Hello Alice launches Business for All

Technology platform for small business owners announces trailblazing funding and advocacy campaign

Kristen Bell, Jean Case, Elizabeth Gore, Phyllis Newhouse, Gwyneth Paltrow, Lisa Price, Carolyn Rodz, Zaw Thet and Serena Williams are leading a movement of 100,000 entrepreneurs

News provided by

Hello Alice

Mar 03, 2020, 10:30 ET

NEW YORK, March 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hello Alice, a free platform that guides business owners through the growth of their company, today announced the launch of Business for All. A nationwide movement led by entrepreneurs, celebrities, business support organizations, and corporate executives, Business for All will provide the opportunity for mentorship and funding to 100,000 small business owners. 93% of business owners are expected to vote in the upcoming election, and Business for All elevates their voices and needs during this critical year.

Business for All is addressing the largest barrier to entry entrepreneurs face when starting a small business: access to capital, and the implicit bias in capital decisions that limits opportunities for the New Majority of small business owners. Within the last 10 years, New Majority entrepreneurs have represented over 50% of new businesses started, creating 4.7 million new jobs, yet these owners are largely excluded in funding, receiving only a 2% share of venture capital each year. Only 5.5% of women-owned businesses in the U.S. access capital from banks or other financial institutions compared to 11.4% of male-owned companies.

Today marks the launch of a movement encouraging every American to lift up their favorite small business owner and encourage them to apply for a Business for All grant. A series of grants will provide between $10,000 and $50,000 to small business owners, for a total of $200,000, coupled with mentorship opportunities through the Hello Alice platform. Grants will be open to all with a special focus on women, people of color, LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, military affiliated business owners, and entrepreneurs with disabilities. Hello Alice has established a grants council to guide the nomination and vetting process with entrepreneur organizations, such as Bunker Labs, digitalundivided, and Reno Keoni Franklin, Emeritus Chairman, Kashia Band of Pomo Indians. Business for All will also encourage entrepreneurs to nominate their own companies.

"As entrepreneurs ourselves, my co-founder Elizabeth Gore and I know how valuable it is to have a network of people and resources in your corner when trying to turn a small business dream into reality. All businesses start small, and through Business for All, we will provide 100,000 owners with the opportunity to receive grants and mentorship through Hello Alice. I hope every American thanks their favorite small business by nominating them for the funding and mentorship they deserve," said Founder and CEO of Hello Alice, Carolyn Rodz.

All grant applicants will have full access to resources available on helloalice.com, from small business how-to guides and advice to guided live video mentorship and digital support communities. Featured mentors for Business for All include: Kristen Bell, Jean Case, Elizabeth Gore, Rebecca Minkoff, Phyllis Newhouse, Gwyneth Paltrow, Lisa Price, Carolyn Rodz and Zaw Thet. Grant winners and top honorees will also be invited to the inaugural Business for All Summit in late fall 2020, which will host grant winners and applicant honorees for a day of leadership, business mentorship, and networking with fellow entrepreneurs.

In addition to providing funding access through the grants program, Business for All will also engage small business owners and policymakers on priority issues critical to small business growth ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Hello Alice will host nonpartisan Business for All listening sessions with small business owners from across the country to inform a letter to both presidential candidates later this year. Hello Alice will also host a roundtable on Capitol Hill with influential policymakers to create an ongoing dialogue around small business needs ahead of the inauguration of the new Congress in January 2021.

"I believe we should give every small business owner the tools they need to succeed. Business for All provides a combined voice, grants and mentorship to ensure success for every entrepreneur no matter their background," Kristen Bell, entrepreneur, actress, and advocate.

For more information, Business for All Summit details, listening session opportunities, and to apply to or nominate a small business owner for grants and mentorship opportunities, visit businessforall.helloalice.com.

ABOUT HELLO ALICE
Hello Alice is a free, multichannel platform that helps businesses launch and grow. With a community of more than 100,000 companies in all 50 states and across the globe, Hello Alice is building the largest network of owners in the country while tracking data and trends to increase the success rate for entrepreneurs. Our partners include enterprise business services, government agencies, and institutions looking to serve small- and medium-business owners to ensure increased revenues and promote scale. Co-headquartered in Houston and San Francisco, and founded by Carolyn Rodz and Elizabeth Gore, we believe in business for all by providing access to all owners including women, people of color, veterans, and everyone with an entrepreneurial spirit. To learn more, visit www.helloalice.com, as well as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

SOURCE Hello Alice