Your Stories & Actionable Tips

One of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face is how to best fund their small businesses. Choosing the right capital for your situation can have important consequences for how a business grows and operates for years to come. There are essentially two types of capital – debt and equity. Each type contains a range of more specific, nuanced options to help grow your business. Oftentimes, a business will require a mix of both types. In this blog post, we'll break down some of the considerations every small business owner should make as they navigate different forms of capital. Rule #1: Start with What You Have Most experts recommend that small business owners dig into their own pockets before seeking any sort of outside funding. Using your checking account, selling stock or bonds, or putting up collateral assets such as your home allows you an interest- and equity-free source of capital. You may have heard this approach referred to as bootstrapping. Bootstrapping a business is a great way to validate your idea and business model without investing significant resources. This approach helps you test your minimum viable product, gather initial customer feedback, and ration your valuable resources for a time in the future. It also proves to potential investors that you have "skin in the game" and are serious about the business idea. That said, there will inevitably come a time when your business will require outside funds to fuel growth. That's when it's time to think about debt and equity! Debt Capital 101 You take on debt every time you enter into a loan agreement. The wonderful thing about debt capital is that you don't surrender an ownership stake in your company. However, you might have to provide collateral, and you'll have to pay back the balance. Interest payments can significantly add to the cost of this type of capital. Many business owners take out small business loans to fund their business. Securing a loan from a bank, credit union, or through the Small Business Administration (SBA) can finance new equipment, fund operations, or help you expand to a new location. Keep in mind that your access to this type of capital can be limited by your personal credit score, the health of your business, access to collateral, and other factors. Traditional lenders can also be conservative with their decisions. If you need a significant infusion of capital to fund your business, it might be time to look to equity capital. Types of Equity Capital Pursuing equity capital has unique pros and cons. On the one hand, it's one of the fastest ways to receive a large infusion of capital from an investor or group of investors. These investors could become valuable business partners and mentors. On the other hand, pursuing equity means surrendering ownership and decision-making power. One source of equity capital is the friends and family round. In this arrangement, you provide a stake in your business to someone in return for an investment. This is typically done in the early stages of a business. You can also take the Shark Tank route. Angel investors and venture capitalists who are willing to take a chance on your business can be an invaluable source of knowledge and mentorship. If you are able to sell your business with a great pitch, these investors could reward you with a significant amount of capital in exchange for a piece of the company. Crowdfunding is also an increasingly popular source of capital. Through a platform such as WeFunder, you can solicit many smaller investments in exchange for equity, rewards, or even debt. Hello Alice has a step-by-step guide to help you understand the different types of crowdfunding and how to get started on popular platforms. In select cases, you could even pursue an initial public offering (IPO) that lists your business on a stock exchange so the public can purchase shares (and therefore equity). This type of capital is reserved for more mature small businesses. Other Ways to Fund Growth An oft-overlooked source of funding is small business grant programs. These debt-free cash injections don't surrender equity and don't need to be paid back. You can find tons of local, state, federal, and private business grants ready to fund your business. Writing a winning grant application takes time and effort, but you could be rewarded with what's essentially free money. Similarly, pitch competitions are an opportunity to win a one-time cash prize. They also serve as invaluable networking opportunities that will expose you to potential mentors, investors, and media opportunities that could pay off for years to come. Consider mastering your elevator pitch and looking for upcoming competitions at conferences, universities, or your local business support organizations. Finally, businesses at all stages should pursue strategic partnerships. By working with another organization that shares a common mission or vision, you have the potential to hack your company’s growth in ways you never imagined possible. Making the most of strategic partnerships provides a low- or no-cost way of expanding your company's reach, providing new opportunities, and enhancing your brand's reputation. View our step-by-step Choose the Right Capital guide for a complete overview of how to fund your small business.

In this blog series, we’ll hear Team Alice members share their areas of expertise that can help you with your business. “We all love the products we love because of good design,” says Kate Muelle, Hello Alice's director of product design. From brand logos to the fonts on your website, design is an integral part of your business, its public face. While design may be used as a tool to enhance the aesthetics of a brand, it also serves as a way to communicate information to customers. “We learn new things, navigate around cities, and connect with other people through design,” Muelle explains. “Clearly communicating information and ideas is a critical piece of business and life.” When she’s not running Burning Man camps or playing ice hockey, Muelle is leading UX/UI and brand design on the Hello Alice platform. She studied graphic design in college and has worked 10 years in the industry. But Muelle shares that design is a process that takes time to develop — even for designers. “Learning more about design is a lot like learning about anything else, it just takes practice and time,” says Muelle. “Even with young professionals who come out of design school, it takes a while for your taste to catch up with your abilities, so have patience with yourself. How can founders get started with design? Muelle says there are resources online like graphic design tools and templates that anyone can use. “Check out the Noun Project if you need icons [or] play around with Canva to create some marketing materials. You don’t need to be making things from scratch. It’s also fun to float around on Dribbble to see what people are making, hone your interests and taste a bit.” And you don’t need to be a formally-trained designer to use principles of design in your business. The rule of consistency is one that all founders can use, especially when it comes to your branding. “As a new founder, I’d spend less time hemming and hawing over which font to use and more time making sure that whatever you pick is being used everywhere," says Muelle. "Even big brands have gotten away with terrible logos for ages, but to look like a polished, respected business, you have to be consistent in your branding.” The concept of “white space” is another essential rule in design. White space is the blank space surrounding anything that’s being designed like a postcard or an app. “Know that it’s okay, even beneficial, to have some blank spaces in the things you create,” says Muelle. “Give your logo room to breathe instead of having other elements right up next to it. It’ll make it more powerful and impactful.” And another design tip that all business owners should know? “Simple is always better. Always.” For more small business tips and inspiration create a free account on Hello Alice or subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

We’re proud to announce the 2023 recipients of the Invest in Progress Grant made possible by Sage and The BOSS Network! Sage is investing $1.5 million over three years with The BOSS Network to fuel the growth of small businesses founded by Black women. These recipients share a commitment to their communities, a passion for their businesses, and a desire to grow their professional skills.  All recipients will receive a $10,000 grant, as well as one year of monthly mentorship through the BOSS Business University, an online program that helps Black women successfully start and grow a business. Do you need funding for your small business? Visit the Hello Alice Funding Center to view our current grant programs and subscribe to the Hello Alice newsletter to stay up-to-date on future programs and funding opportunities.  Congratulations to the 25 latest recipients of the Invest in Progress Grant:

In honor of Black History Month, Hello Alice surveyed 3,176 Black small business owners to identify their characteristics and challenges going into 2023.  Published in partnership with Mastercard and the NAACP, the results show that the typical Black owner faces unique barriers to capital that both limit their growth potential and ability to respond to challenges such as inflation. However, Black owners are overall more optimistic about their futures and voiced uncommon perseverance as they pursue innovative ideas and solutions.  You can view and download the full report, titled The 2023 Black-owned Economy: Charting the Needs and Challenges of Black Small Business Owners, here. Below, read four key takeaways about Black small business owners in 2023. 1) A New Generation of Black Entrepreneurs Is on the Rise There is a steady year-over-year increase in the number of Black entrepreneurs, many of whom are very young. Roughly two-thirds of Black owners (66%) are under 40, whereas roughly two-thirds (63%) of non-Black owners are over 40. 2) Black Small Business Owners Are Largely Mission-driven While Black owners said they started businesses for economic reasons, such as to pay their bills and build generational wealth, they widely expressed a desire to give back, make a difference, and help their communities. 3) Access to Capital Is a Unique Barrier to Black Owners’ Success A majority of Black owners identified raising capital (40%) and growing their business (21%) as their top challenge, outweighing other common challenges such as marketing, customer acquisition, and hiring. Nearly 80% of Black owners are considering a financing application to expand their businesses, meet operating expenses, or pay down debt. 4) Black Owners Are Proactively Seeking Solutions Nearly 20 percent more Black owners than non-Black owners said they expect their businesses to grow in 2023, and Black owners are currently 36% more engaged than non-Black owners with Hello Alice education and funding resources. 2023 Resources for Black Small Business Owners Share the following resources with small business owners in your network. Each resource targets the emerging and ongoing challenges recorded by this survey. Small Business Funding Center Access to capital ensures owners are able to fund growth, pursue opportunities, and respond to unforeseen challenges. Hello Alice’s Small Business Funding Center connects owners with the full continuum of capital — including loans, financing, and credit cards — they need to run their businesses. Funding and Financial Literacy Education  Hello Alice offers live events, workshops, accelerators, and digital learning experiences to help entrepreneurs level up and succeed. The following step-by-step guides can help Black owners learn funding strategies and build financial literacy skills: Organize Your Finances Boost Your Personal Credit Score Choose the Right Capital Secure a Loan From a Nonprofit Microlender Write a Winning Grant Application Improve Your Credit Utilization Ratio How a Secured Card Can Support Your Small Business Mastercard Digital Doors® Get the most out of digital tools and protect your business from online threats. Mastercard Digital Doors® helps owners build digital skills, learn to accept customer payments, and master tips and tricks around e-commerce and digital invoicing. Business Solutions Center Hello Alice’s Business Solutions Center curates dozens of offers that save owners time and money. Owners can find special offers on Quickbooks, Finli, and ComplYant — three tools to help Black-owned businesses budget and manage their cash flow. Mastercard Strive Community The Mastercard Strive community operated by Hello Alice is designed to provide an online platform for Black-owned small businesses in Atlanta, Birmingham, Dayton, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. Create a free Hello Alice account or log in to join a Mastercard Strive community to connect with each other and access a curated list of funding opportunities, tools, and educational resources to help your small business thrive. About Hello Alice A Latina-owned company founded by Carolyn Rodz and Elizabeth Gore, Hello Alice (helloalice.com) is a free, multichannel platform that helps businesses grow. We believe in business for all by providing access to all owners, including women, people of color, military-connected individuals, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, and every American with an entrepreneurial spirit. For more small business tips and inspiration, create a free account on Hello Alice or subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Women tech founders and technologies designed for women are significantly underrepresented in the startup ecosystem. But why? What can we do to ensure these founders and their innovative ideas are not left behind? To answer these questions, Hello Alice, with funding from Tiger Global Impact Ventures, surveyed nearly 20,000 women tech founders and conducted 19 in-depth interviews with founders and field experts. The results confirmed access to funding as the largest barrier to growing women-founded tech startups. Our research team then sought to build on this understanding and elevate high-potential, high-impact solutions. The result is a report containing our comprehensive roadmap for closing gaps along the capital continuum. Our proposed solutions address the challenges experienced by women tech founders when accessing grants, credit, and equity, respectively. Broken into three pillars, each topic is supported by a series of possible action items. The action items included in this report are by no means exhaustive but include those that the Hello Alice team, in conversation with experts, assigned the highest impact potential. This problem will not be solved by any one person, group, or initiative. Instead, it requires diverse solutions created by diverse stakeholders. We invite you to dive into our recommendations by downloading and reading the full research report. Should you want to review our survey data in more depth, you can find more detail contained in the report’s appendix. More Resources & Context View the Full Research Report View Appendix: Demographics and Data for Women Tech Founders on Hello Alice About Hello Alice A Latina-owned company founded by Carolyn Rodz and Elizabeth Gore, Hello Alice is a free, multichannel platform that helps businesses grow. We believe in business for all by providing access to all owners, including women, people of color, military-connected individuals, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, and every American with an entrepreneurial spirit. About Tiger Global Impact Ventures Tiger Global Impact Ventures (TGIV) is a dedicated philanthropic foundation established by Tiger Global, a leading investment firm focused on investing in internet-enabled businesses across both the public and private sectors. TGIV aims to find and fund innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges by combining the best of humanity with the best of technology. As one component of a broader philanthropy program, TGIV is currently deploying Tiger Global’s Gender Equity in Tech Fund (T-GET), a $50 million commitment to support organizations changing the technology ecosystem by increasing access, inclusion, representation, and parity for women, girls, and other non-male individuals. Hello Alice is a grantee of TGIV and a member of T-GET. For more small business tips and inspiration create a free account on Hello Alice or subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Hello Alice surveyed 2,635 small business owners on our platform to understand their overall sentiment and challenges heading into 2023.  Published in partnership with Mastercard, this research elaborates on four key findings to outline small business trends to track throughout 2023. Additionally, results informed a resource list to address owner needs expressed in the survey. Here are four key takeaways about small business owners in 2023: 1) Inflation Remains a Top-of-Mind Concern 69% of small business owners said that the effects of inflation on their businesses worsened throughout 2022, forcing them to increase prices and adjust product offerings. Nearly 70% of owners applied for funding to manage inflation-related challenges in 2022, and another 70% plan to do so in 2023. 2) Owners Are Optimistic They Have the Tools To Grow Small business owners have managed to counteract inflation — so far. Despite clear economic headwinds, 64% of surveyed owners said their business performed better or about the same as in 2021. Similarly, 57% of owners said that their business performed as expected or better in 2022. Overall, small businesses feel well-positioned for success. Almost three-quarters (73%) of surveyed owners predict their businesses will grow in 2023. 3) Marketing Will Be a Key Determinant of Success Top concerns for 2023 include losing customers due to price increases (57%) and not being able to acquire new customers (54%). Owners must optimize their marketing efforts to avoid these outcomes. 4) Current Outlook Hinges on a Potential Recession Twice as many owners plan to hire in 2023 than were actively hiring in 2022. However, 65% of owners are worried about a potential recession, which they fear will reduce sales, limit cash flow, and make it harder to access credit. 2023 Resources for Small Business Owners Share the following resources with small business owners in your network. Each resource targets the emerging and ongoing challenges recorded by this survey. Small Business Funding Center Access to capital ensures owners are able to fund growth, pursue opportunities, and respond to unforeseen challenges. Hello Alice’s Small Business Funding Center connects owners with the full continuum of capital — including loans, financing, and credit cards — they need to run their businesses. Hello Alice Programs Learn best practices and crowdsource wisdom from a community of more than a million small business owners. Hello Alice offers live events, workshops, accelerators, and digital learning experiences to help entrepreneurs level up and succeed. Mastercard Digital Doors® Get the most out of digital tools and protect your business from online threats. Mastercard Digital Doors® provides best-in-class tools and resources to help business owners enhance their digital operations from setting up shop online, digital marketing, cyber security, digital payments, and finance management to be their digital best. Business Solutions Center From services that optimize marketing campaigns to online platforms to hire freelance support, Hello Alice’s Business Solutions Center curates dozens of offers that save owners time and money. Our team recommends the best tools, software, and services to simplify decisions and help small businesses scale. More Resources & Context View and Download the Full 2023 Small Business Outlook Survey About Hello Alice A Latina-owned company founded by Carolyn Rodz and Elizabeth Gore, Hello Alice (helloalice.com) is a free, multichannel platform that helps businesses grow. We believe in business for all by providing access to all owners, including women, people of color, military-connected individuals, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, and every American with an entrepreneurial spirit. For more small business tips and inspiration, create a free account on Hello Alice or subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

When Hello Alice surveys our community of more than 1 million small business owners, access to capital consistently ranks as a significant barrier to growth.  We’re proud to work with our partners to provide thousands of small business grants each year to help entrepreneurs grow their companies. As we head into 2023, we want to look back and recognize the latest batch of dreamers named Hello Alice grant recipients this year. Hello Alice 2022 Small Business Grants Stats Hello Alice and its partners awarded 1,008 business grants in all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. In total, that adds up to $12,873,000 of grant funding distributed in 2022. In addition, our partners offered mentorship, advertising credits, educational resources, and other forms of support as part of certain grant programs. Recipients told us these grants would be used to fund: general operating expenses, utilities, rent, permits, licenses, and/or cost of goods sourcing or expanding inventory marketing/advertising developing a new product or service hiring new employees 2022 Hello Alice Small Business Grant Recipient Demographics Our grant recipients strongly represent all identities and backgrounds that make up the New Majority of small business owners. Specifically, our 2022 recipients are: 75% Female 80% BIPOC 12% LGBTQ+ 23% military affiliated 16% have a disability Full Recipient List of 2022 Hello Alice Grant Programs To learn more about each unique grant opportunity and past recipients, check out the full list and links below: The Accelerate(Her) Fund sponsored by Tiger Global Impact Ventures The Alibaba.com Manifest Grants Program Amazon Black Business Accelerator Connect Amazon Black Business Accelerator (Round 3) Antares REACH Grant Beyond Yoga BGE 2022 Round 1 BGE 2022 Round 2 The BOSS Network and Sage's “Invest in Progress” Grant Democratizing the Friends & Family Round Grant DoorDash Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund (Winter 2021) DoorDash Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund (Spring 2022) Driving Small Business Forward with Progressive® Commercial Insurance eBay Up & Running Grant 2022 The Entrepreneurial Spirit Fund by SIA Scotch 2022 FedEx® Entrepreneur Fund KKR Small Business Builders for Female Founders (Round 7) Local Business Support Fund Small Business Growth Fund 2022 (Round 1) Small Business Growth Fund 2022 (Round 2) Small Business Growth Fund 2022 (Round 3) Sonoma County Alliance Small Business Opportunity Fund More Resources for You Visit the Small Business Funding Center to find new grant opportunities and lending options, including: $25K Small Business Growth Fund, accepting applications until January 6, 2023, from high-growth small businesses $10K Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund, accepting applications until December 30, 2022, from restaurants impacted by natural disasters like fires, floods, and hurricanes Ready to see your name among the list of recipients? Join Hello Alice for free today to be the first to hear about new grant opportunities. Members can complete their profiles and check their Hello Alice dashboards to receive updates about the latest opportunities and solutions for their businesses.

Hello Alice and our partners at Shopify and TikTok were delighted to host Los Angeles small business owners for a third at-capacity, in-person event designed to help owners sleigh the season on Tiktok this holiday and long after.  Following two successful New York events, hundreds of owners from our Los Angeles community gathered in Shopify’s DTLA space on December 6 to learn how to attract customers on Tiktok and set up a strategic plan for success, while enjoying light bites, swag, and jovial networking all around. During each event, special guest creators including Andrea Casanova, who has over 178K followers and 2.5M likes, joined our friends at TikTok to discuss authentic storytelling, fitting content creation into your daily schedule, and how to create videos that cater to TikTok’s unique audience. Specifically, she called attention to new research where Gen Z ranks TikTok as their search engine of choice.   "I don't go to Google any longer to search for answers, I go to TikTok because I know I'll find exactly what I need explained to me in 15 seconds through video,” Andrea explained. With this in mind, she advised that owners cater to the platform by creating how-to and behind-the-scenes content related to their business. Thank you to every New York and Los Angeles small business owner who has attended, asked questions, and made these events three nights to remember. Additional Support for Your Small Business Free Shopify and TikTok Guides Set Up Your Shopify Store Expand Your Reach with Shopify Tools Create a Winning Holiday E-Commerce Strategy Get Started on TikTok Create Scroll-Stopping Content on TikTok Boost Your Results with TikTok Tools New Grant Opportunities Visit the Small Business Funding Center to find new grant opportunities and lending options, including: $25K Small Business Growth Fund, accepting applications until January 6, 2023 from high-growth small businesses $5K Keep It Local Fund, accepting applications until December 16, 2022 from entrepreneurs of color Upcoming Hello Alice Events Get ready for success in 2023 with experiences designed to help you reach your goals: Make Confident Financial Projections for 2023 Workshop, January 19, 2023 Small Business Boost Camp Accelerator, January 23-25, 2023 Learn more about getting forward focused on 2023 with Hello Alice. Free Resources From Our Partners Do you live in NYC or LA? The Shopify calendar is jam-packed with pop-ups, workshops, art parties and more.  See what's upcoming in NYC or LA. Download your free TikTok Holiday Playbook for in-depth tools and resources to help build the business of your dreams on TikTok.

November 3 was a night to remember with more than 100 small business owners from across New York City joining Hello Alice and Mastercard to network and discuss the challenges and triumphs of Black entrepreneurship — all part of the Mastercard Strive tour, encouraging the support of Black-owned small businesses across the country. Guests gathered at the stylish Flatiron District boutique Noir et Blanc and enjoyed drinks from Brooklyn’s Happy Cork as speakers from Mastercard and the Hello Alice community led a lively discussion on breaking down barriers and opening new pathways to success. Speakers included: Ginger Siegel, North America Small Business Lead, Mastercard International  Deann Donahue, VP of Business Development, Mastercard  Natalie Diamond, VP of Business Development, Hello Alice Ken Ebie, Executive Director and CEO, Black Entrepreneurs NYC (BE NYC) Savonne Anderson, owner, Aya Paper Co. Deborah Koenigsburger, owner, Noir et Blanc Deborah Koenigsburger, the recipient of a COVID-19 Business for All Emergency Grant and the owner of Noir et Blanc, inspired the room with her message of resilience and community: “Getting the grant was the first time someone gave me something for my business that I didn’t have to give back. My advice is to educate yourself about what’s out there to help you and take advantage of it. There are a lot of people trying to support our community right now. There are a lot of people that believe in us more than we believe in us. Get on the bandwagon!” Download the full recap of the event now! Wondering if a Mastercard Strive event is heading your way? Join a Strive City chapter now and stay up to date on all Mastercard Strive resources available for you! About the Hello Alice x Mastercard Partnership In partnership with Hello Alice, Mastercard has pledged $500 million to help close the racial wealth and opportunity gap for Black communities across America. Together we’re focused on getting small business owners the capital, technical assistance, and tools they need to grow: The $25K Small Business Grant Fund — open until January 6, 2023 The Hello Alice Small Business Mastercard Mastercard Strive City chapters Educational resources to support digital readiness through Digital Doors

Happy Global Entrepreneurship Week! Celebrated from November 14–20 with over 40,000 events taking place in more than 200 countries around the globe, #GEW2022 is the week for adventurers, dreamers, risk-takers, and small business owners just like you to come together, reflect, plan, strategize, contribute to your community, and — okay — brag a little about just how amazing you are.  Organized by our friends at GEN Global, this year’s celebration focuses on four key pillars: education, inclusion, ecosystems, and policy. Each pillar is at the heart of ensuring small businesses continue to find the resources they need to succeed and contribute to the health of our communities worldwide.  Get out in your community and enjoy Global Entrepreneurship Week. Find a listing of events in your area from GEN Global, and share your story on social with #GEW2022!   Here are four more ways you can celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week and work to propel your business forward at the same time! Here’s to YOU! 1. Get Educated — No Matter Your Budget or Time to Spare Investing in yourself is critical, even when you’re over-extended, strapped for cash, and trying to make it through the busiest time of year. Keep calm! We’re ready to help you take action and thrive in the year ahead.  Milestones Hello Alice Milestones break down essential business topics like fundraising, marketing, and branding into step-by-step guides to help you level up your operations for FREE any time you need. Get started now. Goal Setting Workshop: Charting the Course for 2023 Refresh your clarity, direction, and focus with this engaging virtual class. Hello Alice Chief Product and Technology Officer Kelsey Ruger will share his science-backed approach to reaching goals and taking charge of your business. Register now: December 9, 2022, at 3 p.m. ET Boost Camp  Reset your business and mindset for 2023 over three powerful days led by Hello Alice Co-founder Carolyn Rodz! Carolyn designed Boost Camp with her own failures and your specific needs in mind. She’s now determined to help you strategically focus your priorities, define your roadmap, and de-risk your business model to change the way you operate and grow — with workshops, feedback, accountability check-ins, loads of invaluable learning, surprises, and incredible guest speakers on the schedule, including: Whitney Wolfe Herd, Founder and CEO of Bumble Sallie Krawcheck Co-founder and CEO of Ellevest Noora Raj Brown, Executive Vice President of Brand at Goop Allan Jones, Founder and CEO of Bambee Phyllis Newhouse, legendary entrepreneur and investor    Register now: January 23-25, 2023, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. ET 2. Connect With Your Inclusive Community to Grow You’re part of 1,000,000+ small businesses spanning all industries, demographics, and locations in the Hello Alice community. Every time you attend an in-person or virtual event, apply for a grant, connect with a fellow owner on social media, or even tell somebody about an opportunity on Hello Alice, you’re bolstering the diverse and driven community that we’ve built together.  A few inclusive offerings on Hello Alice right now: Mastercard Strive Join a community of Black-owned small businesses in Atlanta, Birmingham, Dayton, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, and St. Louis. The Hello Alice Small Business Secured Mastercard Helps you build or rebuild your credit over time and unlock opportunities as you grow.  Every entrepreneur deserves a chance to secure their financial future! NEW Grant Opportunities Hello Alice, in partnership with the Nextdoor Kind Foundation and NAACP, is now accepting applications for the $5K Keep it Local Business Fund. Preference will be given to businesses in Home & Garden, Personal & Professional Services, Retail, Restaurant/Food Services, Health & Wellness, and Child & Pet Care. Application deadline: Dec. 16, 2022, at 6 p.m. ET The Small Business Growth Fund, in partnership with Mastercard and part of the Year of Small Business movement, offers high-growth small businesses the opportunity to receive a $25,000 grant to help them reach their next big milestone. Application deadline: Jan. 6, 2023, at 6 p.m. ET Search for grants, loans, and other financing options and get the capital you need to grow your businesses in The Hello Alice Small Business Funding Center 3. Access Free Resources from Our Ecosystem Partners Nearly 80% of Hello Alice owners tell us they can’t access the resources they need to grow.  We’re working hard with our trusted partners to break down those barriers and help your small business thrive. FREE resources from our partners designed specifically for New Majority owners:  StartOut supports LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and startup founders, with community events, one-on-one mentorship, one-on-one office hours with experts, a 6-month accelerator program, and investor connections USHCC Navigates offers free bilingual counseling for the Hispanic entrepreneur community. In partnership with Hello Alice, they’ve also created bilingual guides to grow your business: Understand Your Business Model: English | Español Map Your Business Model: English | Español Create Your Vision Statement: English | Español Choose Your Business Structure: English | Español Create a Competitive Analysis Report: English | Español Write a Traditional Business Plan: English | Español Get an EIN: English | Español Bunker Labs provides community, programs, and courses to help military veterans and military spouses start and grow successful businesses  The SBA offers a multitude of resources, from funding to education, and stellar local assistance opportunities from its invaluable Small Business Development Centers to helpful business mentorship in partnership with SCORE  Likewise, GEN Global is a hub of resources and is especially helpful for staying up-to-date on opportunities in your area to connect and network with other entrepreneurs  4. Advocate for Yourself and Your Community Inflation. Supply-chain woes. Access to capital.  Barriers. Hurdles.  Knowing what you’re up against as an entrepreneur is critical to understanding where advocacy begins. Stay apprised:  Listen to Hello Alice co-founder Elizabeth Gore discuss the overwhelming need for equitable access to capital with GEN’s Jonathan Ortmans in honor of GEW2022, and her recent interview with Cheddar News about military-connected entrepreneurs finding pathways to success. Keep an eye on our Impact Reports to stay up to date on the challenges and needs facing small business owners just like you.  Find out more about the important policy work our partners are doing on your behalf.  Visit the SBA Office of Advocacy and read the latest policy news from GEN Global.  For more information on Global Entrepreneurship Week, head to genglobal.org/gew!