Harbor EC serving as a north star for biz leaders
Moultrie News July 21, 2024
With more than 50 percent of businesses failing within their first five years — according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics — The Harbor Entrepreneur Center has cracked the code on providing new founders with a roadmap to the promised land of survival and forthcoming success.
As the guest speaker at the July 18 Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, Harbor EC Executive Director Grady Johnson apprised attendees of his group’s mission to help drive young firms toward revenue in rapid fashion.
Featuring locations in West Ashley and Mount Pleasant, the Harbor contingent consists of an assortment of eclectic business leaders who rent offices and/or desk space to create an environment of mentorship and constant ideation.
“You create some reasons to come together, you have some programming. But the real magic just happens walking around, talking to people in the hallway,” began the lifelong Mount Pleasant resident in referencing Harbor EC’s 11 Ewall St. site, across from Trader Joe’s on Johnnie Dodds Boulevard.
Novices and grizzled business titans alike benefit from the daily interfacing that takes place between individuals from a varied array of industries, according to Johnson — himself a former publisher and entrepreneur.
“It’s that mentoring, it’s that peer-to-peer coaching that happens that serendipitously makes an entrepreneur center a working, vibrant place,” he stated.
Johnson highlighted the center’s hardware accelerator program that surrounds young companies with seasoned advisors who can steer upstarts away from common time-tested pitfalls.
One of these mistakes, he shared, is investing considerable capital in the development of a product or service without assessing if there’s a market for the offering.
“It sounds kind of trite and cliché, but if you let your customer design your product, you will have much better success,” continued the founding member of the Charleston Regional Business Journal.
During a brief Q&A session, Johnson addressed specific industries and/or business models he’s worked with and mentioned how software companies are easier to scale (i.e. the ability to increase revenues faster than the rise of operational costs) than physical products saddled with manufacturing and supply-chain issues.
In addition, the third-year executive director noted that Harbor EC also counsels established founders with flatlining companies in need of a refresh and/or reboot.
Chamber members were also reminded that Harbor EC is currently accepting applications for its spring cohort and is welcoming new mentors to join them in the “fun” and “rewarding” experience of piloting entrepreneurs to new horizons.
For more information on The Harbor Entrepreneur Center, visit www.Harborec.com.
