Urban Hub Introduces “The Blueprint”

Posted on 6-17-2021

Green Bay, Wis. – (June 15, 2021) – The Greater Green Bay Chamber, in partnership with the New North, is excited to announce The Blueprint, a new initiative focused on minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses.

The initiative offers businesses additional avenues of access to the entrepreneurial ecosystem through The Blueprint Green Bay business accelerator at the Urban Hub co-working space in downtown Green Bay.

Powered by the Greater Green Bay Chamber and the New North, The Blueprint targets new, scalable tech, eCommerce and advanced manufacturing businesses in Greater Green Bay and the surrounding region. Entrepreneurs accepted into the program’s cohorts meet at least four days per week during their, 12-week session ending in a demo day.

During demo day, startups display their products and services to the surrounding community in an effort to secure grant funding from the initiative.

The first 12-week cohort’s curriculum helps entrepreneurs through the ideation phase of their business. This includes ensuring their idea is viable and then creating revenue models.

The second 12-week cohort follows, during which the entrepreneurs learn how to identify market opportunities including defining target market, connecting to a manufacturer (if applicable), learning how to take a product/service to market and how to build a customer base.

The initiative is made possible by public and private support including presenting sponsors Associated Bank, the City of Green Bay, Connect powered by American Family, Schneider Foundation, Schreiber, Wells Fargo, Wipfli LLP and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

The Blueprint Green Bay curriculum and accelerator, created by Khalif El-Amin and Que El-Amin, are already in place in the Milwaukee market and have had solid success in meeting the needs of key pockets of the entrepreneurial community, said Laurie Radke, president and CEO of the Greater Green Bay Chamber.

“This first-of-its-kind offering in our market is key to attracting even more people to the entrepreneurial table with additional points of access to our entrepreneurial ecosystem. We’re pleased to make this initiative accessible to everyone in the Greater Green Bay area and the surrounding region,” said Radke.

The offering is one of the latest programming developments at the Urban Hub, a co-working space and programming hub focusing on tech entrepreneurs, located in the heart of the Rail Yard Innovation District in downtown Green Bay.

“The Urban Hub is the ideal location for innovative programming like this. The Urban Hub is tailored to the entrepreneurs it serves by offering an innovative, collaborative and energizing environment,” said Kelly Armstrong, vice president of economic development, Greater Green Bay Chamber.

Applications for the first cohort of entrepreneurs, due July 11th, 2021, are now available at https://thestartuphub.org/helpful-links/blueprint/

Greater Green Bay Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Green Bay Chamber exists to build a greater Green Bay by helping businesses succeed. Our members represent 88,000 employees – that’s more than two-thirds of the Brown County workforce.

The Chamber is the convener, bringing together resources to enhance economic, workforce and community development. We are the champions of business development for Greater Green Bay because strong business builds a strong community.

The Greater Green Bay Chamber will be acclaimed as a leader in building prosperous businesses and a thriving community.

To strengthen member businesses by enhancing economic and workforce development, resulting in improved quality of life in our community and region.