Scaling Businesses

Empowering Communities

Driving small business growth with the skills and opportunities to succeed.

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About the Lab

The Lab empowers small and micro businesses to grow and succeed. Through educational programs, mentorship, and hands-on support, we help entrepreneurs turn challenges into opportunities.

As a University Center recognized by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, we focus on driving innovation and growth along the Portland-Boston-Providence Corridor. Our initiatives—like the Inclusive Entrepreneur Fellowship and collaborations with Northeastern University students and faculty—connect diverse business owners with the skills, tools, and networks they need to thrive.

Backed by federal grants and philanthropic support, the Lab is building a stronger, more inclusive future for small businesses.

Since 2020,
we’ve supported small business through:


Fellowships for diverse entrepreneurs


Tailored technical and managerial support


Research on inclusive procurement practices in higher education institutions

Meet our team

Talented minds shaping our vision and success

Francesca Grippa

Lab’s Executive Director

Professor of Business Innovation
& Associate Dean of Research

Carl Zangerl

Lab’s Communication Director

Associate Teaching Professor of Organizational Communication

Youngbok Ryu

Lab’s Research Director

Associate Teaching Professor of Management

Monica Borgida

Lab’s Academic Director

Associate Teaching Professor of Nonprofit Management

Ali Raisi

Postdoctoral Researcher

The Phong Justin Ngo

Graduate Research Assistant

Project Management and Data Analysis

Wanyi Li

AI/ML Analyst Co-Op

Anran Liu

Graduate Research Assistant

Digital Media

Our Advisory Council

The Lab’s advisory council includes small business owners, procurement professionals, and community advocates, offering guidance to advance supplier development in higher education.

Daylana Ervin-Parker

Director of Budget and Supplier Development

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Gordon Thompson

Chief Executive Officer

Westnet

Jeffrey Roy

Head of Category Management

Northeastern University

Jerry L Epps

Director of Supplier and Community Engagement

Babson College

Info

Margarita Polanco

Regional Supplier Development Manager

DPR Construction

Karen Wallace

Executive Vice President of Economic Inclusion

Associated Industries of Massachusetts

Vamshidhar Thakkallapalli

President

Terva Corporation

Adriana Vacarro

Founder

Culture Redesigned

Gayl Crump Swaby

President

New Generation Consultants & Associates, LLC

OUR FACULTY COLLABORATORS

Xiaomu Zhou

Teaching Professor of Informatics

Roy Anderson

Senior Procurement leader known for transforming procurement organizations

Larissa Pacheco Marchiori

Professor of business strategy and international business

Senior Researcher at Global Resilience Institute

Our Partners

Community Business Card
Community Business Clinic

Community Business Clinic

Northeastern's Community Business Clinic Offers Free Legal Services To Small Businesses, Assisting With Incorporation, Contracts, And More To Support Community Growth.

Community Business Card
Intellectual Property Law Clinic

Intellectual Property Law Clinic

The Intellectual Property Law Clinic at Northeastern offers free trademark, copyright, and trade secret services to the Northeastern community and Massachusetts clients in need, supporting entrepreneurship since 2014.

Community Business Card
Women Who Empower

Women Who Empower

Northeastern’s Women Who Empower fosters inclusion and leadership through events, scholarships, mentorship, and opportunities to inspire change.

Community Business Card
office of city and community engagement

Office Of City And Community Engagement

Northeastern’s Office of Community Engagement fosters collaborative relationships and partnerships with local organizations and community members that underscore common ground and shared opportunities.

Reach out and let's create meaningful changes together.

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