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December 6By Comments OffRead more...

Sparking Change: Sparkyard’s Move to Ensemble Coworking

After four years of successful implementation and thousands of entrepreneurs served, HSC Next is handing over operations of the Sparkyard platform to Tamara Payne, CEO and cofounder of Ensemble Coworking, a trusted partner in the local entrepreneurial ecosystem and a Sparkyard resource partner since 2019. Ensemble Coworking is a mission-driven collaborative business community and coworking space located in Fort Worth’s Near Southside. SourceLink will continue to support the platform from a technical standpoint. HSC Next is not selling Sparkyard, but rather, Ensemble will contract with Sourcelink, license HSC intellectual property related to Sparkyard and assume operating costs for the program. In...

November 7By Comments OffRead more...

Co-Working + Storage + Shippin’ It = E-commerce Solutions

In an era of rapid online growth and changing business dynamics, the warehousing landscape has experienced a pivotal shift in Fort Worth. Traditional warehousing, with its expansive space and vast inventories, served only the biggest industries. However, as the business climate evolves and need for microentrepreneurs multiply, there’s an evident shift from large warehouses to more sustainable, small warehouse spaces that may offer even more benefits to micro and small businesses compared to their larger counterparts. This shift is not just about downsizing but about adapting to the needs of an agile market. When small businesses, particularly e-commerce entrepreneurs, have...

October 9By Comments OffRead more...

Why You Should Consider Partnering with a Cofounder

What "Working Capital: Assembling Your Team" Has to Say About Cofounders When it comes to cofounders, there can be a lot of questions regarding the logistics, relationship, and even the necessity of them. Luckily, Sean K. Murphy’s book, Working Capital: Assembling Your Team, Vol.2, addresses most of the common concerns and inquiries surrounding such partnerships. Instead of merely recommending this book to you, I’ve outlined the insights Murphy provides toward developing a cofounder partnership.   Murphy starts by addressing that cofounders are very similar to the initial startup founder. They’re both ‘generalists’ and ‘fast learners,’ and they have the same sense of perseverance....

October 2By Comments OffRead more...

Business Resources for Fort Worth Veterans

Starting a business can be a challenging and risky venture, and Veterans often bring unique skills and experiences to the process that can help them succeed.  Some of the skills that Veterans bring to entrepreneurship include leadership, discipline, problem-solving, teamwork, and adaptability. These skills, along with the experience of serving in the military, can help Veterans navigate the challenges of starting and running a business.  There are a number of resources available to help Veteran entrepreneurs succeed, including government-backed initiatives, business incubators and accelerators, and mentorship programs. Many Veteran-owned businesses also receive support from the Veteran community, as well as from organizations...

September 25By Comments OffRead more...

Interview with Caroline McKnight from Create Fort Worth

Fort Worth's newest addition to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, Create Fort Worth, is officially open and welcoming small businesses and entrepreneurs to take advantage of its resources and coworking space. We interviewed one of the powerhouses behind this space's success, Caroline Mcknight, Create Fort Worth's Community Coordinator. The Abilene Christian University alumna is bringing her classroom experience with non-profit and corporate communications to Fort Worth's small business owners and entrepreneurs as the "house mom" of the new space. McKnight will be leading tours, directing onboarding and offboarding, meeting with community members, and everything in between to make sure that Create Fort Worth...

September 18By Comments OffRead more...

Scaling Your Sales

The dream of many entrepreneurs is to get their product on the shelves of big-box merchandise retailers. But how do you take your product from the R&D stage to stores such as Walmart and Target? We’ve compiled a list of steps needed to make your goal a reality. If you’re new to the entrepreneurial world, this cluster of words may seem overwhelming. Here’s what you need to know about creating a product:   Product Validation is a process that decides whether there is a demand for your product. Do consumers really want or need this solution you're providing? Once you’ve decided that your product...

September 11By Comments OffRead more...

Meet the Companies of Techstars Physical Health Fort Worth Accelerator 2023

Get to know the startups in the Techstars Physical Health Fort Worth second year's accelerator cohort. Check out the companies and their innovative solutions for addressing the challenges and opportunities that exist in the world of Physical Health.  Brilliantly: The flagship product, Brilliantly Warm provides flexible and safe warmth for your entire body, all from your bra. Our wearable warms up your whole body invisibly under your clothes and effectively at your core. Comeback Mobility: The ComeBack Mobility Smart Crutch Tips are an IoT biofeedback device & mobile app to guide patients on how to apply the right amount of force to the...

September 7By Comments OffRead more...

The 5 Things I Learned on the HSC Next Team This Summer

As a Fort Worth native, the opportunity to work in our entrepreneurial ecosystem and startup scene has been very fulfilling. But when I started this internship, I didn’t know how much I would learn about my hometown, myself, and the business world beyond our city limits. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to work for Sparkyard and HSC Next as my first internship. Regarding introductions to professional life, I would say that mine was pretty stellar. Writing about what I learned this summer without launching into a full novel is challenging because the amount of experience and understanding I've gained...

September 4By Comments OffRead more...

11 Free Entrepreneurial Training Courses (That You Should Take)

Entrepreneurship training is a type of educational program or course that is designed to teach people the skills and knowledge they need to start and run their own businesses. These programs can be offered by educational institutions, business organizations, or independent trainers, and can take a variety of forms, including in-person classes, online courses, workshops, and seminars.  Entrepreneurship training programs typically cover a wide range of topics, including business planning, market research, financial management, sales and marketing, and leadership and management. They may also include practical exercises, case studies, and real-world examples to help participants apply what they have learned.  There are...

August 31By Comments OffRead more...

Emerald City vs. Cowtown Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

From 2015-2020, 16 cities raised over one billion dollars in early-stage capital. Of those cities, nine of them have less than one million people, similar to Fort Worth. Removing the well-established startup cities from the equation, we are left with Seattle, Atlanta, Denver, Oakland, Washington, DC, and Nashville. However, these six cities have an average population of 604,706 (about half the population of Hawaii): roughly 350,000 less than the estimated population of Fort Worth in 2023. If Fort Worth is the 13th most populated US City, why is our entrepreneurial ecosystem not reflecting its size?  Last summer, we analyzed what makes...