Keeping it Lean: Finding the Freebies in NYC
Starting up is hard. From developing your idea and finding talent to marketing and partnerships, the list is never-ending. You’ve done all the work, but all of the work in the world isn’t always enough to help you get off the ground because of that annoying roadblock: Money. Fortunately, in New York City there are abundant opportunities for cash strapped companies looking to ease the financial burden of launching a new business. The incentives range from government-subsidized programs to networking groups and strategic events. The freebies are plentiful!
| "The incentives range from government-subsidized programs to networking groups and strategic events. The freebies are plentiful!" |
Here we outline some of the best services, from veteran entrepreneurs who offer mentorships to young companies through accelerators and programs, to legal advice, classes and more. Take a look through some of these options to decide on a place to start.
Straight Talk: Free Advice for Businesses
Proper legal and formation advice is critical for the long-term success of young companies. There are a number of City operated services that feature lawyers and trained small business professionals that assist startups with this process.The New York Small Business Development Center is a great resource to use while navigating the beginning stages of launching a business. Check out their website to book a free appointment with their career advisors. Be prepared to talk about your ideas and managing your plan at the first meeting. In addition to special individual meetings, the center has daily free classes at its many locations around the city. The topics are constantly changing and classes include starting up, taxes, crowd funding, business planning, marketing, and more. Score New York is another leading organization for business support and offers a free counseling service, covering everything from building a business plan to international trade.NYC Business Express is a good place to start for information on applying for permits, licenses and operating your business in NYC. A free service provided by the local government, the program offers starter guides, how-to videos and services to start and expand your business at zero cost. In addition, there are seven Business Solutions Centers in different neighborhoods across the city that focus on assisting entrepreneurs in creating, running and growing their business.The Brooklyn Law Incubator & Policy (“BLIP”) Clinic was created in 2008 as a ways to help emerging tech companies get access to vital legal services that would otherwise be too costly to attain. The clinic has helped more than 500 companies thus far. There are many other lawyers becoming engaged in the tech industry’s potential and offering pro bono services, too. Free advice is out there, you just need to know where to look it.
Getting Involved: Workshops, Classes and Office Hours
There are specialized classes that help give companies a leg up, too. General Assembly, a popular learning company, offers courses in business, technology and design. It also hosts an Introduction to the NYC Startup Community several times each month. The event is a free orientation style class designed to help newcomers dive into the tech community. The class covers “must know” and thriving companies, premiere venture capitalists, accelerators, new insights, and just about everything you need to know when starting up in NYC. It ‘s also a great way to meet others in the field.New York City also plays host to scores of events that allow entrepreneurs to convey their story and share tips on strategies that helped them along the way. If you’re looking for listings of tech happenings in NYC, look no further than Gary’s Guide. The site’s event calendar isn’t the only noteworthy feature; you can also find free classes and advice. Meetup and Evenbrite have also grown in popularity and free tech and startup events can be found almost nightly. Eventbrite even lets you search specifically for the freebies! The New York Public Library is another resource providing a calendar of events for small companies. Not only are these events educational, they are also a great place to practice networking skills. It may just be the place to find your next partner, or who knows, a new co-founder?Need a little help with the technical? The Meetup Group, Hacker Hours, is a free office hours setting that brings learners and experts together. Simply bring your computer, a project, and some questions and the experienced developers will be around to help guide you through your problems. This “free office hours” idea has been catching on in other platforms as well, such as Project Xpresso, a pop-up career fair that matches experienced professionals with aspirant candidates for a 15-minute Skype session.
| "It's tough work, but a creative entrepreneur knows there are possibilities out there for keeping it lean, you just have to know where to look." |
The concept is essentially a “shot of caffeine” for your career, providing a short time slot to pick the brain of someone who’s been there and get you excited for the work ahead. If you’re looking for a mentorship with a little more consistency, applying for a good accelerator program could be a great way to nurture your startup and develop your skills. These programs are extremely competitive but are amazing opportunities for growth. Plus, it’s a great confidence boost to know that an established community believes in your idea, too!It’s tough work, but a creative entrepreneur knows there are possibilities out there for keeping it lean, you just have to know where to look. The NYC tech revolution is full blown--the city is currently home to over 1500 hiring startups. As it grows even bigger, more and more opportunities for the little guys are going to become apart of the norm, helping to keep New York City competitive as one of primary business capitals in the world.