QEDC has been instrumental in my ability to start up an organic catering business in Northeast Queens. They provide education, mentoring and best of all, Entrepreneur Space as well as host events for networking. I never knew they had so much to offer. Their consultants are amazing and I am grateful.
QEDC (Queens Economic Development Corp) provides the mentoring and practical assistance required to start and grow a business.
From the first idea to taking all the baby (but necessary) steps to writing a business plan to getting a loan; their various counselors are knowledgeable on how to navigate what has to be done. Counseling is free and you can see them as many times as you need.
In addition, their weekly e-blasts on local events happening to publicizing local businesses is very helpful. The plethora of seminars, workshops from a series to one-off events bring a wealth of information to all entrepreneurs.
I highly recommend working with them to start and grow your business.
I highly recommend QEDC. Everyone working there, especially Kathrine, are amazing and a huge source for building your business. They also put you in contact with many business opportunities, and try to promote your business. The mission of QEDC is also very good. They are giving second chances to previous incarcerated individuals. We have the pleasure to work with one of them, Mike. He is a great worker, and he is very helpful.
I am proud to have just finished the Entrepreneur Assistance Program (EAP) at QEDC. This has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Starting a new business is a challenging endeavor to say the least. That's why I am so pleased to have found and enrolled in this program. From day one they treated me like family, showing true concern for my business plans and sharing the joys of my successes, along with providing thoughtful guidance when I most needed it. All I have to say is "WOW". The QEDC, has touched my life, and placed me on the path toward success. I'm now inspired me pass it forward and help entrepreneurs myself.
Queens Economic Development Corporation has helped me bring my dreams of a chocolate company to reality. Coming from a corporate background, I knew nothing about a food start-up. In 2 years, their guidance has helped me produce and package International Chocolate Truffles and Bars to major corporations such as Google, Santander Bank, and Roger Vivier. Looking forward to growing the brand and raising more awareness for Queens based businesses together.
The Entrepreneur Space in LIC is a great place to grow your food business. The staff is great, good equipment, the space is clean and there are so many success stories of clients you can learn from!
Luv Michael is a not for profit 501C3 organization that helps train educate and employ people living with autism...The employment comes in the form of making a delicious, organic, gluten, dairy & nut-free granola...When Luv Michael was started over 3 years ago we needed a space to make our granola. We also needed a gluten free kitchen and classroom space for the education component of our program..And then one amazing day we found Kathrine Gregory, Managing Consultant for The Entrepreneur Space Incubator in Long Island City. We then met her amazing team and we are so grateful for them. We rent the space 2 days a week for our program and production. The space is great and their team is wonderful and so supportive of our needs. This space allows our employees...we call them Granologists, to be in a commercial kitchen utilizing real equipment. For a start-up business we cannot recommend enough how great The Entrepreneur Space Incubator is to get a business up and running. We also appreciate the help, connections made and encouragement from Kathrine Gregory and the entire team at The Entrepreneur Space Incubator. This space is a godsend for us and so many other small businesses.
QEDC are true facilitators. They give me the opportunity to build a food business which otherwise i could not do. Being a successful food start up requires amongst everything else a reliable and helpful kitchen space. After 5+ years working with QEDC i can say that they are exacty that - a partner you can count on!!! Thank you to all the people behind that initiative. Words can not describe how vital you are for us the food entreprenuers. Vlad. www.hungrybars.com
The Queens Economic Development Corporation offers a wealth of business development services to help entrepreneurs in the area develop their businesses and thrive. My baking business especially benefits from having access to the support, guidance, and commercial kitchen facilities of the Entrepreneur Space. Being able to rent production space on an as-needed basis with all the major equipment I require has been critical to my ability to launch and keep my business running. Various classes, events, and opportunities offered by the QEDC have helped me to grow the business. I have learned a great deal from my time working at the Entrepreneur Space facility and from being a part of this community of entrepreneurs.
Thanks to QEDC and their relationship with The Entrepreneur Space we were able to start our sustainable food business and grow it for the last 8 years. Their knowledge and connections have made all the difference. We would have never succeeded without them. Gordon Bennett, Founding Partner
I am the CEO of Biggie's Crack Toffee and my business, which is now a great success, would not have been possible without the help of the QEDC. I so appreciate the assistance they provide in every arena from great advice to creating opportunities for makers in Queens to sell their products. I work via The Entreprenuer's Space and the people there are savvy, passionate and care a great deal about helping businesses make it (which is no mean feat when you are juggling so many small business in one space). I interviewed many place before deciding on E Space and the QEDC and am always thankful I did! I would highly recommend working with them...they really care about your business
QEDC brings a wealth of business experience and love to the Borough of Queens; helping business of all types start and then grow to success. One of the many programs of QEDC is the Entrepreneur Space Incubator. This is a 12,000 sq ft facility hosting the start and growth of food businesses.
To date over 650 businesses have started there and then as they grew-- stretched their wings (learning fundamentals of sound business practices), gained strength (obtained clients and generated revenue); they flew away to their own location.
The Kitchen incubator provides the basics which includes professional kitchen equipment which can easily cost $30,000 and more, to allow these foodpreneurs the ability to start their food business in a financially prudent manner, as they use the kitchen incubator to prove that their passion for their food is well received by the general public. This completely equipped facility is an excellent base; when it is allied with the free business/marketing counseling, the chances of success increase greatly.
The food industry has many wonderful businesses created with passion, but these creative foodpreneurs need the direction, the practical assistance to take a great recipe from their home kitchen to the public. QEDC and The Entrepreneur Space provide that nurturing, supportive ambiance allowing them to flourish.
If there were a 6th star I would rate QEDC all 6 stars! Everyone at the office located in Kew Gardens is so helpful with their honest feedback and are all willing to lend their expertise in whatever you need. Which, is a big part in why they are extremely helpful in advising for your business, because while they all can help with general business situations they each have a field that they specialize in so you get real expert advise. And it doesn't matter which advisor you have, all of the advisors will jump in to lend their specialty in the area of business you need help with. I have had Bhavna as a business advisor, but she has become so much more than that! She has helped with every little detail of me starting my business from concept to execution. I was a contestant in the QEDC Business Pitch Competition, and it was primarily her help that helped me with the competition and helped me win the seed money for my startup. She has gone above and beyond by attending meetings and entrepreneur events with me that will give me more valuable experience and feedback, as well as been a great ear to listen when I'm going through challenges with my business. Which brings me to my next point, Bhavna (especially) and the QEDC have continued to be a support for my business after I have started, there is no start and end time or date or point in you business that they drop you. You can pick up the phone at anytime and they will continue to help you at any point of you business. I would not only recommend QEDC services, I would strongly urge all entrepreneurs and business owners to utilize their FREE services. Everyone can use sound and valuable business advise even if you have been in business for years, a new eye and perspective can give you ideas to grow and expand your existing business. And of course new businesses have the most to gain from QEDC, even at he concept stage. They can be a sound board for you to see how viable is your business idea and how can you improve and most importantly how to execute. Also, as Bhavna has done for me, the advisors can connect you with valuable people in your industry to help with the next stages of you business, so the networking opportunities in of itself is worth it for any business at any stage.
I am so thankful for QEDC, Bhavna and all they have done for my business!
The QEDC builds businesses, creates jobs and provides entrepreneurs the tools they need to succeed.
When I started Amuse Pooch Treats, I knew I needed a commercial kitchen to rent -- I found one at the Entrepreneur Space. I discovered so much more after my first & subsequent working days at the kitchen. It is a kitchen incubator; they provide the tools, information, contacts and direction that are vital to launching a successful business.
Starting a new business is very challenging, exciting, nerve racking and downright scary. Knowing that you have experts that can advise you and be honest is priceless - The team at the Entrepreneur Space does just that.
I have also worked with MiQ and am a proud participant in the Made in Queens programs - they offer opportunities that would otherwise not be available to a new business.
In closing, the QEDC have provided me with tools to work smarter and build my business. Hopefully soon, I can return the favor.
QEDC is more than a nonprofit organization. They are true advocates and mentors. The program does not "hand hold" you; instead, they help to guide and encourage you to become successful. They give honest, regardless of how painful, comments and direction. They would have a specialized presenter attend every week. And of course we would also have access to those individuals after the fact because of our association with QEDC.
Everyone (ESPECIALLY BAHVNA) that works for the program is extremely knowledgeable and helps to put the battery you need in your back. QEDC also provides technical support and/or will provide you with outside resources/people. You will not regret joining this program. If anything, you will regret not participating. As a matter of fact, the main reason the program helped me thrive is because of my group's sponsored mentor...Malla Haridat. She helped us to THINK. She didn't give us the answers. Instead, she helped us to pick apart our business idea(s) and figure out why it will or won't work. AWESOME. Malla and QEDC...AWESOME. Malla, had such an impact on all of us to the point where we ended up dubbing her the "Dream Crusher". The name Dream Crusher was in no way an insult. Instead, it was given with love and adoration. Malla, and at times Bahvna, would pick apart our initial (potentially) failure of a business idea and/or plan. And they made us THINK. Malla made us think things through. She made us actually put our business ideas and plans into motion. If/when it didn't make sense or wasn't strong enough, Malla would make the person think it through and come to our own conclusion. Because of QEDC, I was fortunate enough to meet Malla and Bahvna. It would always tickle me when Malla would be called the Dream Crusher in class and that huge smile would come on her face. (In true Malla fashion she embraced the Dream Crusher title.)
If you have a business idea before you invest money or time, I would highly recommend you consult with QEDC, and of course Malla Haridat, FIRST. You won't regret it. If anything, you will come out a winner.