and email marketing tools to increase your sales intelligence.