WILLIAM M. FACTORY
small business
incubator
We are a non-profit that provides an opportunity to nurture carefully selected, smaller, locally owned firms and entrepreneurs through their formative years. We are here to provide resources, mentorship, and connections for emerging entrepreneurs and business.
What we do…
We TURN InTeREST INto action
Financial Capital
We promote access to financial capital through banks, venture funds and connections with angel investors.
Workshops
Education, Dialogue and mentoring are delivered through our diverse offering of workshops where entrepreneurs test their new ideas.
Technology
Access to Zoom communications, webinars, Adobe Pro and the Daily Journal of Commerce allow us to customize entrepreneurial assistance.
Business Strategy
Entrepreneurs can share ideas and increase knowledge from SranamaMitra’s 1M by 1M Roundtables, Stanford’s Social Innovation network, Harvard Business School webinars, MIT Entrepreneurship courses and an Incubator Google classroom for idea stage, startup phase and expanding enterprises.
Mentors & Coaches
We work with a number of Federal, State, and Local business support organizations including the Service Corps of Retired Executives, The Small Business Administration and local volunteers / successful business owners .
Connections
Network with global gateways in Seattle and elsewhere that allow Incubator clients to gain entry to the world marketplace. Connect entrepreneurs with professional volunteer mentors via LinkedIn matchmaking service.
Generating New Ideas, Solving Big Problems.
If you are interested in receiving assistance for your business please complete the survey linked below. Space is limited to receive one on one assistance but our workshops are free and open to the public. Filling out this survey will put you on our email list to receive updates about events, workshops, and resources. It will also put you in line to receive more direct help through our mentorship program and one on one services. We operate on a first come first serve basis so please complete the survey immediately to be eligible for our direct services.
Companies started
YEARS OF BUILDING
Jobs created
AMAZING COMMUNITY
leadership team
Mentors, Managers, Coaches, Brainstormers, Mind Mappers, Entrepreneurs, Cheerleaders, Networkers, Incubators, Friends.
Tim Strege
Executive Director
Tim has been a pioneering presence in the development of business incubators. He and his team at the William Factory small business incubator have aided and supported the formation of countless small enterprises, and served as a valuable model that others have followed.
Bethany Montgomery
Director of Outreach & Engagement
MBA and a former student athlete, Bethany has experience in team building productivity, and start up management. Playing collegiate basketball at the highest level (Division 1), and founding and running her own startup endeavors has imbued Bethany with the spirit and energy of an entrepreneur.
William Factory
Founder
Bill Factory made enormous contributions to the community for over 40 years. He was instrumental in correcting past injustices that restricted African American Families from purchasing homes in local neighborhoods. Bill Factory was chair of the Building Committee for the Eastside Baptist Church, a faithful deacon and trustee. With his wife, Fumiko Sumi, he raised his sons Michael and Darnell, and daughter Doris in East Tacoma.
NEWS
So you have a business and business is good. Now how do you make it better? The best businesses are always looking for ways to improve, whether that’s offering better products or adopting more efficient processes. Here’s how you can take your business to the next level.
The New York Times – Kristin Wong
The U.S. Small Business Administration maintains a robust website that covers many of the various aspects of starting and operating a business. From funding and mentoring to step-by-step guides that can walk you through the complex decision making need to start & grow your business.
Want to learn from the some of the best and brightest in the world of business? Have a look at the Harvard Alumni business stories website. There you will learn via interactive presentations, articles, and videos what thought leaders in nearly every industry have to say.
Are you considering joining supportive communities on social media to support the growth of your business? Then you should consider joining the nearly 200K business owners and experts in the Linkedin group “Linkedin for Small Business owners”
Idea & Pitch Competition Semi-finalists:
Darryl Crews
The January Group
A multimedia business with tenticles that extend into the worlds of music, television, politial communication and social advocacy.
Safira Sanders
Edit Code
Edit code is a startup digital retail experience and clothing brand specializes in women’s and men’s clothing and accessories.
Keven Guynn
Apatite Tableware
My company specializes in handmade chopsticks and cutlery, encouraging customers to reduce the use of disposable utensils.
Markiss Cooper
iHaul
On demand delivery and moving of large or oversized items in the greater Seattle area.
Paula Davidson
Trash Talk Tacoma
Building a positive movement for creating sustainable solutions in our circular economy.
Jason Miller
The Financial App
Dewanna Bell
Details Creations
I want to be a personal chef who also hosts small parties for clients and customers in the comfort of their own home.
Michael Okoro
Limitless Apparel
A clothing store in Tacoma geared to motivation and education of local youth combined with practical experience.
Melissa Littleton
Reversible Clothing
A clothing line designed and marketed with reversible sides, environmentally friendly, interactively designed to reduce cost and carbon footprint.
From Our Clients
“The team at the Incubator provided critical insights on how to run a small business. They are focused on the real world challenges that every startup entrepreneur faces, but may not know how to deal with. The folks at the incubator really know this startup game.”
William Factory Small Business Incubator
Let’s Start Something new
Say Hello!
6501 S 19th St, Tacoma, WA 98466 Building 19 Office Rooms 52 & 54
(253) 722-5800