Through the HerHub initiative, we hope to encourage and build confidence for new women-owned businesses and elevate the visibility of the existing women’s groups, businesses, and events by building a large, diverse, inclusive, comprehensive network.

We are extending an opportunity to all women-owned businesses to expand the way they network and help bridge the network gap through an Accelerator Scholarship Fund. By partnering with various networking organizations and funders of the Accelerator, we will help introduce and support HerHub Members’ participation in various networking opportunities locally.

The initial investment of the Accelerator project was funded by a grant from the Toledo Rotary Foundation with additional support from the Toledo Business Growth Collaborative Funding Pool Program, conveyed by Jumpstart, Northwest Ohio.

“For the past few decades, economists, governments, and private-sector professionals have focused on solutions such as accessible, quality education to bridge the skills divide, among many other fixes. But an often-overlooked asset to address economic inequality in business is networking” –Julie Wuench.

Accelerator Fellowship Program

Program 1:
Open to All

STEP 1:
Submit Application/Join HerHub

Apply for Accelerator Scholarship and receive $99 support towards first-year annual HerHub membership.

STEP 2: Participate in Toledo Business Growth Collaborative (TBGC).

Convened by JumpStart, this collaborative network consists of existing small business assistance organizations in the greater Toledo community.

Step 3:
Optional Step (Participate as interested)

  • Participate in Business Round-table with Women of Toledo
  • Participate in Mentorship Institute 

Program 2:
Minority-Owned Businesses Only

**As part of targeted grant initiatives

STEP 1:
Submit Application/Join HerHub

Apply for Accelerator Scholarship and receive $99 support towards first-year annual HerHub membership.

STEP 2:
Join 1 of the Following Networking Organizations:

(Free for first-year annual membership)

  • Any Chamber of Commerce (of your choice)
  • The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) 
  • The Northwest Ohio Women’s Business Council (WBC)

Step 3:
Participate in a Minimum of 1 Program

  • Participate in Business Round-table with Women of Toledo
  • Participate in Mentorship Institute 
  • Participate in Toledo Business Growth Collaborative

Program Partners Overview

Business Networking International: BNI®

BNI® provides a positive, supportive, and structured environment for the development and exchange of quality business referrals. In Northwest Ohio alone, our 620 members provided over 26,000 referrals in 2019, leading to over $21 million in closed business. Our average member last year made over $35,000 from the relationships in their BNI chapter! Membership in BNI® offers access to business training, peer learning, and opportunities to build relationships with hundreds of thousands of BNI® members around the world.

Time commitment: Weekly meeting, depending on BNI chapter chosen

bninwo.com

Third Generation Networking

Third Generation Networking helps our participants to develop strongly committed referral partners so that referrals happen on a regular predictable basis.  We do this by offering classes; either our ten-week series https://www.connextnation.com/ or our very short, 21-minute training sessions (https://www.connextnation.com/212121-2/

The courses are interactive and provide a manual or worksheet resources that help students to use the concepts they learn. This program also known as the Master Class in networking.

Time commitment: 21-21-21 Networking Training – Sessions run the first Friday of the month

ConnextNation.com/212121

Northwest Ohio Mentoring Program

Through collaborative efforts, partnering with Northwest Ohio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (NOHCC), Toledo African American Chamber of Commerce, and Women of Toledo, Northwest Ohio Mentoring Program offers multiple methodology types of mentoring including Team Mentoring, Light Mentoring, Ad hoc Mentoring, Episodic Mentoring, Special variants, Higher and continuing education (student), Non-scaling Mentoring, and Upcoming – Online Q&A forums. Time commitment:

Time commitment: 1.5 hours monthly mentoring session.

Maumee Chamber of Commerce

The purpose of the Maumee Chamber of Commerce is to be the leader in promoting cooperation among businesses and fostering a quality environment for the citizens of Maumee.

Time commitment: Monthly luncheon, 11:30 am to 1 pm, 2nd Tuesday of the Month

maumeechamber.com

Momentum Circle with Women of Toledo

Momentum Circle offers support and assistance (technical & non-technical) for women-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and start-ups. Women are increasingly harnessing their entrepreneurial spirit, and it is critical to encourage and support this behavior with a focus to eliminate obstacles and facilitate the growth of their businesses.

Time commitment: Monthly meeting, 7:30 pm to 9 pm, 1st Wednesday

womenoftoledo.org/momentum

Toledo Business Growth Collaborative (TBGC)

Convened by JumpStart, this collaborative network consists of existing small business assistance organizations in the greater Toledo community.

Time commitment: 1 cycle of Deal Flow/Technical Assistance, up to 3 meetings

jumpstartinc.org/about/our-networks/toledo-bgc