Startups

When Robert Fecteau wanted to test the market for his own bread recipes while working for Five Loaves Bakery in Spencer, he didn't turn to his own storefront or online sales. Rather, he brought his products to the Crompton Collective farmers market in Worcester's Canal District.

These Central Massachusetts businesses filed incorporation papers with the Massachusetts Secretary of State's Office from April 1-15, 2015.

For nine lucky first-time entrepreneurs, July 14 could be the day their dreams are realized. For the third summer, Hopkinton-based science and technology incubator TechSandBox will give them a chance to make their case for critical financing. “It's hard to network your way to investors, especially as a first-time entrepreneur,” said Barb Finer, TechSandBox's CEO.

Find a need and fill it. Find a product and improve it. Add value and make money doing it. That's Richard Domaleski's strategy for the company he founded in 2012, Worcester-based Mansfield Holdings Group LLC.

All too often, entrepreneurs move quickly to spend precious resources that they don't have to launch a product they believe is perfect into a market they're convinced is huge. And they do this without doing much, if any, market research.But what should you do with that cool idea?

A recent report ranked Massachusetts 34th in the nation when it comes to growth of women-owned businesses in the last 18 years.

In some circles big business has taken it on the chin for the widening income disparity between...

Framingham's Virgin Pulse, which helps companies improve the well-being of their employees, has raised $92 million in additional funding.

Worcester's Running Start has joined the Workbar Network, allowing its members to use space in six different locations in Massachusetts.

<i>(Editor's Note: Inspiration and Innovation, which focuses on entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship, is a new column written by Jeff Schiebe that will run in every other edition of the Worcester Business Journal.)</i>