SMARTstartSMARTstart Incubator Member Moves Into Their Own Space
April 19, 2022
The Incubator Program gives start-ups a 2-year period for them to grow their business by providing access to office space, a commercial kitchen, and more.
PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA (April 19, 2022) — The Pasco Economic Development Council’s (Pasco EDC) entrepreneurship program, SMARTstart, provides start-up businesses with an opportunity to start and grow their business. The Business Incubator Program is one of the programs that works to achieve this goal.
“The SMARTstart incubator network is taking off; we currently have the highest number of incubator members to date. RhinoSmash is a perfect example of how this program is designed to work, to grow businesses in the incubator until they are ready to succeed on their own,” shared Bill Cronin, Pasco EDC President/CEO.
SMARTstart has three (3) incubator locations throughout Pasco County which offer private offices, coworking space, access to a commercial kitchen, digital media studios, and more. Incubator members have access to all three locations giving them the opportunity to work wherever they may need to be throughout the county. The incubator program currently has fifty-one (51) members, the largest number of members yet since the program began in 2013.
RhinoSmash Sauce Co. (RhinoSmash) is a hot sauce company that was able to start their business because of the SMARTstart incubator kitchen. Recently, they have found their own location which is based in Zephyrhills so they will be leaving the SMARTstart incubator program.
“If it weren't for SMARTstart, we very well may not have started our business. It was very affordable, the amount of business advice alone would have been worth it,” stated Matthew Zambrana, RhinoSmash co-founder. The company graduated from the incubator program after a six (6) month period as the business began to grow rapidly.
RhinoSmash products can be found online at www.RhinoSmash.com, as well as at several local restaurants and retailers which can be seen online at their website.
If you are interested in learning more about SMARTstart and the incubator program, please visit www.smartstartpasco.com/business-incubators.
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About Pasco Economic Development Council
The Pasco Economic Development Council is committed to developing Florida's most competitive climate for business growth by providing businesses, that seek to start, move, or grow in the North Tampa Bay area, a comprehensive suite of programs that can help them to reach their full economic potential. Since 1987, Pasco EDC has fostered a strong partnership funded by corporate and public investors focused on the economic vitality of Pasco County. Discover more at www.pascoedc.com.