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“Through these efforts we broaden the definition of what an entrepreneur is and share the stories of what it’s really like to start and grow a business in this community. We also offer ecosystem navigation services,” Collider says. These are free, confidential support services for early-stage starters in Rochester. entrepreneurs to understand challenges they’re facing with their business and working to remove those barriers through advice and consultation and forming a trusted bridge to other organizations in the community that are a good fit for that entrepreneur. “And lastly, we offer a program called CO.STARTERS to help starters think through their business idea, get connected into the community, and figure out the next steps they need to take to turn their idea into action,” Leightner says. The Current Landscape Just like all things in business, the entrepreneurial landscape in Rochester ebbs and flows as the economy warrants. As Leightner points out, the rate of new entrepreneurship across the U.S. has been on the rise since the start of the COVID pandemic. However, this has largely been out of necessity, not opportunity. Through this work, Collider takes a highly individualized approach, meeting with “The demographics of who is an entrepreneur is also changing. The percentage of new entrepreneurs who identify as White has been steadily decreasing in the U.S.; the LatinX population has seen the largest increase in the rate of new entrepreneurs in the U.S. over the last few years, and new entrepreneurs who identify as Black have seen a steep increase since the start of 2022,” Leightner says. “But everyone who wants to start a business does
who want to pursue entrepreneurship in this community,” Leightner says. “We’re seeing a lot of individuals who want to start a business and pursue a passion, but aren’t sure of the first steps to take. We hope to be able to mitigate some of the challenges they will be facing to get their idea up and running and give them the best chance of business success in this community.” On the Horizon With three years under its proverbial belt in Rochester’s nonprofit and entrepreneurial space, Collider continues to gage the impact of the organization’s services to make sure they are creating and building things that meet gaps facing entrepreneurs in the community. “We will continually connect with the people we want to serve and gage gaps in services to these individuals to consider where Collider should move toward in the future,” Leightner says. Downs adds that Collider is growing and making a bigger and bigger impact on the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Rochester. “Teaming up with the Rochester Economic Development Center on the 6th floor of the Biobusiness Center, which will house RAEDI, SBDC, the Black Entrepreneurship Team, and over 11,0000 square feet of Collider co-working space, the group will be a go-to place for a range of services to help Rochester entrepreneurs,” Downs says. “Come check us out.”
Collider is growing and making a bigger and bigger impact on the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Rochester.
not have the same access to resources, opportunities, and networks to help their business start and thrive.” Collider’s research has shown that women and entrepreneurs of color in Rochester feel barriers to starting a business at a rate up to three times higher than their White male counterparts. “However, multiple resources in the community, and a steady employment landscape, offer opportunities to people
Photo by Corrie Strommen
Advantage Magazine | 5
September 2022
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