HUUB

What HUUB does

HUUB is a U.S.-based SaaS company that sells a unified platform to municipal government economic development teams for managing and deploying small business support programs. The platform combines the entrepreneur-facing HUUB Business Portal (technical assistance workflows, a 120+ training learning library, a funding center, resource mapping, community events, community board, messaging, and automations) with the Economic Engagement Suite, which gives economic developers CRM, referral tracking, the proprietary General Sentiment Score for measuring business health, workflows (including SSBCI, ARPA, and SBA Community Navigator compliance), and KPI dashboards. Custom integrations are available with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Bludot to fit into existing municipal and partner CRM stacks.

The company operates on a subscription SaaS revenue model with implementation and professional services attached, selling through a field-led sales motion targeting city governments and economic development corporations via demos, direct phone outreach, and partner referrals. Named customers include the City of Mesa, City of Avondale, City of Fontana, Town of Gilbert, City of Atlanta, and City of Pearland, with operations across seven states (Arizona, California, Oregon, Texas, Minnesota, Georgia, and Florida). HUUB was spun off from CO+HOOTS, an entrepreneur resource center, and is led by founders Jenny Poon (CEO) and Chelsea Smith (COO); it remains a privately held LLC with no disclosed institutional funding.

The product roadmap is oriented around AI-augmented workflows (smart matching, event aggregation, sentiment scoring) and ecosystem partnerships (chambers, SCORE, SBDC, Kiva, Growth Partners Arizona), positioning HUUB as a vertical platform purpose-built for government small business support rather than a horizontal CRM.

Name

HUUB

Legal name

HUUB LLC

Website

https://joinhuub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. SaaS Platform Subscription: Annual or multi-year SaaS subscription for government economic development teams to access the HUUB Business Portal and Economic Engagement Suite. Platform pricing likely varies by municipality size and features needed.
2. Professional Services: Implementation, onboarding, and technical assistance program management services. Includes HUUB's On-the-Phone Support feature where HUUB team members reach out directly to city entrepreneurs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

HUUB is a SaaS platform that enables local government economic development teams to support, manage, and deploy small business resources at scale through two main products: the HUUB Business Portal (a centralized resource hub for small businesses featuring technical assistance, a 120+ training learning library, funding directories, resource mapping, community events, and smart matching) and the Economic Engagement Suite (a set of tools for economic developers to track engagement, partner referrals, KPIs, and the proprietary General Sentiment Score). The platform is sold on an annual/multi-year subscription basis and complemented by professional services for onboarding and ongoing program support.

Product overview

HUUB offers a unified platform combining the HUUB Business Portal and Economic Engagement Suite (EES) as its core products. The Business Portal serves as a one-stop small business navigation partner providing Technical Assistance, Learning Library (120+ trainings), Funding Center, Resource Mapping, Community Events, Community Boards, Incubation/Groups, Messaging, and Translation services. The Economic Engagement Suite provides economic developers with tools for data collection, partner referrals, managed tech assistance, business community tracking, General Sentiment Score analytics, and KPI tracking. Supporting tools include the Digital Readiness Assessment, Entrepreneur Assessment, On-the-Phone Support, Resource Library with guides and worksheets, Workspace Blueprint, and Trust Bridging Assessment. The platform also hosts EconDev Camp unconference events. All components work together to help local governments and economic development teams support, measure, and scale small business communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HUUB Business Portal A centralized resource platform serving as a small business navigation partner that helps business communities succeed 24/7. Combines technical assistance, a 120+ training learning library, funding center, resource mapping, community events, community boards, and automated resource matching. Delivered to municipal clients and the local entrepreneurs they serve.
• Economic Engagement Suite (EES) A set of tools for economic developers to measure, manage, and deploy impactful support while tracking key metrics. Includes data collection, partner referrals, managed technical assistance, business community tracking, General Sentiment Score, KPI tracking, integrated CRM, and custom integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Bludot. Sold to city governments and economic development corporations.
• Digital Readiness Assessment A free assessment tool evaluating six core dimensions of digital readiness including capacity, tools, partnerships, equity, funding, and entrepreneur needs. Delivers a 30-60-90-day action roadmap tailored to the community's current stage. Used by economic development teams to benchmark and plan.
• HUUB Entrepreneur Assessment A data-driven assessment tool evaluating an entrepreneur's business stage, financial acumen (5Cs of Credit), operational capacity, and behavioral traits to enable personalized matching to resources, advisors, and programs within the HUUB ecosystem.
• On-the-Phone Support A human-centered support service where HUUB team members directly reach out to entrepreneurs to guide them through available resources, check in on progress, and build trust through authentic one-on-one interactions.
• Resource Library A content hub providing blogs, feature updates, case studies, and downloadable guides/worksheets (12+) covering KPIs, economic impact measurement, sustainable growth, and community partnership strategies for economic developers.
• Workspace Blueprint A downloadable blueprint providing step-by-step guidance for launching and managing collaborative workspaces, including strategies for nurturing innovation and sustaining growth. Targeted at economic developers and workspace operators.
• Trust Bridging Assessment A downloadable guide authored by organizational psychologist Kristin Leutz to help navigate collaboration when relationships are still growing, offering research-backed insights and practical tools.
• HUUB EconDev Camp (Unconference) An annual unconference event for economic development professionals featuring participant-led sessions, collaborative problem-solving, and community-driven discussions on pressing economic challenges. Used as a flagship community/gathering product.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10x capacity increase for economic development departments
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability6 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Growth Partners ArizonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with Growth Partners Arizona for statewide technology solution deployment. Growth Partners Arizona channeled $30M+ into underserved communities and facilitated over $1 million for small businesses through their Kiva Hub in Southern Arizona. Andre Whittington from Growth Partners Arizona is a featured webinar panelist on creative funding strategies.
• KivacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiva Hub partnership enabling zero-interest microloans for small businesses. Growth Partners Arizona facilitated over $1 million through this program. Anne Lufkin-Riaño led Kiva US partnerships previously. Kiva is highlighted as an innovative funding resource for building proof of concept from grassroots up.
• Local First ArizonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for green loan program where businesses graduating from 'green bootcamp' create plans to reduce costs through green projects. One Laundromat saved over $160,000 in two years and hired a new employee due to this program.
• Pearland EDCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong partnership with Pearland Economic Development Corporation. Their team saw 400% increase in advising hours once they started tracking resources, workshops, and mentoring in one place. Collaborative webinar featuring Melissa Cook (Director of Marketing) and Jim Johnson (President & CEO, Chamber & Innovation Hub).
• Denver Economic Opportunity and Development (DEDO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Denver's economic development office. Featured Leressie Ashley (Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program Manager) and Sonia Cacique (Community and Entrepreneurial Support Leader) as webinar panelists on collaborative workspaces and incubation.
• Great Lakes EDCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGreat Lakes EDC hosted HUUB's 'Be Greater' webinar featuring Jenny Poon and Larry Vaupel on inclusive tech strategies for economic growth. Sponsored by EDO Marketplace.
• EDO MarketplaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored the Great Lakes EDC 'Be Greater' webinar session featuring HUUB. Dedicated platform for economic development professionals to find trusted service providers.
• DenSwapminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCoworking industry partner featured on webinar panel. Craig Baute, Founder of DenSwap, has worked with over 110 spaces globally helping create financially sustainable, community-driven workspaces.
• Freeway PHXminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPhoenix-based startup ecosystem partner featured on webinar panel. Daniela Santangelo leads Freeway PHX, leveraging experience scaling startups to strengthen Phoenix's business infrastructure.
• Petra Impact PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Petra Impact Partners led by Kristin Leutz, organizational psychologist and ecosystem builder with 25+ years experience. Kristin authored the Trust Bridging Assessment guide and co-developed partnership strategy resources with HUUB.
• Weaving ImpactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Weaving Impact led by Anne Lufkin-Riaño (Chief Growth & Impact Officer). Anne works at intersection of community finance and social enterprise, helping cities replicate high-impact programs. Featured webinar panelist on creative funding.
• Fund for Equitable Business Growth (Chicago Community Trust)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Fund for Equitable Business Growth led by Adam Engle (Director). Manages multi-funder collaborative funding partnerships of business support organizations (BSOs), building robust small business support networks of 35-45 BSOs.
• SalesforcecoreTechnology or IntegrationCustom integration with Salesforce for data synchronization and workflow management within the Economic Engagement Suite.
• HubSpotcoreTechnology or IntegrationCustom integration with HubSpot for CRM data synchronization and business engagement tracking.
• Chambers of CommercecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner referral tracking and resource mapping integration with local chambers of commerce across communities served.
• SBDC (Small Business Development Centers)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorResource mapping and referral partner within the HUUB ecosystem. SBDC offices are mapped and businesses are referred for technical assistance.
• SCOREcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorResource mapping and referral partner. Mentors and expertise are matched to businesses through the technical assistance workflow.
• Women's Business CenterscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorResource mapping and partner referral integration for women entrepreneurs through Women's Business Center network.
• Incubators, Accelerators, Coworking SpacescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEcosystem of partner organizations including business incubators, accelerators, and coworking spaces integrated into resource mapping for referral tracking and client assignment.
• Sherman & Howard LLPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLaw firm venue partner for HUUB EconDev Camp 2024 in Denver. Hosted first unconference event September 14, 2024.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Accela: Government SaaS platform for permitting, licensing, and civic services used by hundreds of municipalities; adjacency to HUUB through small-business licensing and incentive workflows tracked in HUUB's workflows module.
• Salesforce: Major CRM with a Public Sector vertical and an established integration partnership with HUUB; a broad incumbent whose government editions could absorb parts of HUUB's Economic Engagement Suite functionality over time.
• Granicus: Government experience cloud for communications, service delivery, and civic engagement; large incumbent serving the same municipal buyer as HUUB with broader workflow capabilities that could be extended into econ dev.
• OpenGov: Established government budgeting, financial transparency, and performance platform serving thousands of state and local agencies; broader portfolio but overlaps HUUB on econ dev program management and reporting for municipalities.
• Tyler Technologies: Large, publicly traded government-software provider spanning ERP, courts, public safety, and civic apps for U.S. municipalities; broad incumbent that competes for the same municipal IT wallet and could expand into small-business support tooling.

Direct peers

• ZoomProspector: Economic development marketing and community-intelligence platform for site selectors, businesses, and municipalities; closely aligned with HUUB on serving small businesses and city econ dev teams with discovery and resource tools.
• eCivis: Grants management and compliance platform for local governments; overlaps with HUUB on federal-funding program administration (ARPA, SSBCI) and reporting workflows that economic developers run.
• GIS Planning: Site-selection and location-analytics platform serving the same municipal economic development buyer; competes for the same CRM and resource-mapping budget line items for cities and EDCs.
• Bludot: Economic development CRM and business-engagement software for municipal economic developers; explicitly integrated into HUUB's Economic Engagement Suite for workflow and engagement tracking, making it the closest comparable in product category and buyer (econ dev teams).

Others

• Civilla: Civic-tech company focused on improving government workforce and service-delivery experiences; adjacent govtech peer that shares the public-sector buyer and mission alignment but does not directly compete in economic development software.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/joinhuub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/joinhuub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HUUB