A tale of two companies helped by the Spartanburg Entrepreneurial Resource Network
Company: Core Care Medical
Product: Technology firm providing workflow solutions for the medical market
SERN Experience: Core Care’s founders were already experienced in the industry and wanted to stay and grow in Spartanburg. With guidance from Steven Hahn at the Spartanburg Economic Futures Group, they found operating space at the Center for Business and Entrepreneurial Development at Spartanburg Community College’s Tyger River Campus in Duncan.
Payoff: Co-founder Stan McDaniel said being associated with a concerted effort that’s rubber-stamped by some of the most important business-related organizations has helped attract high-quality talent to Core Care.
“It’s like two [recruits] jumped in our lap,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel said the office space allows flexibility to contract and expand operations without affecting overhead. The space and connection with the larger business community lends Core Care an important veneer of legitimacy. It lets potential employees and business partners know that “we’re not doing stuff out of the trunk of our car,” he said.
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Company: Junk Matters
Service: Recycling and composting for cafeterias and restaurants
SERN Experience: Wofford student Joseph McMillin created a business plan at The Space, which then connected him with Beth Smith at the Spartanburg SBDC to hone it. Smith then introduced him to Steven Hahn at the Spartanburg Chamber, who sharpened the financial portion of the plan.
Payoff: Having his plan combed through by SBDC helped McMillin win The Space’s business plan contest, with a prize of $5,000 and a year of space at the Iron Yard business accelerator. Operating from there since summer, Junk Matters’ clients include about 40 private businesses and about 60 schools.
“Every person [in SERN] has their strengths and their weaknesses, so they all had something that helped that they bring to business as a whole,” McMillin said.
