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ASHEVILLE —Mountain BizWorks is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2021 cohort of established area small businesses with strong growth opportunities. Cohort 10 will begin March 23 and will include 6 Core Concept Sessions, small group breakout sessions, a Kick-Off Event, and a culminating Demo Day Event.

In advance of this year’s cohort, Mountain BizWorks is hosting the ScaleUp Trailblazing Workshop Series. This virtual series is open to any entrepreneur wanting to bring a ScaleUp strategy and mentality to their 2021. It will also include a preview of the full ScaleUp Cohort 10 Program.

Workshop Series Dates:

  • Wednesday, February 3, 6pm – 8pm
  • Monday, February 15, 2pm – 4pm
  • Thursday, February 18, 10am – 12pm

Since its launch in 2015, ScaleUp WNC has served 9 cohorts comprising 125 WNC companies. The program has benefited a diverse group of participants as two-thirds have been rural-based, women-owned, minority-owned, and/or veteran-owned businesses. Participants have also hailed from all corners of WNC from Sparta to Asheville to Robbinsville. ScaleUp provides targeted growth strategy development and implementation assistance to existing Western North Carolina small business owners with a compelling opportunity for expansion.

“With the pandemic projected to be contained by later this year, we believe now is an important time for small businesses to be planning and positioning for the post-Covid environment,” explains Matthew Raker, Executive Director of Mountain BizWorks. “With this new cohort, we will be moving from today’s resiliency into tomorrow’s opportunities.”

Applications for the 2021 ScaleUp program are being accepted online through February 21, 2021, with up to 15 regionally headquartered businesses to be accepted into the program, starting this March.

The Cohort is selected through a highly-competitive, merit-based process, which is confidentially reviewed by an experienced selection panel. Those accepted will receive over 60 hours of training, mentoring, and networking to scale their company in the Spring accelerator.

Learn More and apply at ScaleUpWNC.com.