Business incubator finds new home in ECU's Willis Building
East Carolina University’s Willis Building is now home to a collaborative partnership aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and giving a leg up to local business start-ups.
Greenville SEED, which operated for several years in various Uptown Greenville locations under the sponsorship of the City of Greenville and the Greenville-Pitt Chamber of Commerce, is now Greenville SEED@ECU after the university joined the partnership, bringing to the table not only a flexible operating space, but also business expertise and other resources.
ECU is providing a level of stability that had been missing, said Leo Corbin, president of the Greenville-Pitt Chamber of Commerce.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity that will allow people who have an entrepreneurial spirit and direction to leverage their hope and desire and bring it to fruition,” he said.
There are several key components to the SEED program – the first is space. Members have access to a co-working area with eight cubicles, several single offices, a common area for collaboration, a large conference room, an auditorium for conferences or large meetings and a business center. Wi-Fi and access to the ECU library are also included.
Members of the SEED program will also have access to a large auditorium that can be used for conferences and other events. (Photo by Cliff Hollis)
In addition to the working space, SEED provides mentoring resources and even ideas for start-up businesses, said John Ciannamea of ECU’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development. There will be networking and educational events, the first of which will be held Nov. 30 in the Willis Building auditorium on the topic of crowd funding.
“We have experienced business people in the community,” Ciannamea said. “We want to match up their skills with the needs of our members, and then have them maintain an active role in helping develop that idea or company.”
Ted Morris, associate vice chancellor of innovation and economic development, said the program is part of a larger effort to support regional transformation by encouraging and providing a way for young, talented innovators and entrepreneurs to stay in the area.
“We want to create a campus-wide culture of innovation,” he said.
Morris cited surveys showing that a majority of college-age respondents are interested in entrepreneurship and working for themselves. Greenville SEED@ECU is aimed at those students as well as faculty members and other members of the community who have their own business ideas or entrepreneurial drive.
Student members of the SEED program can participate for free for the first six months.
While a ribbon-cutting and official launch will take place soon, members are already being accepted, and one of the first is Dr. Sami Beg, an adjunct professor in the ECU School of Public Health, who is developing an app aimed at encouraging proactive living.
“As a physician trained in preventive medicine and population health, I have spent almost a decade as medical director of companies doing corporate wellness and disease management. But the way wellness is being done is not sustainable,” he said. “I believe we can do better, so we are truly able to help individuals and at the same time help employers reduce their healthcare costs for the long run. I started Proactive Living with a simple goal – to empower individuals to transform their lives.
“Our products and services will serve as a hub that connects the employee to many of the key things that will help them live a healthier and more productive, happier life.”
With a team spread out around the country, he did not need a large space of his own. “But it’s nice to have an office, a place for work, meetings and business related initiatives, and to interact with other people who will be here,” he said.
With SEED he was able to access a turnkey space without a lot of hassle, Beg added.
“The opportunity to meet and collaborate with other entrepreneurs, mentors and service providers will likewise be very useful,” Beg said. “It is great that we get access to events and a chance to network, which is always important when you are starting out.”
Prior to moving to the Willis Building, Greenville SEED played a role in helping develop local businesses such as Trollingwood Brewery and Black Tree Media Group. ECU’s additional resources and a focus on recruiting students and faculty will enable the business incubator to continue and expand its services for entrepreneurs and start-up businesses.
“SEED provides access to good business advice and a meaningful network of professional connections, such as financial, legal, accounting and the like. Additionally, it provides high-quality working space at below-market rates,” said Roger Johnson, economic development manager for the City of Greenville. “With ECU’s involvement SEED can now more readily connect to its talented pool of student entrepreneurs. Additionally, ECU provides a wealth of resources and support that is beyond compare in eastern North Carolina.”
Visit www.greenvilleseedatecu.org for more information.
The SEED facility includes private offices as well as collaborative space. (Photo by Jay Clark)