With only 24 hours in a day, and a dozen or more hats to wear, business owners know that running a small business is no easy task.
But new technology is making it easier for Colorado entrepreneurs to plan for growth, giving them access to real data-driven insights to navigate toward a successful future—the kind of insights that Fortune 500 companies use.
This fall, the Denver Metro Small Business Development Center (SBDC), in partnership with Denver-based developer BodeTree, released Pulse, a financial Web app built to further grow and support consulting and development efforts already in place with the SBDC to ensure that Colorado continues to remain a top state for small business growth. With the platform coming online, more than 16,000 Colorado small businesses can now utilize Pulse to help drive greater business success.
The Pulse platform is built to generate greater financial performance by blending accounting data and education to share financial insights and opportunity for business acceleration. The app also helps small business owners solve problems associated with loans and connects small businesses to partners adept at solving challenges small businesses often face, like building a long-term strategic plan, outpacing competition and growing the value of a business.
Business owners like Rich Lewis, CEO of RTL Networks, already see a benefit.
“Accounting software is very good at looking backwards into your financials. But with Pulse, we’ve been able to look forward and drive success in our business,” Lewis said.
Denver Metro SBDC Executive Director Abram Sloss believes Pulse will benefit small business clients who are ready for the next stage of growth, but aren’t sure how to get there.
“The creation of Pulse is allowing us to continue down the path of enhanced technology offerings for small business owners,” he said. “This tool is meant for the busy entrepreneur who doesn’t have time to sit down every week with one of our consultants,
but does have intentions on making decisions based on fact, not on hope.”
JT Archer, chief operating officer at BodeTree, says the launch of Pulse will keep Colorado small business owners competitive.
“We’re big believers that coupling the capabilities of the SBDC with a platform built for success will ensure Colorado remains at
the top of the nation for small business growth and success,” he said.
Sloss added that the Pulse platform raises the profile of small business development centers in Colorado, showing the kinds of services they can offer to small business owners.
“There are about a thousand SBDCs across the country offering services to small businesses today,” he said. “We feel with Pulse we’re at the forefront of technology and bringing a truly innovative approach to providing greater services and capabilities to Colorado small businesses.”
Alea Kilgore is the manager for the Denver Metro Small Business Development Center.
[Photo by: OTA Photos]