Date: 7/3/18
Title: Aviatra Accelerators, a women-focused accelerator, and, LaunchHouse, a coworking community, form partnership
Aviatra hosts workshops and classes for women entrepreneurs as part of its accelerator program. For Aviatra’s Northeast Ohio branch, its new home for those classes in Cleveland will be at the east and west side LaunchHouse locations.
On the west side of Cleveland, courses will initially take place at the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce who has allowed LaunchHouse, and its partners, use of their facility until LaunchHouse Lakewood expands its current Westwood avenue location. On the east side of Cleveland, classes will take place at LaunchHouse Highland Heights, which offers a large conference room and four smaller ones.
Aviatra’s next set of classes is slated for the fall of 2018. Aviatra offers three tracks of classes: EXPLORE, which helps entrepreneurs explore the feasibility of their idea, LAUNCH, where business owners build an SBA-certified business plan, receive a mentor, and have the opportunity to compete for funding, and GROW, for established entrepreneurs and business owners who are planning for growth, expansion, and financing.
EXPLORE is held twice a year, in the spring and fall. LAUNCH is held once a year in the summer. GROW workshops are not on a specific schedule, but held throughout the year.
Cindy Earl, Director of Business Development for Aviatra, said, “We are thrilled to partner with LaunchHouse so that we can bring our programs to the west side of Cleveland. We’ve had so many requests from female entrepreneurs to bring our programming to the west side. Finally, with the LaunchHouse partnership, we can fulfill our promise to expand our footprint in Northeast Ohio.”
The partnership came to fruition after a meeting that Cindy Earl had with Michael DeAloia, the leader of LaunchHouse Lakewood and Entrepreneur in Residence for the City of Lakewood. Michael immediately saw the benefits of the partnership and said, “It is crucial for StartUp Lakewood to build an entrepreneurial incubator that includes all forms of entrepreneur. I am excited that we are building that now with Aviatra, LaunchHouse and StartUp Lakewood.”
What was even more important was the statement that this would make: LaunchHouse is open to businesses of all kinds and entrepreneurs of all kinds. Too often, women are underrepresented in startup communities and accelerator programs.
Todd Goldstein, LaunchHouse’s CEO and Co-founder, said, “Part of creating a coworking community is creating an environment where entrepreneurs can learn from each other. Aviatra Accelerators fills an important role by helping women-owned businesses launch and grow. More organizations should follow Aviatra’s lead.”
LaunchHouse and Aviatra Accelerators will host a joint happy hour on August 8th, from 5-7 PM, at LaunchHouse Lakewood at 1406 Westwood Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio, 44107.
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About LaunchHouse:
LaunchHouse is a coworking community in Highland Heights and Lakewood, Ohio. LaunchHouse provides open office space and private offices to its members with amenities such as high-speed wifi, conference rooms, and endless coffee. It’s the perfect place for entrepreneurs, freelancers, remote workers, and growing small businesses. LaunchHouse Lakewood can be found at: 1406 Westwood Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio, 44107, and LaunchHouse Highland Heights can be found at 675 Alpha Drive, Suite G, Highland Heights, Ohio, 44143. Check out www.lh.local and email: info@lh.local for more information.
About Aviatra Accelerators:
Aviatra Accelerators (formerly Bad Girl Ventures, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010. Our statewide organization enables women to start and sustain businesses by giving them the resources they need to be successful. Through our expertise in business basics, guidance from mentors and coaches, and access to capital, we continuously encourage our members to move forward, and we embrace them when they return, helping to refuel and reignite their passions. For more information: www.aviatraaccelerators.org and email cindy@aviatraaccelerators.org
