By IAN ROSS
Northern Ontario Business
Franco Crupi knows Thunder Bay yields some innovative home-based entrepreneurs that need a helping hand to grow.
Brothers Franco and Joe Crupi of Crupi Consulting have launched Thunder Bay’s first privately funded, for-profit business incubator, known as Augesco, a Latin word meaning ‘begin to grow.’
The aim is to promote and foster economic development and growth for startup businesses and small- to medium-sized enterprises in the city.
They have renovated commercial space in the downtown core of Port Arthur, creating 25 office spaces ranging between 100 and 600 square feet. Already
three startup companies have moved in. For a fixed cost, clients have access to shared services and space, including reception, access to a board room, office equipment, a workshop training facility, along with networking and professional counselling.
They realized over the last year there is plenty of passive private capital in Thunder Bay among local business people who are willing to invest in local entrepreneurs with valid market products.
