Category: Business

Get Capital Ready: Navigating Funding Pathways for Small Businesses & Startups

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Discover how to access alternative funding sources to grow your -small business or startup at our expert-led workshop. (Part 1 of 2-part series)

At every stage of business growth, one of the most critical and often confusing steps is figuring out how to access the right kind of funding. That’s why SpaceLab Detroit is hosting a special workshop designed to help entrepreneurs gain the knowledge and tools they need to become Capital Ready.

“Capital Ready: Navigating Funding Pathways for Small Businesses & Startups” is a comprehensive session for small business owners and startup founders seeking to better understand the many ways to access capital—and how to prepare for those opportunities.

Led by seasoned funding expert John Schoeniger, this workshop will guide participants through essential aspects of loan readiness and strategic funding. Attendees will walk away with practical insights and actionable steps to help secure funding for their businesses.

📅 Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
🕒 Time: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
📍 Location: SpaceLab Detroit, 607 Shelby St, Detroit, MI 48226

🌟 Event Highlights

  • Learn from a lending expert who’s walked in your shoes
  • Explore all types of funding—from bootstrapping to CDFIs
  • Understand loan products and what makes a strong application
  • Build your own capital readiness checklist
  • Connect with other local entrepreneurs
Register on Eventbrite

👤 About the Presenter

John Schoeniger brings over 25 years of experience in community development finance. He served for 18 years as Loan Fund Manager at the Detroit Development Fund, supporting the financing of hundreds of small businesses and affordable housing units across the city.

John also previously owned a construction company and developed residential real estate, which gives him a deep understanding of the challenges entrepreneurs face. He has served on the board and loan committee of ProsperUS and is a founding member of the Detroit CDFI Coalition. Now, he focuses on advising small businesses and organizations committed to expanding access to capital.

🚘 Good to Know

  • Parking: Municipal street and nearby surface-lot and structure parking available
  • Accessibility: The venue is ADA accessible

❓Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to already have a business plan or financials prepared?
No—this workshop is designed to help you build those foundational elements.

Is this workshop only for people actively applying for loans?
No. This session is ideal for any entrepreneur looking to understand and prepare for future funding opportunities.

Can business partners attend together?
Yes. Each person should register individually.

Ready to take control of your capital journey?

Join us and learn how to turn your funding goals into actionable strategies.

Register on Eventbrite
A promotional flyer for 'Capital Ready: Navigating Funding Pathways for Small Businesses & Startups' workshop at SpaceLab Detroit, featuring details about the event, presenter John Schoeniger, and learning topics.
Register on Eventbrite

2024: Inspiring Ventures and Innovation

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Happy New Year
to our dynamic community of innovators and entrepreneurs! 

May the coming year bring you breakthrough ideas, resilient endeavors, and boundless success.
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Here’s to turning dreams into reality and embracing a year filled with creativity, growth, and innovative achievements.
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Let’s make 2024 a year of inspiring ventures and remarkable strides! 🚀

From Grind to Glory: The Power of Celebrating Success in Small Business

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As an entrepreneur or small business owner, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind of running your business. You may feel like you’re constantly working, and it can be difficult to step back and recognize your accomplishments. However, celebrating success is a crucial part of growing and sustaining your business. Here are five tips on celebrating success as a small business owner is important and a few tips on how to do it:

  1. Boosts morale and motivation
    Celebrating success can be a huge morale booster for you and your team. Recognizing your accomplishments can help you feel proud of what you’ve achieved and motivate you to keep going. It’s important to take time to acknowledge your hard work and the progress you’ve made towards your goals. This can help you stay positive and motivated, even when things get tough.
  2. Builds a positive culture
    Celebrating success can help build a positive culture within your business. Taking time to recognize and celebrate accomplishments can create a sense of camaraderie and teamwork among your team. It shows that you value their contributions and appreciate their hard work. This can lead to increased loyalty and a more engaged workforce.
  3. Attracts and retains customers
    Celebrating success can also help you attract and retain customers. A buzz can be created round your business when you celebrate milestones, such as hitting a revenue goal or opening a new location. This can help you attract new customers who are interested in supporting successful businesses. Additionally, celebrating success can help you retain customers by showing them that you’re committed to providing excellent products or services.
  4. Provides opportunities for networking
    Celebrating success can provide opportunities for networking. Sharing your accomplishments with others may attract the attention of potential business partners or investors. If you’re celebrating after overcoming an obstacle, this can help you connect with other small business owners who may be facing similar challenges. This can lead to valuable collaborations and partnerships.

Now that we’ve discussed why celebrating success is important, let’s talk about how to do it. Here are some tips for celebrating success as an entrepreneur and small business owner:

  • Set goals and track progress: To celebrate success, you need to have clear goals and a way to track your progress towards them. This can help you identify milestones and accomplishments that are worth celebrating.
  • Recognize individual and team achievements: It’s important to recognize both individual and team achievements. This can help you build a sense of camaraderie and teamwork within your business.
  • Make it a group celebration: If you’re a solo business owner, get together regularly with other solopreneurs to share success.
  • Celebrate in meaningful ways: Celebrating success doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. It’s important to celebrate in ways that are meaningful to you and your team. This could be as simple as having a team lunch or sending out a company-wide email.
  • Share your success with others: Sharing your success with others can help you attract new customers and build valuable connections. Consider sharing your accomplishments on social media or through a press release.

Celebrating success is an important part of growing and sustaining a small business. It can boost morale and motivation, build a positive culture, attract and retain customers, and provide opportunities for networking. By setting clear goals, recognizing individual and team achievements, celebrating in meaningful ways, and sharing your success with others, you can create a culture of success within your business.

At SpaceLab, we love to celebrate our members’ success. Not only do we share their good news and projects in our newsletters and on social media, but we also host a Celebrate the Win! gathering each month. Members and guests share highlights of the past month, introduce new staff and team members, give updates on projects, celebrate birthdays and other milestones, and share any needs they may have for growing their business. Contact us (Detroit or St. Pete) to find out how you can join the next celebration.