by czangerl | Jan 21, 2026 | Blogs
Small businesses bring innovation, agility, and community impact to supply chains. Yet they consistently face barriers accessing opportunities with large organizations—barriers that have little to do with capability and everything to do with relationships, resources,...
by czangerl | Jan 6, 2026 | Blogs
Promoting the growth of small, local businesses in the Portland-Boston-Providence corridor—and beyond—has been the Lab’s mission since its founding in 2021. We have advanced this goal through applied research, the development of educational programs, and the...
by czangerl | Dec 17, 2025 | Blogs
Colleges and universities across the country are prioritizing environmental sustainability in their purchasing decisions—and that creates a significant opportunity for small businesses ready to meet this demand. But here’s the challenge: sustainability...
by czangerl | Nov 23, 2025 | Blogs
When organizations do business with small, local companies, they’re doing more than just diversifying their supply chains—they’re creating a powerful economic multiplier effect. That was a theme of the Lab’s 4th Annual Symposium on Responsible Procurement...
by czangerl | Nov 13, 2025 | Blogs
In response to the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s September 2025 decision to discontinue funding for the University Centers program, Northeastern University’s Lab for Inclusive Entrepreneurship is transitioning from its federal designation...
by czangerl | Nov 13, 2025 | Blogs
The challenge is clear: small local businesses struggle to navigate the complex world of higher education procurement. Vendor requirements are often difficult to understand, opportunities are hard to find, and the decentralized nature of university purchasing makes it...
