Our Partners
Western Women's Business Center
The Western Women's Business Center is open and currently operating virtually. We are offering one-on-one coaching sessions and online learning opportunities. We can also support businesses in accessing capital such as disaster loans and applying for modifications on existing business loans due to hardship. We will also be posting periodic information on our website and facebook page about online educational offerings as they become available.
A-B Tech Small Business Center
The A-B Tech Small Business Center (SBC) is part of the statewide North Carolina Small Business Center network. The Network is based at the Community College level whereas each of North Carolina’s 58 Community Colleges hosts a Small Business Center. Small Business Centers provide several no cost services, including seminars, workshops, and confidential business counseling to any small business owner or entrepreneur who needs information on starting, growing, or developing a business. Therefore, Small Business Centers should be the first point of contact for anyone in need of assistance.
SCORE Asheville
Asheville SCORE offers mentoring and education services at no cost to you from over 50 certified mentors with broad business experience. In addition to mentor support, SCORE's web site contains a wealth of information for small businesses dealing with the impact of COVD19. We are currently supporting our clients with virtual services.
Mountain BizWorks
In partnership with entrepreneurial-support organizations across Western North Carolina, Mountain BizWorks is providing virtual learning opportunities, tailored business coaching, and innovative recovery funding to small business owners as they learn how to adapt to the challenges of the coronavirus crisis.
Small Business & Technology Development Center
The SBTDC is a business and technology development extension service of the North Carolina University System operated in partnership with the US Small Business Administration, Defense Logistics Agency and others, making it a unique and valued asset in the economic development infrastructure of North Carolina.
Blue Ridge Food Ventures
Blue Ridge Food Ventures offers support in product development, guidance through the maze of government regulations, equipment for bottling and packaging, advice on marketing and label design, and much more. Our mission is to provide infrastructure and technical assistance to enable small businesses entering the marketplace with safe and wholesome foods and natural products, thereby assisting in the creation of new businesses, new jobs, and new revenues for the region. Typical clients using kitchens in our 11,000 sq.ft. food processing facility include makers of packaged snacks, acidified and hot-fill shelf stable foods, caterers for large gatherings, food truck operators, cosmetics companies, and natural products manufacturers.
AARP Mountain Region
AARP’s mission is to empower people to choose how they live as they age. AARP Mountain Region, North Carolina’s involvement in and support of Spark Tank is one way to fulfill that mission locally. According to recent studies, entrepreneurs over 50 years old make up the fastest growing age group of entrepreneurs. By being a Spark Tank partner, we are able to demonstrate our support for this community by assuring all those who want to start a business have the coaching, mentoring, and access to resources that help small businesses thrive.
The Spark Tank Mission is to enhance the support that business service providers in WNC give entrepreneurs and, through collaboration, develop partnerships that support those who seek tools, resources, and capital.
Spark Tank is a collaborative group of service providers in Western North Carolina who aim to advance a cohesive, inclusive, and efficient means of fostering entrepreneurship. This is accomplished by supporting and encouraging collaboration among those agencies who have the overarching goal of providing business development services to small businesses. Spark Tank acts as a central reserve of information exchange for business development service providers. The diversity that exists within the Spark Tank membership gives it the ability to provide clients with valuable information on a variety of issues. This information is shared with clients through interactive programs such as Catapult.