November is here, and so is the holiday season. The holidays mark a renewed sense of community and generosity. It's a time of giving, and as you create your holiday list, we want to help make it a little easier for you to know who to buy from. Therefore, this month we've got some great opportunities for you to support and sustain Black and Brown women-identifying businesses. You'll have the chance to buy from a diverse group of entrepreneurs with our Holiday Gift Guide (coming soon).
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you."—Mother Teresa
The BGV Tea
We’ll be launching two more Change Agent chapters that’ll be coming soon. These have been made possible through our partnerships and we couldn’t thank them enough. We’ve been able to partner with Kroger, Nike, Visa, Experian, PayPal, Visa, Jane Walker by Johnny Walker all with the goal of serving 2000 Black & Brown women. Our partnerships team has been putting in werk, so more to come! We’re also very thankful to our community who continues to show up, invest and support each other. It's #CommunityOrNothing for us.
WE PITCH
We’re looking forward to the next round of #PitchSeason #Phase2, coming together like the cookout from your block…we can’t wait to see which founders will get funded! And we can't wait to do it with you at the next watch party.
Here’s the lineup:
Trinet (National) - November 18th
NYC - December 2nd
For us to drive the best ideas forward we need your help! Join us to see what all the hype is about and how you can help.
WE BAG
NBA + LegalZoom
The NBA and LegalZoom have teamed up to help underserved small business owners with $6 million in grants. This is a multi-year partnership, with the grant opportunity as the first official initiative. They’ll be made available twice per year for the next three years. And mentorship and job training are also available. The companies say the grants will specifically serve women, minorities, immigrants, and LGBTQ+-owned businesses. Applications are due by November 23.
The Howard University and PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship
PNC Foundation and Howard University just announced a $16.8 million commitment to support minority entrepreneurs. The grant goes to the university, which will then provide educational resources and community connections to foster entrepreneurship. The partnership is set to span five years. And PNC has also committed to enhancing the availability of loans to historically underserved business owners.
BREAKTHROUGH & Advancing Black Pathways Digitalundivided and JPMorgan Chase are partnering to support Black and LatinX women entrepreneurs. The initial program will award 15 of these businesses in Greater Los Angeles. But the companies plan to launch a national grant program in the coming months. Advancing Black Pathways is an existing program from JPMorgan Chase to support Black-owned businesses. So Digitalundivided’s mission of supporting Black and LatinX women entrepreneurs lined up perfectly for their new BREAKTHROUGH partnership. Applications for the first round are due on October 25.
Idea Cafe’s Small Business Grants
Idea Cafe is a news and resource site for small business owners and entrepreneurs. They offer $1,000 grants to winners, and it’s one of the few grants that you don’t even need an established business already to enter. Winners are decided by votes from the community.
Operation Hope Small Business Empowerment Program
Operation Hope Small Business Empowerment Program understands the struggle to seek funding and valuable resources for startup businesses. To advocate for minority entrepreneurs, they offer an 8- and 12-week entrepreneurship training program with funding opportunities. This program helps small businesses learn new tools and skills to develop their practice.
Program benefits: Entrepreneurship training programs in 8- and 12-week courses.
Where to apply: For more information, visit their website.
VA VR&E Business Ownership Track
If you're a veteran with a disability and an entrepreneurial passion, reach out to the VR&E Self-Employment Track program. This program helps coordinate services to build your business starting with your business plan. Team members assist in small business operations, marketing, and finances.
Program benefits: Assistance with your business plan, training, and guidance.
Where to apply: For more information, visit their website.
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready grant
Complete two courses or coaching events from the program to be eligible to apply for a Verizon Small Business Digital Ready $10,000 grant.
Application deadline: Open, no end date posted.
U. S. Department of Agriculture Pandemic Response and Safety Grant Program
The Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant Program provide grants to food processors, distributors, farmers markets, and producers to respond to coronavirus, including for measures to protect workers against novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID–19).
Application deadline: Monday, November 22, 2021.
Amazon Black Business Accelerator
Amazon's Black Business Accelerator is a grant program aimed to address historical, manifest imbalances by growing and advancing equity for Black-owned businesses. The program offers financial assistance, business education & mentorship, and marketing & promotional support.
Application deadline: Friday, December 31, 2021.
Kiva Nice loan
Venturize is partnering with Kiva to bring affordable capital to small business owners during these challenging times. Kiva provides loans of $1,000-$15,000, zero-percent interest, and no fees. There is a 6 month grace period and then a fixed monthly principal payment (12-36 months). Funds are raised through community-backed crowdsourcing. Kiva will offer Venturize-referred applicants priority review if you apply through this link and mark "Venturize" as the answer to "how did you hear about Kiva."
Application deadline: Open, no end date posted.
Subscribe to the Digital Orange Juice for juicy ideas and the people who fund them. You can find out about our next pitch competitions here. Also, be sure to join our new community BGV Connect!
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