Wmlbs Inc

WMLBS INC DOING BUSINESS AS LIVING LOCAL WILL USE THE SBA CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING AWARD TO SUPPORT THE LIVING LOCAL 413 VENTURE STUDIO FOR WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS ENTREPRENEURS FROM AUGUST 1 2026 THROUGH JULY 31 2028. THE PROJECT WILL SERVE ENTREPRENEURS STARTUPS AND EARLY STAGE BUSINESS TEAMS ACROSS BERKSHIRE FRANKLIN HAMPDEN AND HAMPSHIRE COUNTIES IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE STRUCTURED MENTORSHIP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT STARTUP READINESS TRAINING ACCESS TO CAPITAL PREPARATION AND CONNECTIONS TO REGIONAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERS. GRANT FUNDED ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE CONTRACTED MENTORSHIP AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOPS CURRICULUM BUSINESS SUPPORT RESOURCES COWORKING AND INCUBATION ACCESS PROGRAM COORDINATION OUTREACH PARTICIPANT SUPPORT PROJECT EVALUATION AND REPORTING. THESE ACTIVITIES WILL HELP ENTREPRENEURS MOVE FROM EARLY IDEAS AND EARLY STAGE CONCEPTS TOWARD STRONGER BUSINESS MODELS CLEARER MARKET VALIDATION IMPROVED PITCH READINESS AND BETTER ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO LAUNCH AND GROW. THE PROJECT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED OVER 24 MONTHS AND WILL INCLUDE THREE ROUNDS OF ACCELERATOR PROGRAMMING. LIVING LOCAL WILL TRACK THREE PRIMARY PERFORMANCE MEASURES. THE FIRST MEASURE IS THE NUMBER OF ENTREPRENEURS OR STARTUP TEAMS SERVED. THE SECOND MEASURE IS THE NUMBER OF MENTORSHIP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOP OR BUSINESS SUPPORT ENGAGEMENTS COMPLETED. THE THIRD MEASURE IS THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING ENTREPRENEURS OR TEAMS THAT COMPLETE A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MILESTONE SUCH AS MARKET VALIDATION BUSINESS MODEL REFINEMENT PITCH PREPARATION RESOURCE REFERRAL LAUNCH READINESS OR ACCESS TO CAPITAL PREPARATION. THIS PROJECT WILL SUPPORT A MORE ACTIVE AND CONNECTED ENTREPRENEURIAL PIPELINE IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS BY HELPING LOCAL FOUNDERS AND EARLY STAGE BUSINESSES GAIN THE GUIDANCE STRUCTURE AND REGIONAL CONNECTIONS THEY NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.