VIA COLLECTIVE

​

Katie Osborn launched her firm Via Collective in 2009 after serving in a graphic and wayfinding design roles in both the private and public sector. Since that time Via Collective has landed a wide range of contracts for wayfinding services from universities, Government agencies, hospitals and private organizations. To date, the firm’s work has been incorporated into high-profile projects completed by the MTA, NYU, and New York City Parks Department among others.

As a certified Brooklyn-based firm through the woman-owned and disadvantaged business enterprise (WBE and DBE) programs, Via Collective’s work has been focused here in the New York City metropolitan area. However Katie has come across a number of potential contract opportunities as a result of speaking engagements she delivered at conferences throughout the US. As a result, Via Collective has secured WBE and DBE certifications in California and Washington State, driving a need to ramp up staffing and for working capital.

To prepare for this prospective business expansion, Katie met with Pace SBDC Director Andrew Flamm to assess her financing requirement and help prepare data points and narrative that best reflect her business growth to a prospective lender. Pace SBDC Senior Business Advisor Rawle Brown also helped Via Collective sign up for BidLinx, a Web-based government contract “bid-matching” service that highlights relevant procurement opportunities.

Andrew introduced Via Collective to Key Bank and helped the client with loan packaging, and Key Bank approved Via Collective for a $50,000 revolving line of credit. This financing will help the firm add two new jobs and expand into new markets.