Phone

(401) 780-8866

Email

info@urbanventuresri.org

COVID-19: Assistance / Asistencia

The COVID-19 crisis can be an especially confusing time for entrepreneurs. If you need assistance, please do not hesitate to call us. If we do not have the answers, we will help you find them.  (401) 780-8866

La crisis de COVID-19 puede ser un momento especialmente confuso para los emprendedores y pequeños negocios. Si necesita ayuda, no dude en llamarnos. Si no tenemos las respuestas, lo ayudaremos a encontrarlas. (401) 780-8866.

we get micro businesses launched & growing

WE MEASURE SUCCESS ONE VENTURE AT A TIME

01

IDEA

Starting a business begins with understanding your story. We work with entrepreneurs to think deeply and develop clarity about their ideas.
02

LAUNCH

Actually getting your business started can seem daunting. We work with entrepreneurs to help them navigate the pathway to starting up … to actually turn their idea into a reality.
03

PROFITABILITY

Whether starting up a new venture or running an existing micro business, we work with entrepreneurs on achieving profitabilty. Our goal isn’t just to help start new businesses … We want to help create and develop sustainable businesses.
04

GROWTH

Once micro businesses have launched and are achieving profitability, it may be time for growth. We assist entrepreneuers to position themselves for this stage and grow.
The Launch is just the beginning of our relationship in the lives of our entrepreneurs and their ventures. The UV alumni provide support and resources for future entrepreneurs.
 

HAVE AN IDEA?

LAUNCH IT WITH UV

We created an innovative e-incubator concept for helping micro entrepreneurs.

We use technology to leverage the delivery of assistance our entrepreneurs need to get their business ideas launched and growing.

 

We call this e-Incubation, a concept we originally developed to deliver more support to micro entrepreneurs in an environment of ever increasing needs and limited resources with greater efficiency. Our e-Incubation concept also helped the State of Rhode to win a $4.5 million Federal BroadBand grant in 2010.

 

At Urban Ventures, we work with entrepreneurs to fully understand their business models, and with an Equity-First Focused approach to business development, guide them through a process of discovery, helping them think deeply about their idea and the pathways to profitabilty. We evaluate the individual needs of each entrepreneur and leverage the knowledge-base of our Board and partners in connecting them with the necessary additional resources that will help them succeed.

The work we do has led leading experts like Dr. Edward Mazze, former Dean of the URI School of Business Administration, to comment that “Dollar for dollar, Urban Ventures is one of Rhode Island’s best investments for economic development.”
We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping micro businesses in Rhode Island start-up and grow.
– Since 1999 –

A few of our Micro Entrepreneurs

“Urban Ventures has been a blessing to my business and I. From helping me really understand and express my business’ mission, to accompanying me in devising an effective monetization strategy, the organization has pushed my business forward in innumerable ways. Urban Ventures is a gift to entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial communities, as well as one of the most powerful business catalysts out there. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to grow a successful and purposeful business.”
Solange Diallo Lopes

Entrepreneur | Founder, The Corporate Sister

“Urban Ventures is the guiding arm a small business needs in those first twelve months. Whether its mapping out strategy to secure the next client, or the practical advice on interacting with a current client, Urban Ventures IS the reason for Ann Clanton Communications’ positive outcomes.”
Ann Clanton

Entrepreneur | Founder, Ann Clanton Communications

“Urban Ventures helped me to clarify the ideas I had for my business, enabling me to deliver the great value for my clients I had envisioned. After only a few sessions, I began earning revenue from the business model we designed.  The experience has been truly transformational, empowering, and profitable.”
Rosa DeCastillo

Entrepreneur | Founder, DIOS Digital Marketing Agency

“From the very first meeting, Urban Ventures understood my vision and has been instrumental in helping me think more deeply about my idea of communicating it than even I had first imagined. This support is tremendously beneficial to me as I launch my business.”
Idania Abreu

Entrepreneur | Founder, Adoras Dream

MICRO STORIES

SPOTLIGHTING UV ENTREPRENEURS & OTHER MICROS
One of our Founders, Tony Ansah, talks about the development of his new venture and Urban Ventures’ role in helping him prepare for launching it.

MICRO MORNINGS

Bringing together innovative thinkers in the micro business world.

MICRO MORNINGS

Informal Q&A’s where experience is unleashed and shared.
Stay Informed
Stay in Touch

WE BELIEVE IN INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION

we CO-AUTHORed RHODE ISLAND’S HISTORIC MICRO BUSINESS LAW (2016)

Businesses with 10 or fewer people, represent between 73%-98% of all businesses in Rhode Island, depending on the community. In 2016, with passage of this bill sponsored by former Sen. Juan Pichardo and Rep. Jean Philippe Barros, and signed into law by Governor Gina Raimondo, Rhode Island became the first State in the country to specifically identify and name this invualable subset of businesses. The bill was authored by then-Executive Director of UV, JR Neville Songwe and current Executive Director of UV, Ron Crosson.
LEGISLATIVE PRESS
READ THE LAW

we created e-incubator helping RHODE ISLAND WIN A $4.5 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT (2010)

“The second project, a collaboration with the Rhode Island-based non-profit organization, Urban Ventures, will support and document the implementation of a “virtual incubator,” which supports the development of micro-entrepreneurs as they seek to incubate their businesses and access potential state resources.”  – BroadBandUSA Grant Website
FEDERAL WEBSITE

A FEW OF OUR COMMUNITY partners

MEET THE NEWEST ADDITION TO OUR E-INCUBATOR TOOLS

Let's launch your idea
TOGETHER!

CALL TODAY!

Office: (401) 780-8866
Email: info@urbanventuresri.org

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