According to the Commerce Institute during 2020 there over 4 million new business were started. Whether out of necessity, due to loss of employment, to supplement decreased employment or to navigate the uncertainty of the pandemic, whatever the reason the pandemic saw the creation of over 4 million new businesses. What many seasoned business owners will share is that there are so many things that go into starting a business, licensing, insurance, business registration and of course funding. Business owners will also share that though there are advantages to owning your own business, it is hard work and filled with uncertainty. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that about 20 percent of small businesses fail within the first year and 30 percent of small business often fail within the first two years.
Enter Hello Alice a FREE platform designed for small business owners by small business owners. Small business owners can head over to HelloAlice.com to sign up to become a member of their platform. Not only does Hello Alice offer grant opportunities, workshops for small business owners and a credit card, Hello Alice has hosted several events in the Chicago area to provide small business owners the opportunity to network, learn from and encourage each other. What a great way to aid small business owners on the road to success. Ask the more than one million small business owners currently active on the platform.
While not the only platform on the market to assist small businesses, Hello Alice is committed to being a self paced advocate for small business owners. Hello Alice co-founders Carolyn Rodz and Elizabeth Gore, decided to create a platform that can assist small business owners from the unexpected pitfalls small business ownership can create. Their goal is to remove barriers and open doors in order for small business owners to be successful. The mission of the platform is to ‘ensure that every entrepreneur in the New Majority has what they need to launch and grow their own small business adventure.” According to Gore, “it (the platform) allows us to reach individuals that were previously left out and that’s what we wanted to build with Hello Alice, equal access to everyone using technology.”
The results from their 2022 grant distribution demonstrates their commitment to the success of small business owners and those who had limited access to resources. Through their partnership with corporations and other funders there was over 12 million in grants awarded to over 1,000 small business owners. The vast majority of grant recipients, 75% were female and over 50% of grant recipients were African American. Funding, coupled with mentorship, training resources and additional small business support is all included on their portal. The Hello Alice Small Business Funding Center is the portal used to search for new grant opportunities.
While headquartered on the East coast, in 2022 Hello Alice hosted events for small business owners in the Chicago area in partnership with Create & Cultivate, Mastercard and TransUnion. The event hosted in partnership with Mastercard and Create & Cultivate focused on women owned business and opportunities for women business owners, while the event co-hosted by TransUnion featured small business owners discussing their ability to pivot during the pandemic. Both events were intimate and allowed opportunities for networking, Q&A and practical advise for business owners and those aspiring to become business owners.
For any experienced, new or aspiring small business owners especially a Black women owned business make sure to browse what Hello Alice has to offer. Even if you choose not to sign up on their portal for the resources offered there, start by subscribing to their newsletter or read the blogs and profiles on their website to familiarize yourself with their offerings. Know that there is a another resource available to assist you on your small business journey. Check out www.HelloAlice.com today.