Your Guiding Light

Black Swamp Artisanal Market brings together craft goods and food items from local farms, artisans, and creators into a curated market in Downtown Dover, Delaware. With the help of the DSBDC, owners Justin and Tara Brant have recently opened their storefront and have already tasted success.

Owner of Elite Feet, Jason Hunt, discusses how the DSBDC supported his small business in Middletown, DE. The Delaware SBDC proudly serves a diverse client base — minority business owners and operators comprise 52% of our client base, and we have served over 100 Hispanic clients over the last two fiscal years.

Cancer treatment research company Prelude Therapeutics has signed a major lease for its future headquarters at the Chestnut Run Innovation and Science Park and will be the first new tenant on the 163-acre campus. As a former tenant of the DTP@STAR Incubator and a DSBDC client since 2015, Prelude Therapeutics has garnered national attention for its innovative research, reaching over $3BN in market value within months of going public.

Founded in 2020, Aqua Science now brings $100k in EDGE STEM Grant award to their young company, working to test and assess water quality. This female-led venture supports industrial, environmental, and research outfits across the globe, currently serving the US, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Guatemala, England, Ireland, Italy, France, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Hungary, Belgium, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, South Africa, Taiwan, and China. The next step is DSBDC support during the SBIR proposal process. Since 2016, 88% of all SBIR funds in the State of Delaware were awarded to current or former DSBDC clients.

Carvertise, an innovative mobile-media business managed by a team of young leaders, is growing rapidly. Sporting a unique business structure that allows drivers and media companies to benefit from a partnership, Carvertise has supported its campaigns with mobile marketing impression analytics. Their reach has grown into one of the most competitive advertising markets in the world, with a recent campaign for Project Runway seen throughout the streets of Manhattan.

After working with the DSBDC for over 3 years on a growth and expansion plan, global chromatography company Sepax Technologies is now doubling its space to add major new equipment and staff. With a major PPP loan (forgiven) and $450,000 in laboratory expansion grants from the state, our introduction and coaching have helped Sepax to see a 12% increase in exports and a 23% increase in sales.

Jobs Supported by the Delaware SBDC Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic

DSBDC helped Masley Glove, a federally contracted glove manufacturer, to identify and connect to disaster recovery resources after her business was decimated by Hurricane Ida. This woman-owned business is located in a Hub Zone and employs over 30 hard-to-employ local residents. (See pre-disaster archive footage above)

Our client base is comprised of 49% Women – One business owner and recent EDGE Grant winner, Jami Jackson, caught state-wide attention and news coverage of her Small Business Saturday sales during our Shop Small Tour in November of 2021.