Running a small business right now can be extremely challenging. Aside from the obvious fact of operating during a global pandemic, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) face the everyday tasks of growing, managing, and steering a well-oiled machine away from becoming just another statistic.

While some inevitably arrive at a crossroads about the next steps to take, others constantly look for effective ways to measure their growth regardless of how trivial it is. Come to think of it, a lot of answers to these problems tend to get lost in the shuffle, but with the help of a simple yet efficient app, users, particularly SMEs, will have a wonderful digital tool that can take their businesses to new heights.

Back in 2019, we featured an app called HostEvent, which is a free-to-use platform that helps users plan, market, and execute upcoming events. The magic of this program comes from its ability to provide guests with a unique experience before, during, and even after an event. Basically, HostEvent offers an online stage for both organizers and participants to network with each other. Now imagine taking this simple concept and applying it to small businesses and you have got Startup Space.

Startup Space Concept

Florida-based entrepreneur David Ponraj conceptualized Startup Space after becoming frustrated with not having enough viable information and resources to grow a small business. He took it upon himself to create an ecosystem that cultivates new entrepreneurial communities with the help of other, more experienced entrepreneurial communities.

App Features

In a nutshell, Startup Space is an online incubator for startups and SMEs. They accomplish this by encouraging community leaders to constantly promote productivity, quantifiability, and creativity in the digital entrepreneurial bionetwork. Its features range from public forums that often provide cutting-edge solutions, to live town halls where users can learn from experienced mentors, as well as articles, videos, and how-to manuals that provide valuable firsthand information.

How it Works

Startup Space fills the void caused by the absence or lack of an online platform that allows different types of entrepreneurs to bounce ideas off each other and share their knowledge with one another. Here, they can eliminate all the noise that typically occurs on social media and focus on what really matters: growing their small businesses. In hindsight, the app fosters a network of like-minded individuals that share a common goal.

About the Developer

The people behind Startup Space, LLC collaborate with universities, foundations, and organizations across the United States to empower local SMEs. One of the main reasons why they do this effectively is because of their straightforward business structure. Forming an LLC in Florida has allowed the company to reap a number of benefits including a flexible management structure, less reporting compared to corporations, and access to a large pool of talented and diverse workers in the state. Its home state also has the third-largest labor force in the country and was the fifth-best state to start a business in 2019, making it an excellent choice for small companies. However, being based in Florida does not limit them from supporting entrepreneurs from around the globe either. In fact, as of this writing, Startup Space has users across 50 cities in 23 countries.

Price

Considering that Startup Space is like Reddit or LinkedIn for SMEs, users can download it in the App Store and sign up for free. Currently, the company has more than 16,000 small business owners signed up. In an interview with Lily Shaw of Twin Cities, CEO David Ponraj claims that they plan on hitting the 20,000-user mark and gaining $10 million in revenue within the next couple of years. He also shared that they are aggressively looking for angel investors for another seed round, so expect more great things to come from Startup Space in the near future.