Maricopa SBDC

Start Your Successful Small Business In Person Event!
2025-05-20 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Phoenix) | GateWay Community College, Small Business Development Center, 108 N 40th Street, South Building, PHOENIX, AZ, 85034, United States
Ready to turn your business dreams into reality? Join us for an engaging and informative session designed specifically for new small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. This workshop, Start Your Successful Small Business, will help you navigate today’s dynamic economic landscape with clarity and confidence.
Gain valuable insights on key topics such as business planning, marketing strategies, and financial readiness. Plus, take advantage of free, one-on-one, confidential business counseling provided by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Our experienced counselors are dedicated to helping you at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey — from idea to launch and beyond.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen your strategy, this session is your first step toward building a successful small business.
Speaker: Veronica Moreno
Registration Link:
https://clients.arizonasbdc.com/workshop.aspx?ekey=10450023
Location:
SBDC at Gateway Community College
108 North 40th Street, South Building
Phoenix, AZ 85034

SBIR Overview: How to Leverage America’s Seed Fund
2025-05-21 17:00 - 19:00 | Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios, 59 East 1st Street, Mesa, AZ, 85201, United States
Fundraising can be extremely challenging. The SBIR program is the nation’s largest source of early stage/high risk funding for start-ups and small businesses. The highly competitive SBIR program encourages domestic small businesses to engage in federal research and research development (R&D) that has the potential for commercialization. SBIR enables small businesses to explore technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization. Join us and learn how to fund your innovation-based startup using non-dilutive seed capital provided by the federal government.
Format: In Person:
City of Mesa
Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios facility
59 E 1st St Floor 2
Mesa, AZ 85201
Objectives: (What will participants know and/or be able to do after attending):
Identify if your company is a candidate for SBIR/STTR funding
Review of the start capital landscape and how SBIR funding fits in
Understand the basics of the SBIR/STTR programs.
Appreciate the emphasis on commercialization.
Topics include:
• The startup capital landscape
• SBIR/STTR program goals
• Identification of participating agencies
• The differences between SBIR’s and STTR’s
• Identification of the three-phase process
• Arizona Fast Grant Initiatives
• Availability community resources that can assist
Speaker: Lou Farina
Audience:
* Early stage technology based businesses actively engaged in fundraising
* Newcomers to the SBIR/STTR programs
* Businesses who have previously submitted Phase 1 proposals but have not received awards
* Successful Phase 1 winners

Register Here:
https://clients.arizonasbdc.com/workshop.aspx?ekey=10450021

Start Your Successful Small Business
2025-06-11 12:00 - 13:00 | online
Ready to turn your business dreams into reality? Join us for an engaging and informative session designed specifically for new small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. This workshop, Start Your Successful Small Business, will help you navigate today’s dynamic economic landscape with clarity and confidence.
Gain valuable insights on key topics such as business planning, marketing strategies, and financial readiness. Plus, take advantage of free, one-on-one, confidential business counseling provided by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Our experienced counselors are dedicated to helping you at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey — from idea to launch and beyond.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen your strategy, this session is your first step toward building a successful small business.
Speaker: Carol Pool
Online Event
Bitly:
https://bit.ly/4mH1X36
Register Here:
https://clients.arizonasbdc.com/workshop.aspx?ekey=10450027

What Are My Funding Options? Alternatives For Financing An Early-stage Venture
2025-06-17 17:00 - 19:00 | Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios, 59 East 1st Street, Mesa, AZ, 85201, United States
Securing funding as an early-stage company can be one of the most challenging parts of launching your venture. With so many paths to explore—and countless organizations, individuals, and resources out there—it can be hard to know where to begin. Which funding option fits your goals? How do you even get started? This webinar was created to give you a clear, insightful overview of the different funding avenues available to help your venture grow.
Format: In person
City of Mesa Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios facility
59 E 1st St Floor 2,
Mesa, AZ 85201
Objectives: (What will participants know and/or be able to do after attending): Participants understand the multitude of options for early-stage companies looking obtain funding to start or expand their business. The main aim of this webinar will be to provide a high level overview of the funding landscape while focusing on the pros and cons of each topic.
Topics include:
Self Funding
Grants
Friends & Family
Debt
Crowdfunding
Incubators/Accelerators
Competitions
SBIR/STTR
Angel Investors
Venture Capital
Strategic Investors
Corporate Ventures
Speaker: Lou Farina
Registration: https://clients.arizonasbdc.com/workshop.aspx?ekey=10450026

Start Your Successful Small Business
2025-06-25 16:00 - 17:00 | online
Ready to turn your business dreams into reality? Join us for an engaging and informative session designed specifically for new small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. This workshop, Start Your Successful Small Business, will help you navigate today’s dynamic economic landscape with clarity and confidence.
Gain valuable insights on key topics such as business planning, marketing strategies, and financial readiness. Plus, take advantage of free, one-on-one, confidential business counseling provided by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Our experienced counselors are dedicated to helping you at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey — from idea to launch and beyond.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen your strategy, this session is your first step toward building a successful small business.
Speaker: CJ Johnson
Register:
Online

Start Your Successful Small Business In Person Event
2025-07-09 09:00 - 10:00 | GateWay Community College, Small Business Development Center, 108 N 40th Street, South Building, PHOENIX, AZ, 85034, United States
Register:
Bitly: https://bit.ly/4dJNFdY
Link:
https://clients.arizonasbdc.com/workshop.aspx?ekey=10450035

Funding Info Session
2025-07-09 10:30 - 11:30 | GateWay Community College, Small Business Development Center, 108 N 40th Street, South Building, PHOENIX, AZ, 85034, United States
In Person Event
Join us for the SBDC Funding Info Session to explore funding options and learn how to prepare for business financing. This session covers key financial topics like credit scores, personal and business financial health. We’ll also discuss various funding types, including microloans, SBA loans, commercial loans, private investments, export financing, and grants.
You’ll also learn how the SBDC counselors can provide guidance, financial strategies, and access the right resources to grow your business. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain the tools and insights needed to secure funding for your business!
Registration:
https://bit.ly/4dCvnex
Link: https://clients.arizonasbdc.com/ic/event.aspx?e=10450034&t=3#

Unlocking Opportunities With Federal & Defense Agencies
2025-07-10 09:00 - 13:30 | Gateway Community College – Copper Room in IE Building, 108 N 40th Street, PHOENIX, AZ, 85034, United States
Register Here

Register Here
Gateway Community College
Copper Room in the IE Building
108 North 40th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85034

Start Your Successful Small Business
2025-07-15 09:00 - 10:00 | online
Ready to turn your business dreams into reality? Join us for an engaging and informative session designed specifically for new small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. This workshop, Start Your Successful Small Business, will help you navigate today’s dynamic economic landscape with clarity and confidence.
Gain valuable insights on key topics such as business planning, marketing strategies, and financial readiness. Plus, take advantage of free, one-on-one, confidential business counseling provided by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Our experienced counselors are dedicated to helping you at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey — from idea to launch and beyond.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen your strategy, this session is your first step toward building a successful small business.
Register Here
Online Training
Speaker: Lisa Card

Beyond the Inbox: Unlocking the Power of Automated Email Campaigns
2025-07-16 10:00 - 23:30 | online
Online Training to understand how email automation improves efficiency and engagement as a pillar of your marketing strategies. Key components include mapping out the customer journey and touchpoints for automation, setting objectives for each email in the workflow, identifying trigger events, writing effective automated emails, and much more. Every webinar participant will receive a workbook to help plan and create email automation workflows for any occasion.
Objectives:
By the end of this session, you will understand how to create email automation workflows designed to reach and attract your ideal customers as they go through their customer journey from awareness to purchase. You will use the workbook to map out workflows for various automation campaigns, such as welcome campaigns, abandoned cart reminders, event registration, an educational or training series, and seasonal campaigns.
Topics include:
What is Email Automation?
Understanding the types of automation campaigns
Planning your email automation workflows
Writing effective automation emails with AI assistance
Testing and Optimizing your campaigns
Register Here:
https://bit.ly/43Dok0n
Speaker: Jeri Denniston
Jeri Denniston is the Chief Marketing Strategist in the strategic management coaching and training firm she shares with her husband. Most recently, she was a Certified Small Business Advisor for the Maricopa SBDC after serving as the Director of the Yavapai College Small Business Development Center in Prescott, AZ, for 4 years. She brings more than 35 years of experience in strategic management, business planning, and digital and social media marketing across many industries from small businesses to Fortune 100 enterprises.
Jeri holds certifications in strategic management, the LivePlan business planning tool, Nav credit, and is a Constant Contact Certified Partner and Authorized Local Expert. An author of several articles and eBooks on social media planning, strategic planning, and digital marketing, she has taught social media and internet marketing for 10 years, and presented many webinars on marketing, business planning, and strategy.
Jeri holds a Masters in International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University and a BA in Spanish from Chapman University in California with high proficiency in business-level Spanish.
Audience:
Solo proprietors, small business owners, graphic designers and artists, writers, digital marketers, anyone who is curious about how to use email automation campaigns to increase engagement and expand their list.

Stay on Top of 2025 Tariffs - Changes & Solutions
2025-07-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios, 59 East 1st Street, Mesa, AZ, 85201, United States
Under the Trump administration, frequent regulatory shifts and new tariffs reshaped the market, making it increasingly difficult for businesses to keep up—especially when it comes to export rules. Are you struggling to navigate these constant changes and understand their impact on your business?
We’ll break down the latest tariff updates and export regulations, explain their potential effects on your operations. Most importantly, provide actionable solutions to help you stay compliant and competitive in this evolving landscape.
Speaker: Yanxin (Carol) Laisure-Pool
Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP)

Location:
Mesa Business Builder @ The Studio
59 East 1st Street
Mesa, AZ 58201
Register Here

Start Your Successful Small Business
2025-07-24 12:00 - 13:00 | GateWay Community College, Small Business Development Center, 108 N 40th Street, South Building, PHOENIX, AZ, 85034, United States
Ready to turn your business dreams into reality? Join us for an engaging and informative session designed specifically for new small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. This workshop, Start Your Successful Small Business, will help you navigate today’s dynamic economic landscape with clarity and confidence. Our guest speaker is George Kimble a business analyst from the SBDC.
Gain valuable insights on key topics such as business planning, marketing strategies, and financial readiness. Plus, take advantage of free, one-on-one, confidential business counseling provided by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Our experienced counselors are dedicated to helping you at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey — from idea to launch and beyond.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen your strategy, this session is your first step toward building a successful small business.
Register:
https://bit.ly/4l0xPhn
https://clients.arizonasbdc.com/workshop.aspx?ekey=10450037

Start Your Successful Small Business Online
2025-08-05 09:00 - 10:00 | online
Ready to turn your business dreams into reality? Join us for an engaging and informative session designed specifically for new small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. This workshop, Start Your Successful Small Business, will help you navigate today’s dynamic economic landscape with clarity and confidence.
Gain valuable insights on key topics such as business planning, marketing strategies, and financial readiness. Plus, take advantage of free, one-on-one, confidential business counseling provided by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Our experienced counselors are dedicated to helping you at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey — from idea to launch and beyond.
Whether you’re a new start up or looking to sharpen your strategies, this session is your first step toward building a successful small business.
Speaker: CJ Johnson
https://bit.ly/4m9jPSW
Register Here:

Funding Info Session
2025-08-13 16:00 - 17:00 | Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios, 59 East 1st Street, Mesa, AZ, 85201, United States
In Person Event: Mesa Business Builder @ the Studio
Join us for the SBDC Funding Info Session to explore funding options and learn how to prepare for business financing. This session covers key financial topics like credit scores, personal and business financial health. We’ll also discuss various funding types, including microloans, SBA loans, commercial loans, private investments, export financing, and grants.
You’ll also learn how the SBDC counselors can provide guidance, financial strategies, and access the right resources to grow your business. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain the tools and insights needed to secure funding for your business!
Speaker: Veronica Morena

Registration: https://clients.arizonasbdc.com/workshop.aspx?ekey=10450030

Start Your Successful Small Business
2025-08-13 17:00 - 19:00 | Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios, 59 East 1st Street, Mesa, AZ, 85201, United States
Ready to turn your business dreams into reality? Join us for an in person engaging and informative session designed specifically for new small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. This workshop, Start Your Successful Small Business, will help you navigate today’s dynamic economic landscape with clarity and confidence.
Gain valuable insights on key topics such as business planning, marketing strategies, and financial readiness. Plus, take advantage of free, one-on-one, confidential business counseling provided by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Our experienced counselors are dedicated to helping you at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey — from idea to launch and beyond.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen your strategy’s, this session is your first step toward building a successful small business.
Speaker: George Kimble
Register Here:

Location:
Mesa Business Builder @ the Studio
59 East 1st Street
Mesa, AZ 85201

Start Your Successful Small Business
2025-08-28 16:00 - 17:00 | GateWay Community College, Small Business Development Center, 108 N 40th Street, South Building, PHOENIX, AZ, 85034, United States
Ready to turn your business dreams into reality? Join us for an engaging and informative session designed specifically for new small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. This workshop, Start Your Successful Small Business, will help you navigate today’s dynamic economic landscape with clarity and confidence.
Gain valuable insights on key topics such as business planning, marketing strategies, and financial readiness. Plus, take advantage of free, one-on-one, confidential business counseling provided by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Our experienced counselors are dedicated to helping you at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey — from ideal to launch and beyond.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen your strategy’s, this session is your first step toward building a successful small business.
Speaker: George Kimble
Register Here:
https://bit.ly/3H6Kgd5

Start Your Successful Small Business
2025-09-09 16:00 - 17:00 | GateWay Community College, Small Business Development Center, 108 N 40th Street, South Building, PHOENIX, AZ, 85034, United States
Ready to turn your business dreams into reality? Join us for an engaging and informative session designed specifically for new small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. This workshop, Start Your Successful Small Business, will help you navigate today’s dynamic economic landscape with clarity and confidence.
Gain valuable insights on key topics such as business planning, marketing strategies, and financial readiness. Plus, take advantage of free, one-on-one, confidential business counseling provided by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Our experienced counselors are dedicated to helping you at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey — from idea to launch and beyond.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen your strategy, this session is your first step toward building a successful small business.
Speaker: George Kimble

Register Here:
https://clients.arizonasbdc.com/workshop.aspx?ekey=10450044

Start Your Successful Small Business Online
2025-09-17 12:00 - 13:00 | online
Ready to turn your business dreams into reality? Join us for an engaging and informative session designed specifically for new small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. This workshop, Start Your Successful Small Business, will help you navigate today’s dynamic economic landscape with clarity and confidence.
Gain valuable insights on key topics such as business planning, marketing strategies, and financial readiness. Plus, take advantage of free, one-on-one, confidential business counseling provided by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Our experienced counselors are dedicated to helping you at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey — from idea to launch and beyond.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen your strategy, this session is your first step toward building a successful small business.

Speaker(s): Carol Pool
Register Here: https://clients.arizonasbdc.com/workshop.aspx?ekey=10450045

What Are My Funding Options? Alternatives For Financing An Early-stage Venture
2025-09-17 17:00 - 19:30 | Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios, 59 East 1st Street, Mesa, AZ, 85201, United States
Securing funding as an early-stage company can be one of the most challenging parts of launching your venture. With so many paths to explore—and countless organizations, individuals, and resources out there—it can be hard to know where to begin. Which funding option fits your goals? How do you even get started? This program was created to give you a clear, insightful overview of the different funding avenues available to help your venture grow.
Participants will hear about various funding options to expand (or start) their business. This program aims to offer a high-level overview of the funding landscape while focusing on the pros and cons of each topic.
Topics include:

Self-Funding
Grants
Friends & Family
Debt
Crowdfunding
Incubators/Accelerators
Competitions
SBIR/STTR
Angel Investors
Strategic Investors
Venture Capital
Corporate Ventures

Lou is a Small Business Analyst at the Maricopa SBDC specializing in technology commercialization. He is a former technology executive with a corporate ventures background and had been involved in many new ventures, mergers, acquisitions, turnarounds and divestures. He has led large scale corporate investments involving hundreds of millions of dollars in capital and revenue on a global scale. Locally, Lou has served as a strategic advisor, consultant and angel investor. He reviews SBIR’s for the National Science Foundation
Register Here:
https://clients.arizonasbdc.com/workshop.aspx?ekey=10450040

Start Your Successful Small Business Online Training
2025-09-25 11:00 - 12:00 | online
Ready to turn your business dreams into reality? Join us for an engaging and informative session designed specifically for new small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. This workshop, Start Your Successful Small Business, will help you navigate today’s dynamic economic landscape with clarity and confidence.
Gain valuable insights on key topics such as business planning, marketing strategies, and financial readiness. Plus, take advantage of free, one-on-one, confidential business counseling provided by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Our experienced counselors are dedicated to helping you at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey — from idea to launch and beyond.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen your strategy, this session is your first step toward building a successful small business.
Speaker: CJ Johnson
Register Here:
https://clients.arizonasbdc.com/workshop.aspx?ekey=10450043
http://bit.ly/41zanAm

SBIR Overview: How to Leverage America’s Seed Fund
2025-10-01 17:00 - 19:00 | Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios, 59 East 1st Street, Mesa, AZ, 85201, United States
Fundraising can be extremely. The SBIR program is the nation’s largest source of early stage/high risk funding for start-ups and small businesses. The highly competitive SBIR program encourages domestic small businesses to engage in federal research and research development (R&D) that has the potential for commercialization. SBIR enables small businesses to explore technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization
In-person Training Event Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios facility 59 E 1st St Floor 2, Mesa, AZ 85201
After this session, you will be able to:

Identify if your company is a candidate for SBIR/STTR funding
Review of the start capital landscape and how SBIR funding fits in
Understand the basics of the SBIR/STTR programs.
Appreciate the emphasis on commercialization.

Topics include:

The startup capital landscape
SBIR/STTR program goals
Identification of participating agencies
The differences between SBIR’s and STTR’s
Identification of the three-phase process
Arizona Fast Grant Initiatives
Availability community resources that can assist

Speakers:

Lou Farina is a Small Business Analyst at the Maricopa SBDC specializing in technology commercialization. Locally, Lou has served as a strategic advisor, consultant and angel investor. He has served as an official SBIR Reviewer for the National Science Foundation.
Wiley Larsen is Director of SBIR Programs and University Partnerships at the Arizona Commerce Authority. Wiley has been involved in entrepreneurship for over 15 years, and has co-founded of two startups. He previously served as program manager for the Arizona State University Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation where he assisted ASU faculty and staff with commercialization. He has been an NSF I-Corps mentor and a Lean Startup instructor.

No Fee Workshop
Register Here
