Insight, the Venture Asheville Emerging Business Incubator, a program of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce is an initiative designed to support the professional development of entrepreneurs in lifestyle-oriented, community-driven, small scale, or traditional ventures.
Qualifying members are
- independent businesses
- less than 2 years old (on average)
- in good standing with Asheville Chamber membership.
Why Insight?
“Insight” conveys a focus on gaining valuable knowledge and understanding for the incubated businesses. Being cohort-driven, the staff facilitate a supportive environment where entrepreneurs can gain valuable insights, refine their strategies, and make informed decisions for their emerging ventures by using each other’s expertise and leveraging professional develoment workshops. Each member of the cohort has something to offer and something to gain.
What is it not?
Insight is not a leads group. This group does not solicit sales from each other, it is not a referral network, it is not for exchanging leads for new business. To inquire about participating in a leads group, please contact Amy Jackson the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Format
Insight will follow a format very similar to Venture Asheville’s successful Elevate mentorship-based incubator including:
- Monthly peer mentorship workshops
- Complete experience portfolios
- Track their entrepreneurial growth using theE13.com
- Track quarterly venture metrics.
This model emphasizes a peer cohort to increase accountability, roadmap the entrepreneurial journey, offer professional development, and in general, makes being an entrepreneur far less lonely while these new businesses become established in the community.
In this pilot roll-out, Insight is designed as a 12-month cohort-based commitment.
If you are a business that meets the eligibility requirements and would like to inquire about joining Insight please reach out to Amy Jackson, Senior Director of Member Engagement & Retention at ajackson@ashevillechamber.org
Meet the Participants of Insight, the Venture Asheville Emerging Business Incubator
