Aspiring entrepreneurs in Queens can get their businesses off the ground with some free help.
The Dream Business program operated by Mashup Labs out of Bridgewater connects people dreaming of running their own business with other dreamers and mentors who have already gone down the path of taking an idea from concept to market.
Founder Andrew Button says the virtual program is run online and by phone allowing potential entrepreneurs the flexibility to participate according to their schedule.
“There’s lots of opportunity for folks maybe working a full-time job somewhere or maybe they’re engaged in other activities during the day and need to do something in the evening or maybe their evenings are busy, they need to do something over lunch hour,” said Button. “You have lots of options for folks to plug into this and again, get off the sidelines into the game of entrepreneurship.”
The program is funded from government and other sponsors allowing it to be offered free of charge.
Button says big or small, the program encourages anyone with an idea and the passion to see it through.
“Sometimes the big business ideas aren't always that obvious on the surface. We’ve seen that time and time again as we’ve invited people into this process, they come in with a hobby business and it turns into a very viable full-time opportunity that ships their products to dozens of countries around the world,” said Button. “So sometimes entrepreneurs even surprise themselves going through the process.”
Enrolment is ongoing but Button says there’s special incentive for the February 6 intake.
As a reward for taking action, anyone in that cohort is eligible to win $1,000 to help them launch their business.
Button is proud to say in 48 months over 400 people have gone through the program starting 250 companies in 200 different communities.
“There's dozens of examples we could point to of people that said, I just do this thing off the side of my desk, maybe I sell something at a local farmers market,” said Button. “And before you know it, the confidence and courage to actually turn that side hustle into their full-time gig goes through the roof when they get around other entrepreneurial people doing entrepreneurial things and get the kind support that we can offer them through the program.”
Anyone interested can apply online at www.Dreambusiness.ca.
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Twitter: @edwardhalverson
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