NH Business Leaders Mentor Start-Up Companies

By Barbara MacLeod

On a recent sunny Saturday morning, Market Square in Portsmouth is bustling. Music fills the air from a guitar-playing singer who is serenading the coffee seekers strolling about. One flight up however, it’s all business in the Alpha Loft’s funky space graced by an arcade game in the corner and lights strung across the large windows where the view of the North Church steeple is dramatic.

While the space may be casual, and the dress-code non-existent, twelve entrepreneurs are gathered to learn. Through the Alpha Loft’s model of supporting them with one-on-one mentoring and tapping already successful business leaders to share their knowledge, NH’s next crop of tech companies owners are working hard to turn their great ideas into functioning money makers.

On this day, CFO Consultant Peter Pike, from the J. Edgar Group, is presenting a workshop on finances. He fields questions for hours on billing, financial systems, when to hire a bookkeeper, IRS compliance, working with banks, anything and everything that has to do with finances.

“It’s great to see the enthusiasm of these emerging innovation-based technology companies,” says Pike. “There’s no reason they should go it alone when there are so many people willing to lend a hand. It’s an important program for keeping talent and companies in NH.”

Alpha Loft CEO Mark Kaplan says the sessions organized by his non-profit group are “utilizing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in New Hampshire.” Kaplan explains that Accelerate NH, New Hampshire’s only accelerator program brings together experts who have built successful companies with the next generation of entrepreneurs. “Peter Pike gave our class an in-depth look at how they should operate the financial side of their business, and how understanding the key performance indicators in their businesses can help drive growth.”

The Accelerate NH participants were selected from a group of 29 applicants. UNH, Borealis Ventures and many others sponsors, help support the three-month program. In addition to mentoring, advice and workshops, the entrepreneurs can use Alpha Loft’s four co-working spaces around the state.

The entrepreneurs are building a range of companies: software that helps schools and parents manage students release from school, a new software platform for brands to acquire customers, a company that makes wearable wireless technology, a unique cyber security system, and a ticketing platform app for colleges that’s already proving successful.

Stacey Bellabona is practicing her pitch for Bev Now- mobile-to-mobile technology that connects golfers and cart tenders, so golfers can buy beverages quickly with credit cards, keeping play on the course moving faster. Bellabona is a taking a break from her career as a lawyer in this entrepreneurial pursuit. The app launches in May. She says, “Alpha Loft has been a huge support as we tackle this critical phase of development and raise the money to launch the software.”

For more information on Alpha Loft visit their website alphaloft.org.

J. Edgar Group provides customized CFO services for businesses and non-profit organizations on a part-time or interim basis. Peter Pike can be reached at PPike@JEdgarcfo.com.

Caption: CFO Consultant Peter Pike speaks to Accelerate NH entrepreneurs at Alpha Loft’s Portsmouth location. Courtesy