Ashtabula, OH- YBI is expanding their services to Ashtabula County with the addition of a new Business Program Coordinator, Ginny Pasha, who will work directly with entrepreneurs to support small business development in the eastern corridor of Ohio through the Lake to River Small Business Success (L2RSBS) program.

Back in March, the Youngstown Business Incubator received $1.35 million from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to support small business development in Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, Ashtabula, Jefferson, Belmont and Monroe Counties. This award was part of a $21 million package supporting 21 projects serving 211 coal-impacted counties through ARC’s POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative. POWER targets federal resources to communities affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries. Additional support for L2RSBS is provided by the State of Ohio, the Veale Foundation, and local philanthropy.   

The L2RSBS program will assist emerging and small business development in Ashtabula County through services including: entrepreneurial counseling, contract procurement, loan packaging assistance, business management, accounting principles, networking opportunities, marketing strategy, and completing federal/state certification process.

According to Barbara Ewing, CEO of YBI, expanding their services to Ashtabula County will enable YBI to meet the demand for small business assistance. “Working with our partners, this program will strengthen the recovery of the local economy by assisting small businesses in accessing capital, pursuing procurement opportunities, developing business plans, adopting advanced technologies (in both manufacturing and non-manufacturing settings), and supporting startups.” 

A key component of the L2RSBS program is to assist small businesses in securing Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Economic Dividends for Gender Equality (EDGE) certifications. Certifications are the mechanism by which the state diversifies its supply chain.

Ginny Pasha will serve as the new Business Program Coordinator for the L2RSBS program in Ashtabula county. Pasha has been a non-profit leader for many years working for Junior Achievement, Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates at the state level, Youth Employability Solutions and for the last 18 years, United Way.  Along the way, Pasha also worked for YSU on their school-to-work program.  

Through her work, Pasha has focused on education and financial literacy programming. She serves on several state and local boards and committees and is currently the Vice-Chairperson of the Ohio United Way board. Pasha is a graduate of Youngstown State University and lives in Kinsman Ohio with her husband, Rob.  

“The position with YBI is a perfect fit for where I am in my career,” says Pasha. “Prior to United Way, each of the agencies I’ve worked with have included Ashtabula County, so I’m excited about working with the people in Ashtabula County again to help small companies grow and thrive”.   

Pasha is currently working to set up Business Assistance Centers throughout Ashtabula County.  In the meantime, however, please contact her at gpasha@ybi.org to schedule an appointment.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Jessica Boccio had tried everything on the market for her two young children (then ages 2 and 4) who were both suffering from eczema at the time. After numerous doctor visits and several steroid creams later, she took matters into her own hands. 

“They all said the same thing: they have it really bad, some kids grow out of it. Hopefully yours will too, here is another cream,” says Jessica. 

Four years ago, she began researching the ingredients in the products she purchased for her family, hired a Holistic Naturopath and hasn’t looked back since. 

Jessica dove into the research, from chemicals within the products in her home to the foods they were eating, cleaning products, toothpastes, bar soaps, body lotions, and shampoos. It all had to go. This is when the first part of Four The Greater Good was born; a marketplace where all products are non-toxic. 

After visiting a store in NYC that was zero waste, she began making similar changes at home. The more research she did, the more she noticed the brands that didn’t use chemicals were also concerned with removing plastic from their products.

This is when the second piece of Four The Greater Good was born. A marketplace with non-toxic products that are plastic free.  

The third piece of Four The Greater Good came later. After learning about the environmental damage caused by harvesting of palm oil, (one of the key ingredients in popular laundry detergents) part 3 of 4 The Greater Good came in; the ingredients in the products need to be sustainably harvested. 

The fourth and final piece of Four The Greater Good: products must be ethically made and makers must be paid fairly. 

“It takes so much time and effort to find products you can trust, made by people who are doing the right thing. It matters,” she says. “That’s why we created Four The Greater Good, an online marketplace where all of this research is done for you.”

It is Four The Greater Good’s mission to sell you nothing that harms the planet, the people who buy them, or the people who make them.

One of their most popular products is Meliora laundry powder; an all natural, chemical fragrance free, palm oil free powder that comes in a recyclable cardboard canister. No chemicals, no plastic, and not shipping water. 

“Good people, good products, good companies, good ideas,” says Jessica. “We research the products we carry, the ingredients within them, the brands behind them, and sustainability of the ingredients they contain, the way the makers are paid. Then, and only then will we offer those products made by brands who are doing things Four The Greater Good.”

Want to be a part of the change you want to see in the world? You can help support Four The Greater Good’s mission by: 

Shop 4TGG’s Products

Read 4TGG’s Blog

The post Youngstown Startup Aims To Change The Way Consumers Shop appeared first on YBI.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Local and regional entrepreneurs will have a chance to earn prize money to fund their business ideas at the 3rd Annual “Shark Tank” pitch competition and fundraising event hosted by the Youngstown Business Incubator and sponsored by Leonard J. Fisher Family, Vince & Phyllis Bacon, and Medical Mutual of Ohio.

The event is a take on the popular television show where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of “sharks.” The YBI version will see regional startups giving elevator pitches to a panel of six local and regional entrepreneurs. The event is scheduled for Thursday, October 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center.

The process “is very similar to what you would see on the show,” said Corey Patrick, Director of Evolve Technology Entrepreneurship for the YBI. “This year, we really took a step back and looked at the clients we were serving and wanted to do an event that represented all of our programs,” he said. “This is about showcasing the different opportunities, programs and services YBI offers.”

Applications are now open for this year’s event and can be found at ybi.org/sharktank. 

Last year’s applicants were “extremely diverse,” said Colleen Kelly, YBI Senior Director of Organizational Advancement, which “makes for a great evening of innovation and amazing stories.”

The event is open to anyone with a business idea, says Patrick. “We really want great entrepreneurs in every spectrum,” he said, “technology, women- and minority-owned businesses, as well as unique sectors like social enterprise companies.” 

To make it a truly regional effort, the YBI invited its partner organizations in areas like Cleveland, Lorain, Kent and Akron to promote the event to their local entrepreneurs. the intent to showcase the entrepreneurial talent in the northeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania region. 

After the applications are collected, an internal committee of business owners and YBI entrepreneurs-in-residence will review them to determine the final businesses to be featured at the event.

“They’ll actually get some business counseling as well just for putting themselves out there,” Patrick said. “We will work with the entrepreneurs to polish their pitch and get them ready for the event.”

During the event, the selected group of entrepreneurs will deliver 90-second pitches to the panel of sharks, who will select a winner to receive the “Shark’s Choice” along with a $5,000 prize to invest in their idea. Audience members will also vote to and name the “Audience’s Choice,” which will also receive a $5,000 prize.

Prize money is made possible by support from the event’s sponsors, The Leonard J. Fisher Family, Vince & Phyllis Bacon, and Medical Mutual of Ohio. 

“This event is all about opening doors for people, whether it is making professional connections or getting that crucial piece of funding,” says Luke Politsky, Director of Development at the YBI. “Providing more of these types of opportunities strengthens our economy and community.”

The event is open for anyone to attend. Tickets are $100 each or $800 for a table of eight, and can be purchased at YBI.org/sharktank or by calling 330 506 0054. Proceeds will support programming and services at the YBI, which are offered free of charge to startups. 

For sponsorship and advertising opportunities in the program booklet, contact Megan Payich at mpayich@ybi.org, Luke Politsky at lpolitsky@ybi.org or Colleen Kelly at ckelly@ybi.org.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Youngstown Business Incubator announced the six “sharks” that will serve on the panel at the 3rd Annual Shark Tank Event October 6 at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center: Ray Mancini, Entrepreneur and Boxing Legend, Ellen Tressel, Philanthropist, Herb Washington, CEO/Founder of HLW Fast Track Inc., Lenny Fisher, CEO Handel’s Homemade Ice cream & Yogurt, Lena Esmail, Owner/CEO QUICKmed Urgent Care, and Tom Stabi, Senior Advisor, SSB.

The event is a local take on the ABC show “Shark Tank,” where entrepreneurs give brief pitches to a panel of investors. In YBI’s version, startups will pitch their idea to the panel of ‘sharks,’ announced at the VIP Launch Party held at Penguin City Beer last night. “Our sharks each have their own area of expertise and interests which will make for a great panel,” said YBI’s Director of Evolve Technology Entrepreneurship, Corey Patrick, adding that the companies selected to pitch will also receive entrepreneurial counseling before pitching at the event .

Ray Mancini, entrepreneur and boxing legend, is a world champion fighter and his biography, “The Good Son” is a best-seller. He is also an actor and producer, known for Timebomb (1991), 6:45 (2021) and Who’s the Boss? (1984).

Ellen Tressel served as Vice President of Trading for Youngstown’s own Butler Wick and Company and has been an active advocate and leader for the state of Ohio throughout her adult career. She currently serves on the Boards of the Beatitude House, Mahoning Valley Historical Society, Akron Children’s Hospital Foundation, and is a “We See Tomorrow Capital Campaign” member for Youngstown State University.

Herb Washington is the CEO/Founder of HLW Fast Track Inc., identified by Black Enterprise Magazine as one of the Top 100 black owned companies for retail in the United States.

Lena Esmail is Owner/CEO QUICKmed Urgent Care, a community-oriented, locally owned, and operated urgent care here in Northeast Ohio. Since it was founded in Liberty Township in the summer of 2019, QuickMed has added five other sites – Cortland, Howland, Lake Milton, Austintown and Columbiana – and is working on expansions in Parma and Westlake near Cleveland. It also staffs in-school clinics for Youngstown City Schools.

Tom Stabi is a Senior Advisor and Business Consultant at SSB, with an emphasis on contractors, manufacturers, automotive and the food industry. He was the founder and managing partner of Stabi, Burnett & Company, which was acquired by SSB in 2019.

Lenny Fisher is CEO Handel’s Homemade Ice cream & Yogurt, named the #1 ice cream in the world by National Geographic. Fisher purchased Handel’s Ice Cream from Mrs. Alice Handel in 1985 and has grown the business into one of the top 100 franchises in the nation by Entrepreneur Magazine.

“When looking for our sharks, we asked ourselves ‘Who embodies the aspects of a true entrepreneur?’ and I believe we’ve found those people,” Patrick said. YBI’s Shark Tank Event will be held 5 to 8 p.m. at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center in Youngstown. Tickets are $100 each. Tickets, table reservations and sponsorship opportunities are available at ybi.org/sharktank/.

Have a startup idea? Apply to pitch at this year’s event at ybi.org/sharktank/.

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On average, women-owned companies grow by 84% compared to men-owned companies, growing by 78% since launching. Yet, men still account for the vast majority of business owners.

Many women are choosing to make their own paths in today’s competitive business environment. Progress has been made but inequality still exists, with women of color having to face more hardships when starting and running a business.

Female entrepreneurship in the US has been continually rising over the past decade and has seen a growth of 68% in the last year.

Despite the increased number of women-led companies, limited funding, gender biases and limited government support have kept women out of entrepreneurship for decades and these barriers still exist.

If you’re facing challenges in your entrepreneurship journey, you’re not alone. Here are some of the barriers women entrepreneurs face and some advice for overcoming them:

1. Defying Social Expectations

Most female business owners who have attended networking events can relate to this scenario: You walk into an event and can count the number of women there on one hand. 

This sort of situation can feel overwhelming and often intimidating. Some women may feel they must adopt a stereotypically “male” attitude toward business: competitive, aggressive and sometimes harsh. But when a woman exhibits these traits, they are viewed negatively. 

Don’t change your view of the world just to fit in. Remaining true to yourself and finding your own voice are the keys to rising above preconceived expectations.

By practicing confidence and rehearsing self-assurance, you’ll be equipped with the courage to step into these scenarios, take on challenges and command respect. 

“Be yourself, and have confidence in who you are,” said Tanisha Wheeler, Director of Women in Entrepreneurship. “You’re there for a reason. Don’t conform yourself to a man’s idea of what a leader should look like.” 

2. Accessing Capital

Despite the increased number of women-led companies, funding is still a huge problem. According to PitchBook,  women receive 2% less funding than their male counterparts.

“I found that women are more conservative with their numbers and don’t overstate projections,” said Wheeler. “When we pitch investors, we are often pitching realistic numbers and only asking for a portion of what we need.” 

Female entrepreneurs can raise the necessary capital for their business by learning to ask for exactly what they need, even if that means requesting more than what they want.    

Understanding this dynamic can affect how you approach your pitch. 

3. Balancing business and family life 

Parent entrepreneurs have dual responsibilities to their businesses and to their families; finding ways to devote time to both is key to achieving that work-life balance. 

For Wheeler, finding this balance means incorporating her daughter in everything she does.  

“I knew that if I wanted to achieve this balance … I would have to find a way to make time for both,” said Wheeler. “I do think the culture of work is shifting to allow women more flexibility, which is a good thing. But working for yourself will probably always allow more freedom than working for someone else. For me, the freedom allows me to make time where I’m strictly a mom.”

4. Building a support network 

A support network is essential for entrepreneurial success. I’m sure you’ve heard ‘it’s not what you know; it’s who you know.’ 

With the majority of the high-level business world still being dominated by men, it can be hard to blaze your own path and make connections in some of the more elite business networks.

Finding the right support network isn’t always easy. Some good places to start are women-focused networking events – such as WE Launch, Women in 3D Printing and Women in Entrepreneurship events. 

Once you find your network of supporters, don’t be afraid to ask for what you really need from them.  

“Ask often and be clear about what you need,” said Wheeler. “You never know who has the capacity to help. People are more likely to jump in if you are specific about what you need them to do. If you don’t ask, you won’t receive.” 

If you’re interested in building your support network:

Applications for Phase II of YBI’s Women in Entrepreneurship Accelerator: WE Launch close on May 16, 2022. Apply now at ybi.org/we-launch

The post 4 Challenges Women in Entrepreneurship Face and How to Overcome Them appeared first on YBI.

The narrative of graduating high school, attending a four-year university and accepting a well-paying job right after is not a reality for most Americans anymore. College graduates increasingly face debt with no means to pay it off because they often find it difficult to get a job.

The student debt crisis has surged 144% over the past decade, a master’s degree is the new bachelor’s degree, the unemployment rate of college graduates is higher than the total unemployment rate, yet the idea is still presented to students as if they will live a comfortable life by earning a degree. 

As more and more students are catching onto this reality, about 60% say they are more interested in someday starting their own business, according to a March 1 survey from Junior Achievement USA.  

WHY ENTREPRENEURSHIP? 

Entrepreneurship can be a great way to financial freedom, but building a successful business is hard work. 

GENERATIONAL WEALTH 

For many Americans who come from families without a long history of access to capital, building wealth for future generations can feel like an overwhelming task. But the road to wealth for your family has to start somewhere. 

Building generational wealth is important because it can mean that your children, grandchildren, and their children can at minimum get a fair chance at financial success.

SELF EFFICACY 

If an individual believes that they have the ability to achieve a goal, they are more likely to develop the intention to achieve the goal. On the other hand, if an individual believes that they do not have the ability to achieve a goal, then they will not form intentions to pursue the goal. 

Individuals develop self-efficacy over time as they obtain a variety of skills. Past achievements (e.g., mastery of a given task) reinforce self-efficacy and lead to more ambitious intentions. 

Self-efficacy can also be gained via modeling the behaviors of others through close observation, self-reflection, and social persuasion (positive feedback). If an individual performs well at a task as compared with similar others that they observe and are told they are performing well by others, they may decide that they indeed have the skills necessary to pursue the next, more challenging task. 

WHY START YOUNG? 

Today’s students face an uncertain future full of complex global and socioeconomic problems.

We don’t know what new skills and competencies will be required to thrive in tomorrow’s world-which is why our students need to be prepared for a variety of different real-world scenarios.

The earlier students are introduced to entrepreneurship, the more refined their skills will become by the time they get to high school, college, and beyond.

BILLIONAIRES WHO STARTED YOUNG 

Every successful entrepreneur got their start somewhere. Many of today’s biggest names in business were once bright-eyed young entrepreneurs

Around age 10, Elon Musk developed an interest in computer programming using a manual and sold the code of a video game he created  to a magazine for approximately $500.  At 12 years old, billionaire Mark Cuban started selling trash bags door to door. Warren Buffett got his first taste of business selling packs of gum.

The list of successful entrepreneurs goes on and on! Will your child be next?

THE LAUNCHPAD – A REALISTIC APPROACH

With the help of The Launchpad, students can learn how to become a successful entrepreneur. The Launchpad is a realistic and palatable approach to starting your own business for students ages 9-18. Register Today!

Learn the basics of: 

• Business model canvas
• Accounting
• Marketing 
• Entering the Marketplace
• Registering your business with the State

The post Not Everyone is College Bound and THAT’S OK. appeared first on YBI.