The business development organization WESST is bringing business inspiration to your earbuds. Minding Your Business is a podcast and radio show that features New Mexico business owners and the steps they have taken toward building successful companies.
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1 Million Cups Going Strong in ABQ
Ten years ago, 1 Million Cups began in Kansas City with a simple idea: entrepreneurs discover solutions and engage with their communities over a million cups of coffee. Since then, 132 communities across the country — including Albuquerque — set aside Wednesday mornings for entrepreneurs to present their businesses to members of the community and make authentic connections in order to take the next step in their business venture.
Continue readingGrow Your Business Through Government Contracting
Some of New Mexico’s largest employers were once small businesses looking for new sources of revenue. They found revenue and growth by contracting with the government. Ready to get started? Several resource providers aim to help you expand your business through federal, state, and local contracts.
Continue readingSmall-Grant Program Accepting Applications
Businesses in Northern New Mexico can apply for up to $3,000 in funding from the Regional Development Corporation’s Micro-Grant program. Businesses must be headquartered within the RDC’s service area and owners must attend a webinar scheduled for April 12, 2022.
Continue readingProgram Embeds Tech Entrepreneurs at NM Labs
Molecular biologist Kristina Trujillo is determined to help physicians identify and treat Alzheimer’s disease before the onset of debilitating cognitive decline.
Trujillo, who holds a doctorate in molecular biology from New Mexico State University, is CEO of Albuquerque-based T-Neuro Pharma. With help from the New Mexico Lab-Embedded Entrepreneur Program (LEEP), her company is developing a simple blood test to determine the presence of Alzheimer’s disease and a treatment to prevent its development and stop its progress.
She is one of three technology entrepreneurs in New Mexico LEEP’s first two-year fellowship cohort, which started early this year. The program embeds “deep tech” entrepreneurs—people developing solutions to existential problems like climate change and disease—at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where they work alongside scientists and mentors to advance, test and validate their innovations on a path to making them marketable products.
Continue readingSBA Extends EIDL Payment Deferment
The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced it will extend the deferment period of principal and interest payments for businesses that received a COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan. The deferment gives COVID EIDL borrowers an extra six months of payment relief, thereby extending the total deferment period to a total of 30 months from the inception of all approved COVID EIDL loans.
Continue readingMEP Helps Doctor Meet Demand for Healing Products
To deal with the pain of postpartum mastitis, Janine Mahon drew on her knowledge of Chinese medicine to create a soothing topical salve for herself from herbs and oils. In the 20 years since she successfully treated her own breast pain, Mahon, a licensed and certified Doctor of Oriental Medicine, refined the product and shared it with clients at her Albuquerque clinic.
When one satisfied patient asked for a dozen bottles of the healing oil to share with friends, Mahon wondered if there might be a larger market beyond her regular clients. Mahon launched Dr. Janine Mahon’s Rejuvenating Breast Oil exclusively through Violet Grey, a high-end retailer with extensive online reach and sales through its Melrose Place store in Los Angeles.
“I went from no product to a dream store launching it,” she said. “Being in Violet Grey led to other places wanting to carry it.”
Continue readingSample New Tech with New Mexico MEP
New Mexico manufacturers can explore new technology at the Tech Demo room created by New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Collaborative robots, 3D printers, and quality control cameras are just a few of the tools available for testing.
Continue readingSBA Hosts Virtual Women’s Business Summit
In honor of Women’s History Month, the U.S. Small Business Administration is hosting a virtual conference March 29-30 to help women business owners overcome challenges and take advantage of opportunities such as accessing alternative forms of capital and winning government contracts.
Continue readingWesst’s WBCs Support Women Entrepreneurs
Celebrations of women’s accomplishments during Women’s History Month are incomplete without also celebrating the organizations that support women in their endeavors. The business development organization WESST supports women by offering services specifically designed for women entrepreneurs under a program developed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. While WESST offers its services to people of every gender identification, its seven offices are SBA-designated Women’s Business Centers.
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