The BEGIN New Venture Center (BNVC) offers start-up and early-stage companies, as well as non-profit organizations daily business assistance, access to experienced service providers, guidance from an advisory board/mentor program, marketing assistance and a professional business location.

If you would like to learn more about the BNVC, or would like to speak with a staff member, please complete the three easy steps below:

1. Read the Information Packet (for ALL interested companies or individuals)
2. Read the Culinary Fact Sheet (for culinary companies only)
3. Complete the short Initial Interview Questionnaire.  You can save this document to your computer, complete it, save it again, and then send it via email to BEGINinfo@stpatrickcenter.org.  Once we have your completed questionnaire, a staff member will call you back to see how we can be of service.  If you would like to meet with a business counselor to discuss the viability of your idea or for guidance on writing your business plan, please note that on the questionnaire above and we will set up an appointment for you.

View a list of our Current Companies

View a list of our Partners

The Value of Business Incubation
Nationally, research has shown that four out of five start-up businesses fail within the first five years of operation. For those businesses which start out in a business incubator, that statistic is reversed, with four out of five still in operation after five years. This illustrates the value that a business incubator provides for participating companies across many fronts, including the following:

A Unique Model
Participation in the BNVC begins with a quality selection process that evaluates a prospective company on multiple factors. Among other criteria, the BNVC gives preference to proposed ventures that are committed to helping St. Patrick Center achieve its mission of building permanent, positive change in people’s lives. Incubator companies primarily include companies that are committed to employing and/or training SPC clients.

“While there are more than 1,100 incubator programs in the United States, this is the first incubator with a focus on the homeless.” –Dinah Adkins, President & CEO, National Business Incubation Association

Opportunities are available through both “Resident” and “Culinary” participation plans. When accepted into the incubator, businesses are encouraged to show entrepreneurial initiative throughout a milestone-based advisory process, and are linked to a network of professional services.  We strive to foster an environment of collaboration, accountability and response to individual needs.

A Dedicated Staff
The BEGIN New Venture Center is staffed by a dedicated group of business professionals as well as a network of volunteers, mentors, business advisors and resource partners who have a vital stake in the success of our incubator companies.

Leading this team is Jan DeYoung.  DeYoung joined the BNVC at St. Patrick Center in October 2007, bringing with him 37 years of business experience. Most recently, he served for seven years as Executive Director of the St. Louis County Economic Council’s Enterprise Centers Program, a network of four small business incubators serving approximately 85 start-up companies. DeYoung has been in senior management positions in private industry, and has been an advisor to private sector business ventures on technical, operational, management and marketing issues in an array of industry environments. He has provided leadership for business, community and economic development initiatives at the local, regional and national levels and has facilitated many public/private partnerships providing resources to the small business community.

Directions for applying to the BNVC:

After you have completed the 3 easy steps at the top of this webpage, and had an initial meeting with a staff member, you are welcome to apply to the incubator.  Please submit a business plan (with financials) along with a completed application.  The necessary documents and resources are attached below:

Application materials:
BNVC Application

Resource Guide

Letter of Commitment and Interest

Personal Financial Statement

Outlines and worksheets that provide guidance for writing a business plan and putting together financial projections:
Business Plan outline guide

Missouri Business Forecast instructions

Missouri Business Projections worksheet

Monthly Cash Flow worksheet

Thank you for your interest!

BEGINinfo@stpatrickcenter.org
314-802-0711