Empowering and Developing Georgia’s Entrepreneurs
The Edge Connection has a 17 year history of leveraging micro and small business development as an effective economic
development strategy for both the individuals we serve and the communities in which they live. We are committed to
delivering high quality education, resources, and support services to meet the immediate and long-term demands of our
emerging business clients. To ensure that we are meeting the broad scope of needs related to sustainable business
development, we offer a comprehensive group of programs that work in cooperation to address elemental and progressive
fundamentals, from conception through growth and expansion.
Mission:
To infuse wealth into economically challenged communities in Metro Atlanta by providing comprehensive entrepreneurial
education, support and resources targeting low-to-moderate-income women, minorities, and veterans.
Vision:
To promote economic self-sufficiency and job creation through micro and small business development, thereby
establishing vibrant, small business ecosystems.
Programs and Services
Financial Literacy & Access to Capital
The Edge Connection’s Access to Capital program begins by reviewing and analyzing our clients’ credit report and creating a monthly
personal budget. We are members of the Credit Builders Alliance, a valuable resource that allows us access to a plethora of financial
tools, webinars and more. Using this information to guide understanding, we work with our clients to create immediate, short-term and
long-term financial goals. We address a variety of issues, including how to establish or grow a savings account, pay down debt, and
ensure on-time payments. We meet with clients bi-monthly to ensure that they remain focused and on track, and to collect relevant data
about their improving credit scores. We foster the idea that building strong personal finances will allow for a sound business foundation.
As our clients strengthen their personal finances, our program simultaneously introduces the concept of establishing and building
business credit. We have partnered with Dun and Bradstreet Credibility Corp to offer our clients their Business Start-up package for
one year free. This package, which normally costs $599, helps our clients by enhancing
their ranking on major search engines with a premium listing in the D&B Credibility
Review™ business directory, and gives clients a trusted Credibility Badge for their
business’ website that links directly to their profile. This lends our clients’ start-ups more
legitimacy, and improves their visibility as a reliable business. By using both our
educational course and our relationship with community partners, we teach our clients that
the wise use of business credit will help a company stabilize, grow and prosper. When
clients successfully access capital, we will request that they inform our Financial Programs Manager so that we can track total capital
as accessed by our clients.
The Edge Connection | Empowering and Developing Georgia’s Entrepreneurs
The Edge Connections EXPLORE | START | GROW | ADVANCE program empowers participants to think
strategically and build a plan for their business based on real-world benchmarks and achievable goals. Throughout
this process, participant will meet with a consultant on a monthly basis to review their progress. At the end of the
GROW process clients will have launched their business and have a financial plan, marketing plan, business pitch,
and the support they need to continue moving their business forward in ADVANCE.
Explore: Assessing the potential for success
The Edge Connection’s Explore Program helps those who are interested in
entrepreneurship examine their potential for success. Both personal and
conceptual readiness is assessed. Personal readiness includes an evaluation of
financial, emotional, and physical capacity to ensure that the individual is
prepared for the rigors of developing a business. Conceptual readiness explores
the concept behind the business. After careful analysis of their business idea, each
participant will gain a clear understanding of their business’s purpose, goals, and
potential for success. Both personal and conceptual readiness will be reviewed
and barriers to success will be assessed. Upon completion of Explore participants
will have completed an industry analysis, assessed their competitive positioning,
developed their formal structure, and completed an outline of an executive
summary.
Start: Planning for a profitable financial future
Start focuses on preparing for a profitable financial future. Participants learn the
fundamentals of financial management, including revenue development,
managing costs/profit (margins), cash flow, profit and loss, and financial
planning. Participants will gain a complex understanding of how efficient
financial management allows businesses to successfully plan for growth and
development. Each participant will complete a comprehensive 3-year financial
plan from which to benchmark success.
Grow: Strategic Marketing Development/Promoting brand awareness
The Edge Connection’s Grow Program focuses on building the skillset of
emerging and existing business owners to hone their marketing/branding
proficiency by creating a robust toolkit that will position them for long-term
success. Participants will develop an understanding of how to reach potential
customers, increase brand awareness, and create a strategy that will help them
establish a competitive advantage and a profitable position in the marketplace.
Each participant will complete a comprehensive marketing plan from which to
benchmark success.
Launch: 12-part business development Process
The Edge Connection’s Launch Process is a
twelve-part process focused on weekly
deliverables. This action oriented segment, which
runs concurrently with Explore, Start and Grow,
is designed to ensure the successful launch of the
participant’s business and the creation of a firm
foundation for continued growth and
development. Deliverables include:
1) Meet with a financial management and credit
counselor to assess personal credit and establish a
business credit profile
2) Formalize business structure (define, select, and
implement)
3) Obtain a business license (EIN, Employer
Identification Number, etc)
4) Identify regulatory restrictions/compliance
5) Establish a business bank account
6) Identify and understand local and state taxation
and incorporate necessary processes
7) Acquire necessary insurance
8) Incorporate an accounting system (QuickBooks,
Fresh Books, etc.)
9) Work with a graphic designer to develop a logo
and business card
10) Establish social media presence
11) Establish a website
12) Develop a sales strategy
The previous 12 deliverables culminate in the
development a comprehensive business plan and
a one-page business plan (summary). At the
conclusion of the Launch Process participants
will have completed Explore, Start, and Grow,
resulting in the successful launch of their
business.
Advance: Long-term growth and expansion
The Edge Connection’s Advance Program supports entrepreneurs into long-term growth and expansion. As members become more
established in their business and their acumen increases, the less hands-on advice and guidance they need. We refer to this level of
graduation as a perimeter member, those who actively remain engaged on an as needed basis.
The Edge Connection | Empowering and Developing Georgia’s Entrepreneurs
SBA Workshops
The Small Business Administration offers comprehensive seminars on a wide range of topics to assist with the continued growth and
development of entrepreneurs and their businesses, including certifications for government contracts and federal business
development programs.
Marketing
A clear, credible and compelling value proposition is the key to creating distinctiveness, enabling our entrepreneurs to stand out
among their competitors. Workshops centered on branding and strategic marketing, including the use of social media, business
pitches, and website development are offered every other month.
Fiscal Fitness
Workshops addressing the fiscal needs of clients and their businesses are offered to educate, inform, and inspire financial
transformation and development.
Hot Topic
The Edge Connection’s hot topic series is designed to provide business owners with an infusion of cutting edge strategic business
information that will help them move their businesses to the next level. Experts in various areas of business development address hot
topics and current trends for small businesses today.
Networking Opportunities
Edge Connection clients are part of a community that support and encourage one another. Clients have the opportunity to meet each
other not only in class, but also while working in the technology lab and through various events and happenings hosted by The Edge
Connection throughout the year.
Inspirational/Motivational Events
Starting, growing and sustaining a business is challenging even during the best of times. The Edge Connection recognizes that it takes
more than knowledge and hard work to keep forward momentum moving when obstacles and challenges present themselves. To
ensure that we provide 360° of support for our clients we address more than hard core business needs. An example of one such event
is the semi-annual vision board workshop is a client favorite! Clients take a few hours to enjoy good food, great company, and an
opportunity to reflect back and move forward both personally and professionally. Events vary.
Launch Party
The Launch Party is an annual client engagement and celebration event highlighting the accomplishments of our entrepreneurs while
promoting cross-collaboration among constituents (entrepreneurs, funders/supporters, community members, etc). The Launch Party is
held annually in January.
Business Plan Competition
The annual business plan competition is an opportunity for clients to showcase their completed business plans and compete for
resource opportunities. Though winners typically receive cash prizes to move their business forward, we also collaborate with
resource partners to offer other business related awards. We partnered with BMA (the Business Marketing Association of Atlanta), a
division of ANA (Association of National Advertisers), for our 2015 Business Plan Competition. The top three entrepreneurs will
receive 6 months of professional marketing services, followed by an opportunity to present and win a first place cash prize
Consultation
In addition to training, The Edge Connection provides expansive, one-on-one business consultation and coaching in numerous areas
related to business development, growth, expansion, and sustainability. From operations, branding, marketing, social media, and
human resources to a full array of legal, financial, and other supplemental resources, The Edge Connection provides guidance and
support to assist our entrepreneurs with achieving long-term success.
The Edge Connection | Empowering and Developing Georgia’s Entrepreneurs