What IGNITE Is – And How It Helps Entrepreneurs
Storytelling in the business world is necessary for understanding a brand’s purpose. IGNITE, the entrepreneurial division of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, has a story worth telling. It’s a story of innovation, creativity and how the entrepreneurial spirit can help attract, sustain and grow businesses and jobs in northeastern Pennsylvania.
To tell this story, the IGNITE program has established a blog. A new chapter in this story — from its success tales to its connectivity to the greater business community — will be told every other Monday.
But what exactly is the IGNITE program, and how does it work?
What is IGNITE?
With roots dating back to the early 2000s, the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce officially branded its entrepreneurial program as IGNITE in 2018. In its broadest form, IGNITE provides education, coaching, one-on-one sessions and networking opportunities to the entrepreneurs of northeastern Pennsylvania.
Generally, these entrepreneurs will have a business concept that is operational and revenue-generating, but the company itself is still in its infancy.
“We come in at the stage where you outgrow your kitchen table or your home office, and you’re looking to get a little bit more of a professional setting,” explained Mary McDermott, IGNITE Program Manager.
Find the Perfect Space
IGNITE operates out of three distinct spaces: the Scranton Enterprise Center (SEC) in Downtown Scranton, the TekRidge Center in the Jessup Small Business Center and the Carbondale Technology Transfer Center (CTTC) in the Carbondale Yards.
The three facilities are collectively and individually known as business incubators. Within these facilities, the IGNITE team hosts informational sessions with outside experts, offers financial resources (including grant opportunities) and frequently meets with the entrepreneurs to understand their needs.
The perks of being located within a business incubator are immense. Clients, including those in the IGNITE program, get their office space at an affordable price.
In the cases of the SEC and TekRidge, the spaces are sleek and perfect for technology-focused businesses.
At the CTTC, the space is divided between kitchen and light manufacturing space, offering a unique environment for those types of businesses to grow.
Each incubator facility under the IGNITE umbrella has its own benefits, and IGNITE team members are able to match entrepreneurs with the building that best suits their needs.
Be a Part of the IGNITE Community
Ultimately, the goal of IGNITE is to help entrepreneurs upscale their businesses. At that point, the entrepreneur will graduate from the incubator and move on to the next phase of their business journey in whatever form that may take.
Collaboration between incubator clients is a critical draw to settings like the one facilitated by the IGNITE program. Each incubator building has a collaborative space where clients can share ideas, struggles and tips for how to progress their business.
“One of the biggest benefits of a business incubator is the client interaction for other entrepreneurs to talk to each other,” said McDermott. “Although they might not be in the same industry, they have similar problems and can help each other through that.”
The collaborative energy of the IGNITE clients extends to the program itself, as IGNITE team members work with other incubator managers across the country to identify and implement best practices.
Accelerate Your Business’ Growth
Among these best practices is the concept of an Accelerator program, a business boot camp that allows up-and-coming entrepreneurs to develop their ideas through customer discovery, product testing and pitching.
IGNITE has hosted two Accelerator programs: TechCelerator @Lackawanna County and FoodCelerator @Lackawanna County.
Several businesses that have gone through IGNITE’s five Accelerator cohorts have gone on to become successful IGNITE clients themselves.
Connect with Chamber Membership
Perhaps IGNITE’s greatest strength as an incubator program is its close connection to the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce’s vast pool of resources.
Technically, IGNITE sits under the Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Building Company (SLIBCO), the Chamber’s business development division. When a business becomes an IGNITE client, their door to the Chamber’s larger orbit is opened.
IGNITE has frequently collaborated with other arms of the Chamber — including Skills in Scranton and Leadership Lackawanna — which has proven beneficial for both IGNITE’s entrepreneurs and the participants of those other Chamber programs.
“Clients can work for and with each other, and then, on top of that, Chamber members can then find our IGNITE clients if they need web development, marketing and more,” said McDermott. “The IGNITE clients can then search our Chamber membership if they need help with accounting or legal.”
IGNITE Can Help You!
The IGNITE team has a presence at each incubator facility, and is ready and willing to open their doors to any prospective entrepreneurs who are looking to grow their business in Lackawanna County.
“We love to show off the [incubators] that we have,” McDermott said. “And we can give tours Monday to Friday.”
To set up a tour at one of IGNITE’s facilities, or to learn more about IGNITE’s services, Mary McDermott can be reached at mmcdermott@scrantonchamber.com.