Through PhillyiHub, budding entrepreneurs turn ideas into action plans.
Since 2016, Mt. Airy CDC has spearheaded the PhillyiHub’s business training program that is FREE to qualified and approved candidates from across the city and surrounding area. The program is managed by PhillyiHub Coordinator Aaron Crump, and the curriculum is led by Power Up Your Business at the Community College of Philadelphia.
As of 2024, the program is currently funded through a generous grant from TD Bank.
The next PhillyiHub cohort will begin on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
We accept applications on a rolling basis; however, please be aware that you will not be contacted about your application until at maximum a month prior to the cohort start date.
“PhillyiHub was a definitive moment for me when I realized what I had in mind for a small business could actually work. I appreciate the partnership with Aaron and all his Mt. Airy CDC colleagues to get to this moment, and those to come.” – Chris Petersen, Mt. Airy Coffee Co. (pictured above) Read more of Chris’ story
About PhillyiHub
PhillyiHub was launched by Mt. Airy CDC in 2016. Since the opening reception with Mayor Jim Kenney, the iHub has cycled through several cohorts of students, drawing from immigrant populations, existing businesses looking to grow, and startup entrepreneurs.
Cohort members make connections with fellow business owners, learn about a wealth of available resources, and visualize their businesses — and business plans — on a road map identifying strengths and weaknesses.
Instructor
Timothy Daniel, Power Up Your Business and Center for Small Business, Community College of Philadelphia
Typical Curriculum
** PLEASE NOTE: Curriculum is subject to change for future cohorts. **
A schedule of six, three-hour weekly classes is led by Timothy Daniel via Zoom.
The outline of classes is tentatively as follows:
WEEK ONE: Meet and Greet/Business Model Canvas
- What are the key skills, resources, and knowledge you need to be an entrepreneur?
- Do you have the right product or service?
- Identifying the right customers that will pay for your product or service
- How will you fund your startup?
WEEK TWO: Personal Financing Intro to Research & Resources
- How do you price your product or service?
- Determining the amount of capital you need to start your business
- How much money do you need to keep the business going (cash flow)?
WEEK THREE: Industry Studies & Social Media Marketing Strategy
- Determining market demand for a product or service
- Customer interviews and market research
- Competition and industry research
- Utilizing the Lean Canvas model to validate your idea
- Branding and articulating your message and unique value proposition
- Strategies for startups to find the right customers
WEEK FOUR: Operations Planning & Legal Forms
- Location of the business
- Licensing, legal, and insurance
- Hiring the right team and outsourcing
- Developing operational processes for a sustainable business model through systems and technology
WEEK FIVE: Projections & Financials/Final Preparations
WEEK SIX: Visualizing Your Business Through the Lean Canvas Model/Slide Deck Presentations
- Each person presents their business model canvas and gets feedback from classmates and invited guests
- Share community resources and next steps
Go Mt. Airy Business Association