Local business program Spark Saratoga has started a new partnership with Ureeka, a nationwide virtual community that empowers entrepreneurs.
Spark Saratoga, founded in 2017 by the Saratoga Economic Development Corp., was created to align early stage businesses with proven resources to accelerate growth. The program brings experienced business mentors, professionals, educational content and entrepreneurs together to help entrepreneurs’ bring their ideas to life.
Officials said now, Spark Saratoga is a community-based partner of Ureeka, which will provide access for area entrepreneurs and professionals to a curated network of experts.
As part of the Spark Saratoga 2.0 rollout marking its three-year anniversary, the collaboration with Ureeka will enable more efficient delivery of real time solutions for entrepreneurs and small businesses frequently struggling to find the right resource to help overcome problems in the way of their growth, according to the group.
Ureeka’s online community provides the scale and efficiency to democratize access to world-class expertise, business tools and access to capital. Spark Saratoga and its Innovate518 partners can utilize the platform to privately organize their members, facilitate conversations, make mentor connections and introduce qualified business resources.
“We are acutely aware of the needs of entrepreneurs who are seeking to grow sustainable businesses. It is not easy, and it can be lonely,” Spark Saratoga’s entrepreneur-in-residence Ryan Van Amburgh said. “We spent the last year evaluating tech-based solutions to efficiently enable collaboration, access to mentors and facilitate interactions. We found Ureeka to be the best due to its cultural match enabling open access and collaboration.”
He said Spark is especially pleased that Ureeka’s network of mentors and corporate resource partners will complement area experts in the Saratoga region.
“Spark and Ureeka are mutually committed to empowering entrepreneurs and small business founders across the spectrum of industries,” he said. “Ureeka’s platform not only enables us to organize 518 area experts to work with our members, but also positions them to potentially discover new clients needing their help across the country.”
“Operating at the speed of business is part of SEDC’s mission,” said SEDC President Dennis Brobston. “It’s important that our proven business leaders foster future growth by engaging with next generation business leaders. We’re excited to have Ureeka partner with Spark Saratoga to further our collective vision of delivering real solutions at the speed of business and removing the barriers to growth.”
Ureeka said it aims to level the playing field for access to new skills and solutions for smaller businesses and entrepreneur teams by providing access to mentors, coaches, curated business tools, capital resources and its curated marketplace of proven specialists.
Ureeka co-founder, upstate New York native and former Facebook executive David Jakubowski said the partnership “is a powerful alignment of global reach to help drive local impact. Our shared culture of providing access to skilled professionals, resources and collaboration is the key to creating real growth and opportunity for the region’s entrepreneurs and small business owners.”
Through the collaboration, startup entrepreneurs and existing Saratoga and Capital Region small businesses will have proven solutions at their fingertips, the officials said. The facilitated support Spark Saratoga and Ureeka will provide also establishes a mechanism where area entrepreneurs can virtually access not only help, but prepare to access capital investment previously cut-off by geography or lack of local deal volume.
Catherine Hover, founder of Palette in Saratoga Springs, has found Spark Saratoga and Ureeka helpful resources.
“At first, I thought Spark Saratoga would be just another incubator type of platform that over-promised and under-delivered. That’s not the case here,” she said in the release. “They really do care about the upstate economy and giving businesses like mine real answers and solutions. By connecting me to their partner, Ureeka, what I found was a real community of helpers with tangible tools, resources and people committed to my success as a startup and small business.
“I was able to solidify my brand, business and growth plan. It’s been pivotal to my success thus far and will continue to be a vital resource as we grow.”
Nicole Snow, founder and CEO of Darn Good Yarn, said Spark Saratoga “made me feel like I have a lifeline to super smart business minds who want to help me succeed. They’ve delivered on their promise to help companies like mine by connecting us to the best of the best talent by bringing a partner with the caliber of Ureeka to the region.
“I had a question on navigating my marketing strategy through the COVID crisis. I had an invaluable coaching with a Ureeka business coach within 48 hours of creating my profile. This does not happen to small businesses. Usually I’m calling in a favor or strapping my cash. Ureeka is like that super smart connected friend that just really wants to help.”
More information about Spark Saratoga is available online at sparksaratoga.com.
