Startup Alleghenies Cambria County holds launch party

Published by Tribune Democrat | September 22, 2017

[Read Original Article and See Photos and Video in Tribute Democrat]

Although Startup Alleghenies’ Cambria County chapter did not hold its official launch party until Thursday at Westwood Plaza Theatre, the organization has – for months – already been helping entrepreneurs develop new business ideas or expand existing enterprises.

So far, the organization has worked with more than a dozen business developers, according to Jose Otero, Startup Alleghenies’ entrepreneur coach and procurement specialist for Cambria County.

The mission of the organization is to provide services, such as marketing, accounting, business plan development and other forms of assistance needed by startups or young companies.

“I guess the question is: What do you need and why? What are you trying to accomplish?” Otero said.

Dozens of individuals came together for the gathering.

“We’re hoping to be able to link up all the different individuals that are here, so that they can come up with new products, ideas or continue moving forward with their own product or idea that they currently have right now,” Otero said.

Startup Alleghenies is comprised of partners, including Johnstown Area Regional Industries and the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern PA, which helps technology-based businesses deal with issues such as intellectual property, trademark and patents.

Along with working with Startup Alleghenies, the Ben Franklin organization is sponsoring a Big Idea Contest for companies in its local 12-county region that includes Cambria, Indiana, Somerset and Bedford. The application deadline is Oct. 2. More details can be found at https://cnp.benfranklin.org/2017-big-idea-contest/.

“The Big Idea contest is a way for us to attract emerging entrepreneurs, people who have ideas,” said Jerry Hudson, from the Ben Franklin Technology Partners.

Prizes for the contest total $50,000.