ConnectUP! Circle (C2) - A Digital Community

The challenge that we are solving is the lack of easily accessible and culturally responsible resources and support for Black/Brown-led businesses in rural communities. These businesses often face systemic barriers such as limited access to capital, networking opportunities, and mentorship. This leaves them at a disadvantage when it comes to growing their business and competing in the market.

Our goal is to bridge this gap by providing culturally-centric education, tools, and community connections for these entrepreneurs. Our upcoming events will focus on topics such as financial management, marketing strategies, and leadership development. We believe that by equipping Black/Brown founders with these skills and resources, we can help level the playing field and foster economic growth in rural communities.

CI will expand its highly successful education/coaching program by building a platform of culturally grounded courses and toolkits to help founders MANAGE their businesses. Courses and toolkits include accessing capital, building their back office and managing their businesses' financial health and on-demand 1:1 advising. Users will get access to our online community of Black/Brown founders where you can find our upcoming events, tools, tips,  and hundreds of personal, financial and business development content. 

We will seek out local and national education and community partners with our established deep inter-organizational relationships that are grounded in our shared vision for Black/Brown-led businesses. Organizations include, including supported by African American Leadership Forum; Black Ambition, African Career Education Resources; AM Law; and Southwest Initiative Foundation. 

Purpose

ON-DEMAND LEARNING SERIES

Hundreds of hours of professional development courses available on our member platform 24/7.

MEMBER DIRECTORY

Meet folks in your industry (colleagues, industry experts, posts successes and challenges, ask questions, and get out of the isolation of small business.

VIRTUAL EVENTS

Monthly founder networking, brainstorms, and panels to help you expand both your network and your professional opportunities.

The platform will be designed to bridge the digital divide by providing access to resources that are both hard to come by and expensive. It will also include recordings of workshops, webinars, speaker series, and podcasts; a digital library of best practices for starting and scaling a business; as well as guides on data-informed decision-making, financial literacy, cultural competency building, legal support services, and other business support services. The platform will also offer real-time connections with mentors for one-on-one sessions in order to provide guidance tailored specifically for each entrepreneur. Based on our award-winning content and soon-to-be platform, we aim to create an equitable playing field for BIPOC entrepreneurs who lack access to resources often taken for granted in the larger entrepreneurial ecosystem.

1. Increased access to resources for BIPOC entrepreneurs: By providing a digital platform with a wide range of resources, including webinars, speaker series, podcasts, and guides on various topics related to starting and scaling a business, this project aimed to bridge the resource gap faced by BIPOC entrepreneurs.

2. Improved knowledge and skills: The digital library of best practices and guides offered on the platform allowed entrepreneurs to gain valuable knowledge and skills in areas such as data-informed decision-making, financial literacy, cultural competency building, legal support services, etc.

3. Tailored guidance from mentors: One-on-one mentorship sessions with industry experts provided personalized guidance for each entrepreneur based on their specific needs and goals. This helped in addressing any challenges or roadblocks they were facing in their business journey.

4. Networking opportunities: Through the platform, entrepreneurs were able to connect with other like-minded individuals and build a supportive network within the BIPOC community. This not only provided valuable connections but also created a sense of camaraderie and support among entrepreneurs.

5. Access to funding opportunities: The project also aimed to address the lack of access to capital faced by many BIPOC entrepreneurs. Through partnerships with investors and venture capitalists, entrepreneurs were given the opportunity to pitch their ideas and potentially secure funding for their businesses.

6. Long-term support: Beyond just providing resources and support, the project was committed to providing long-term assistance for BIPOC entrepreneurs. This included ongoing mentorship, networking events,

Critical outcomes of the success of this project will include increased representation of BIPOC entrepreneurs in the startup world, as well as economic growth and job creation within BIPOC businesses. By providing a comprehensive and accessible resource for business support, we hope to break down barriers and create opportunities for individuals to realize their entrepreneurial dreams.