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 InTREST INto action
Financial Capital
We promote access to financial capital through banks, Seattle Area VC’s and digital lending sources such as InvestNextDoor.
Workshops
Education, Dialogue and mentoring are delivered through our diverse offering of workshops where entrepreneurs test their new ideas.
Technology
Provide licensed Microsoft software, Daily Journal of Commerce, web conferencing & resources that enhance entrepreneurial activities.
Business Strategy
Share ideas & programs with emerging entrepreneurship groups such as IgniteWA (Chaitra Vedullapalli), Puget Sound Professionals (Susan Issacs) and others.
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, Entreprenuers, 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.
Managing Your Business & preparing for Contracting Opportunities
Understanding the Solicitation and Proposal Development
Introduction to Estimating and Bidding
Insurance and Bonding
Change Orders and Negotiations
Working with Prime Contractors, Subcontracting, and Joint Ventures
Bid Readiness – Considerations and Assessments
Thinking of a startup enterprise? NEED SOME ENERGY?
TCC & the William Factory Incubator offer no-cost support for entrepreneurs.
Orientation sessions for new entrepreneurs and those thinking of starting an enterprise;
Workshops on topics important to business creation and expansion;
One-on-one sessions with Incubator personnel & consultants to assist with launching a business; and
Matchmaking with professional volunteer mentors to meet monthly with student entrepreneurs on topics related to their enterprise.
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 socail 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”
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.”
Let’s Start Something new
Say Hello!
6501 S 19th St, Tacoma, WA 98466 Building 19 Office Rooms 52 & 54
(253) 722-5800