Venture Jobs Foundation

Spring is the perfect time to refresh your business strategy. Our latest guide, "Spring Clean Your Business – 5 Simple Strategies for Growth," offers actionable insights to help you streamline operations, optimize financial planning, and revamp your brand—all in one simple resource. ? Want to see how small changes can make a big impact? Read the full guide at https://lnkd.in/eK-Dz9e7. https://lnkd.in/e-jei2Nv #SmallBusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #BusinessStrategy #SpringCleanYourBusiness #BusinessTips #EntrepreneurTips #SpringForward

?? Seeking funding for your business? Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with financial experts and lenders at Fund Your Business Future: The Ultimate Financial Matchmaking Event! ??SUNY Brockport Downtown, REOC Building ??? Thursday, March 20, 2025 ???4:00 PM - 7:30 PM Join us for invaluable insights and connections for entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to secure funding and drive growth. Event Highlights: ??Panel discussion featuring grant experts from Monroe County, KIVA/City of Rochester, KH-MPH Consulting, and Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Rochester ??Lender pairings with financial institutions ??Funding focus circles and small business growth strategies ??Network with key decision-makers, discover new funding opportunities, and take the next step toward your business goals. Register to join us next week seats are filling up! https://lnkd.in/eNzBTXbV #SmallBusinessFunding #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #NetworkingEvent #RochesterBusiness #FundYourFuture #RochesterNY #SmallBusinessRoc #RocNY #upstateny #businessfunding #businesstips

Join us for The Ultimate Financial Matchmaking Event — your gateway to grants, loans, and expert advice to help your business soar! Thursday, March 20, 2025 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM SUNY Brockport Downtown | REOC Building ? Panel discussion on grants with experts from Monroe County, KIVA/City of Rochester, KH-MPH Consulting, and more ? 1-on-1 lender pairings with financial institutions ? Small business growth strategies and networking opportunities Don’t miss this chance to connect with lenders, gain expert insights, and fuel your business success! Secure your spot now at: #RochesterNY #SmallBusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurLife #FundYourFuture #BusinessMatchmaking #GrantsAndLoans #RochesterEvents

Are you a small business owner looking to fund your next stage of growth but feeling lost on where to begin? You’re not alone! TOMORROW (MARCH 5TH), we're walking you through everything you need to know about securing business funding, including: ?? The different types of financing (grants, loans, equity & more!) ?? The types of loans available & which one fits your business ?? How to prepare before meeting a lender ?? How to leverage local resources & ecosystem partners ??? When: March 5 | 10 AM - 11:30 AM (Virtual) ?? Where: Online via Zoom (registration required) Business First Wednesdays is designed for aspiring & current business owners looking to gain clarity, resources, and expert guidance to fund and grow their businesses. ?? Register today: Call 585.428.8106 or email [email protected] ?? More details here: https://lnkd.in/eUMCYm3G #SmallBusinessFunding #EntrepreneurSuccess #BusinessGrowth #FundingYourDream #RochesterBusiness #BusinessResources #EntrepreneurSupport #rochesterny

Get ready for Fund Your Business Future: The Ultimate Financial Matchmaking Event — where connections turn into opportunities and financial doors open! ??? Thursday, March 20, 2025 ?? 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM ?? SUNY Brockport Downtown | REOC Building, Rochester, NY Brockport Small Business Development Center ?? Face-to-face lender matchups with financial institutions ?? Expert panel on grants featuring: ??Monroe County ? KIVA/City of Rochester ??KH-MPH Consulting and more ?? Funding focus circles + networking opportunities Whether you’re launching a startup or scaling your business, this event is designed to fuel your financial future. Save your spot today! https://lnkd.in/eKF-M2Fs #BusinessNetworking #FundYourFuture #RochesterEvents #SmallBizSupport #Entrepreneurship #BusinessConnections #businesslending #rochesterny #rochesterbusinessowner #smallbusinessrochester

Business First Wednesdays are for aspiring or current business owners and is brought to you by the Business Insight Center of the Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County and the SUNY Brockport Small Business Development Center. To register, please call the Business Insight Center at 585.428.8106, contact [email protected] or see below. This program is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the US Small Business Administration. Services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. PLEASE NOTE: Once registered, the Zoom link will be emailed to you from Business Insight the day before the event. This series is in an online only format. SEAP attendees must contact us beforehand and sign into the program with their name in order to qualify to have their form confirmed. https://lnkd.in/eUMCYm3G

"You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room, but you do have to be the one who never gives up." – Sara Blakely ???? Success isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about resilience, persistence, and the willingness to keep going when others stop. The entrepreneurs who win aren’t always the ones with the perfect plan; they’re the ones who refuse to quit. ?? Keep learning. Keep pushing. Keep showing up. Your breakthrough is on the other side of perseverance. ??? #MotivationMonday #KeepGoing #EntrepreneurMindset #SuccessMindset #NeverGiveUp

? Here’s How Your Local Café Fuels More Than Just Coffee! That cup of coffee you grab every morning? It’s more than just a caffeine fix. When you support a local café, you’re fueling something much bigger—the heartbeat of your community. Small businesses, especially neighborhood cafés, play a vital role in keeping local economies strong, fostering human connection, and supporting other small businesses. ? Here’s how your local café makes a bigger impact than you think: 1?? They create jobs & boost the local economy ???? – Small businesses, like cafés, provide employment for baristas, bakers, and local suppliers, keeping money circulating within the community. 2?? They bring people together & build a sense of belonging ??? – Cafés aren’t just for coffee; they’re gathering spaces for meetings, friendships, and creative inspiration. They fuel ideas, conversations, and human connection. 3?? They support other small businesses ???? – Many local cafés source ingredients from nearby farms, partner with independent bakeries, and collaborate with local artists, strengthening the entire small business ecosystem. When you shop locally, you’re investing in real people, real dreams, and real impact. Your morning coffee fuels far more than your day—it fuels an entire community. ?? Tag your favorite café or coffee shop below and show them some love! Let’s give local businesses the recognition they deserve. ?? #SupportSmallBusiness #ShopLocal #CommunityImpact #LocalCafe #SmallBizLove #supportlocalbusiness #rochesterny #rocny #coffeeshop #rochestercafe

?? Ready to Take Your Business to the Next Level? Here’s How Microloans Can Help! ?? Small business owners, we get it—growing a business isn’t easy when funding is limited. That’s where microloans come in! ?? These small but mighty loans can be the game-changer you need to boost cash flow, hire your first employee, invest in new equipment, or take your business online. ?? Did you know? Businesses that leverage microloans often see higher growth rates and better financial stability than those relying solely on personal savings or high-interest credit cards. Swipe through to see 10 powerful ways microloans can fuel YOUR business growth! ?? ?? Have you ever considered a microloan for your business? Message us at [email protected] to learn more about how we can help your business grow and scale! #SmallBusinessFunding?#Microloans?#EntrepreneurGrowth?#BusinessTips?#StartupSuccess?#FundingYourFuture?#SmallBizHelp

Thank you to the change-makers, connectors, founders, small business owners, thought leaders, wealth creators, and community builders! You are the ones who saw potential where others saw obstacles. Your presence and contributions at this week’s Economic Development Summit at ARTISANworks & Events has sparked real, positive change, bringing us all together to build a thriving economy that works for everybody in Rochester. We are deeply grateful for your unwavering dedication to strengthening our local business ecosystem and community, amplifying diverse voices, and fostering sustainable growth for all. Your commitment was key to the success of this event—and this is just the beginning! Here’s a sneak peek at some moments captured from the panels and sessions—co-creation in action! Stay tuned for full recap videos, additional photos, and highlights showcasing the impact we made together over the two-day summit. A huge thank you to our partner, Venture Jobs Foundation for truly embodying the change we want to see by collaborating with us to organize and launch this incredible Summit! We’d also like to express our heartfelt gratitude and give special shoutouts to the organizations whose support made the Summit a success. A huge thank you to the incredible individuals behind these organizations—you're true creators of empowerment, prosperity, and lasting impact through co-creation! Citizens Community Bank, N.A. 105.5 The Beat ESL Federal Credit Union University of Rochester Third Eye Network https://lnkd.in/eq2UdEs6 Rochester Area Community Foundation Councilmember Michael Patterson RIT's Center for Urban Entrepreneurship Certainty Analytical Labs ???? Lyneir Richardson The Chicago TREND Corporation Andy Stoll at Ecosystem Building Leadership Network The Commissary Connected Communities Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Rochester, Inc The Department of Neighborhood and Business Development Commissioner at City of Rochester Strategic Resource Development and Grant Management at Monroe Community College The Enterprise Center at PathStone Ibero American Action League www.G-FORCEusa.com Greater Rochester NY Black Agenda Group www.gviiibarbershop.com www.https://www.mappinc.org WHEC-TV News10NBC https://lnkd.in/ee4fm72y RochesterWorks www.sewncity.com Brockport Small Business Development Center U.S. Small Business Administration Buffalo District https://lnkd.in/gesyZkE7 Empire State Development Intivity Inc. Inspire Improv and Coaching Inc