Support for Diverse Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs in the Capital Region

Our partner organizations recognize their responsibility to employees and communities to invest in solutions that drive inclusive growth and create economic opportunity.

Learn More About Our Inclusive Growth Work

We know that small businesses are the lifeblood of our region’s economy. Our partner organizations recognize this, as well as their role in supporting small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to create a diverse, dynamic, and inclusive regional economy.

Our partners are particularly focused on addressing racial disparities and supporting diverse entrepreneurs. On average, Black-and Latinx-owned SMBs earn 40-70% less revenue per firm than white-owned SMBs, and Black and Latinx-owned businesses only account for 10% of the region’s SMB owners, despite accounting for 27% and 12% of the region’s overall population

Our partners collectively offer over 20 programs that help small businesses grow their capacity and expand their business. Available programs include industry-specific curricula, assistance for increased digitization, mentoring, support for growing core business skills, and more. Many of our partner organizations are also seeking to expand supplier diversity efforts, opening more opportunities for Black and Latinx-owned SMBs.

If you’re a small business owner or a company looking to learn more, see below for available resources.

This resource library will be regularly updated to feature current partner initiatives.

Black Business Accelerator

advisory services and marketing support for Black-owned businesses

Supplier Diversity and Development Mentoring Program

high-touch mentor program for small businesses customized to drive a company’s optimal development.

Everyone Wins

business training program and learning community

1863 Ventures: Recover, Rebuild, Resilience

coaching for businesses owned by diverse founders affected by bias or covid, “business models, revamp marketing efforts and realign operations to meet shifting customer needs”

Capital One x Halcyon

intensive 12 month TA Fellowship for small social impact-oriented businesses in low-income areas

Catapult

intensive 7-month small cohort-based program to bridge the digital skills gap for SMBs

Strategies to Advance and Grow Enterprise (SAGE)

12-month cohort-based course with quarterly classroom sessions, with each SMB working with a dedicated Capital One mentor

Diverse Supplier Mentoring Program

local entrepreneurs paired with Capital One partners, to provide business tools and counsel

Strategic Partnership Program
verticalized cohort-based TA program for disadvantaged entrepreneurs

RISE

marketing and advertisement support services for minority-owned businesses

EY Entrepreneurs Access Network (“Curated” track, for emerging businesses)

immersive, no-cost, cohort-based business accelerator program and business community for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs

EY Entrepreneurs Access Network (“On Demand” track, for established businesses)

self-instructional business education platform for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs

Small Business Advisory

community hub providing both individual and group-based learning opportunities for racial minority or women-owned small businesses

DC SBDC Lead Center at the Howard University School of Business

collection of webinars and courses to help grow small businesses

Executive Leadership Certificate Program

5 day TA program for business leaders

FastForward

coordinated suite of resources designed to efficiently move technologies from startup to marketplace

Black & Brown Founders Bootstrapping Bootcamp

10-week program coaching Black and brown entrepreneurs to develop businesses in the tech industry

Baltimore Corps: Social Entrepreneur Residencies

Program to provide financial support and technical resources to social impact-oriented, Black-owned startups

Scholarship Fund for Diverse Businesses

ensuring diverse business owners have the access to education and networks that will yield opportunities for success

Learn More About Our Inclusive Growth Work

The Greater Washington Partnership applies an inclusive growth lens in all its work – from transportation and infrastructure to equitable education opportunities. We recognize the need for active cross-sector collaboration to combat systemic racism and discrimination and to increase investment in underserved populations.

Explore Our Work