By Robin Gibson

The city of Charleston Business and Neighborhood Services (BNS) Division has announced a partnership with Envolve Entrepreneurship (Envolve), a 501(c)(3) entrepreneurship organization, to foster opportunities for Charleston’s entrepreneurs. Envolve's mission includes driving capital, knowledge and resources toward diverse, early-stage businesses in order to bolster their chances for success.

As part of the initiative, the city will help prepare early-stage businesses in Charleston for Envolve's upcoming business plan competition by hosting a series of workshops and webinars. Look for details to come. The Envolve Award gives winners access to funding, mentorship, and a range of additional support services for their business and is open to both new and seasoned entrepreneurs. The application may be downloaded here. Standouts will impress judges through sound financial strategies, sustainability, innovation, and businesses and ideas from underserved communities, such as Charleston.

The best part? Funding is interest-free. What have you got to lose? Take the plunge and let the city of Charleston help you win. 

Interested?

Envolve Entrepreneurship is now accepting applications for its annual business plan competition, which offers early-stage entrepreneurs from underserved communities the opportunity to win up to $25,000 of $250,000 in interest-free funding, mentorship, and specialized business support services. The Award will continue its programming in Miami, FL, and New York City and is now open to underserved entrepreneurs in Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, Charleston, SC, Atlanta, GA, and Detroit and Flint, MI. Applicants must submit their business plan or idea by September 21, 2018. Winners to be announced from late October to early November 2018. 

To learn more about the award and organization founded in 2015 with roots in mentoring, funding, educating, supporting, and advising underserved, budding entrepreneurs, visit their website.