ONABEN

Name

ONABEN

Legal name

ONABEN

Website

https://onaben.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Native American Entrepreneurship Education

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Career Skills Tutoring Platforms (Coding, Data, Business) (EDANAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Literacy, Budgeting & Personal Finance (EDAMAHAE), Leadership, Management & Teamwork for Business (EDAMAHAI), Marketing, Branding & Sales Skills (EDAMAHAG)

Keywords

• Native entrepreneurship education
• Culturally-specific business curriculum
• Small business development
• Financial literacy training
• Tribal economic development

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: ONABEN is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants. The donation page accepts amounts starting at $5. Major sponsors support the Girl Talk Gala and youth internship programs.
2. Bookstore Sales: ONABEN operates an online bookstore selling curriculum products including the 'A Native American Journey into Business' Student Edition ($68), Teacher Edition ($223), 'Growing a Business in Indian Country' Volume I ($68), Volume II ($68), Facilitator Guide ($24), and 'Marketing Mix - The 4 P's of Marketing' Bundle of 10 ($200).
3. Training Registration Fees: ONABEN charges registration fees for its Indianpreneurship Train-the-Trainer events. For example, the March 2025 Tulsa event was priced at $700 per participant. These fees support program delivery and instructor certification.
4. Sponsorship Revenue: ONABEN generates sponsorship revenue through event sponsorships. The Girl Talk Gala offers Platinum ($5,000), Gold ($3,000), Silver ($1,500), and Bronze ($500) sponsorship tiers. The RealChange Youth Internship program offers ChangeMaker ($20,000), Visionary ($10,000), and Empowerment ($5,000) sponsorship tiers.
5. Government Grants: ONABEN receives grant funding from government sources. The Bridge to Success program was originally funded by the SBA's Office of Native American Affairs. The Beyond the Boots veteran initiative was funded in part by a grant agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The Arts and Culture Accelerator was initially funded by the SBA's Accelerator Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ONABEN develops and delivers the Indianpreneurship® culturally-specific entrepreneurship curriculum for Native American entrepreneurs and underserved communities. The offering includes printed curriculum books (Student Edition, Teacher Edition, Growing a Business in Indian Country Volumes I & II, Facilitator Guide, Marketing Mix), instructor certification training, and supporting programs such as Beyond the Boots (veterans), RealChange Youth Empowerment, Girl Talk (women & girls), Artist & Culture Accelerators, Bridge to Success (government contracting), and Financial Wellness Training.

Product overview

ONABEN offers a suite of programs and products centered on Native American entrepreneurship and economic development. The core offering is Indianpreneurship®, a culturally-specific curriculum using storytelling to guide entrepreneurs through business planning. This is delivered through printed books (A Native American Journey into Business, Growing a Business in Indian Country Volumes I & II with Facilitator Guide, and Marketing Mix curriculum) and instructor certification programs. Supporting programs include RealChange Youth Empowerment Initiative with STEM integration, Youth Internship Program with AI literacy, Girl Talk women/girls empowerment, Beyond the Boots veteran services, Artist and Culture Accelerators, Bridge to Success government contracting support, and Financial Wellness Training. The organization also conducts training events across the U.S. and maintains global reach through international partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Indianpreneurship: ONABEN's signature suite of entrepreneurship training products and curriculum designed for Native American entrepreneurs and small business providers.
• RealChange Youth Internship
• Girl Talk
• Beyond the Boots
• Bridge to Success
• Artist and Culture Accelerators

Products and services

• Indianpreneurship® ONABEN's flagship culturally-specific entrepreneurship curriculum designed for Native entrepreneurs, using storytelling to guide small business planning from ideation through written business and marketing plan completion.
• A Native American Journey into Business (Student Edition) Signature product of the Indianpreneurship suite; a culturally specific course using storytelling to guide Native entrepreneurs through small business planning. Priced at $68.
• A Native American Journey into Business (Teacher Edition) Full-color teacher's edition for facilitating an engaging Indianpreneurship course. Priced at $223.
• Growing a Business in Indian Country (Volume I) First volume of a two-year intensive business development training course for established Native American business owners and tribal enterprise managers. Priced at $68.
• Growing a Business in Indian Country (Volume II) Second volume continuing the two-year intensive training focusing on advanced business skills with peer-mentoring model of learning. Priced at $68.
• Growing a Business in Indian Country (Facilitator Guide) Guide with tips and ideas for recruitment and marketing a small business program to help launch entrepreneurial peer learning programs. Priced at $24.
• Marketing Mix - The 4 P's of Marketing (Bundle of 10 Books) Supplement curriculum to Indianpreneurship providing comprehensive guide to the Marketing Mix framework with step-by-step guidance on developing marketing strategies. Priced at $200 for bundle of 10.
• Indianpreneurship® Instructor Certification Two-day interactive Train-the-Trainer program equipping participants to teach and facilitate the Indianpreneurship Journey into Business course, covering business planning, marketing strategy, class recruitment, instructional methods, and current business development trends. Priced at $700 per participant.
• Beyond the Boots: Veteran & Service Member Initiative Comprehensive suite of tools and services designed to empower veterans and service members in achieving their entrepreneurial dreams, funded in part by a grant agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
• RealChange Youth Empowerment Initiative Program providing financial literacy training, tailored educational materials, and youth entrepreneurship camps that culminate in a business showcase, with STEM integration for underserved youth.
• Artist and Culture Accelerators Arts and Culture Accelerator program supporting artists in expanding their markets through artist-entrepreneur training, brand development, and marketing/website development services. Initially funded by the SBA's Accelerator Fund.
• Girl Talk Women and Girl Empowerment Initiative providing monthly workshops that foster entrepreneurial spirit, financial confidence, community engagement, and connection to local resources. Includes the annual Girl Talk Gala signature event.
• Bridge to Success Program dedicated to building capacity of Indigenous and minority-owned businesses to secure contracts with federal agencies, tribal entities, and minority supplier development programs. Originally funded by the SBA's Office of Native American Affairs.
• Financial Wellness Training Training covering budgeting, saving, debt management, credit reports and scores, and financial planning for business ventures to achieve long-term financial stability.
• RealChange Youth Internship Program Internship program giving young people leadership opportunities through development and delivery of youth-focused programs, with AI education integrated as a tool for responsible use in improving efficiency, creativity, and problem-solving.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80,000+ entrepreneurs served since 1991
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SPIPA (South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerONABEN partners with SPIPA to deliver website training events. The partnership has conducted a series of three website training events at SPIPA's location in Shelton, WA, demonstrating ongoing collaboration in digital skills training for tribal communities.
• PEDCO (Nebraska)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerONABEN trained PEDCO staff in its Indianpreneurship® Program to enable them to deliver entrepreneurship training in their local community in Nebraska.
• Osage NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerONABEN partnered with the Osage Nation to present the Indianpreneurship® Program. The partnership included guest speakers Marc Roark and Kate Horn, combining ONABEN's curriculum with Osage Nation's local network and resources.
• PBM LendingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerONABEN partnered with PBM Lending alongside the Osage Nation to present the Indianpreneurship® Program, combining entrepreneurship education with lending resources to support participants' business financing needs.
• Catawba NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerONABEN partners with Catawba Nation to deliver Credit & Budgeting Essentials for Financial Empowerment workshops at the Catawba Reservation in Rock Hill, SC. Events are open to Catawba Nation citizens and focus on building financial literacy.
• Native Women LeadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerONABEN partners with Native Women Lead for joint training events and sponsorships. Native Women Lead sponsored ONABEN's Valentines for Vets event and the two organizations co-host entrepreneurial and financial wellness training sessions, including events in Albuquerque, NM.
• English Without Borders Network (EWB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerONABEN's former fellow Nasiba Mirpochoeva founded and directs the English Without Borders Network (EWB) in Tajikistan. The network unites English language teachers and students across Tajikistan, representing ONABEN's extended global impact through alumni-driven initiatives.
• Mary Wazara (IVA Program, Zimbabwe)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMary Wazara supports the IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) program in Zimbabwe, which was developed through ONABEN's international fellowship network. The program turns waste management challenges into economic opportunities for women and youth.
• IREX (Community Solutions Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNasiba Mirpochoeva participated in the Community Solutions Program (CSP) through IREX and did her CSP internship at ONABEN. IREX is a global development organization that powers changes locally. ONABEN's global reach is partially attributed to hosting CSP fellows.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED): NCAIED is a Native American economic development organization running entrepreneur training programs, business conferences (Reservation Economic Summit), and capacity-building services for tribal enterprises — directly comparable to ONABEN's mission and target audience.
• First Nations Oweesta Corporation: Oweesta is a Native CDFI intermediary providing financial literacy, entrepreneurship training, and capacity-building grants specifically for Native communities — a closely comparable culturally-specific economic empowerment organization.
• Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA): NAFOA provides financial management training, certification, and capacity building for Native American tribes and Native enterprises — overlapping audience and adjacent curriculum focus (NAFOA recognized ONABEN with its 2014 Education Program of the Year award).
• Native CDFI Network: Native CDFI Network advocates for and builds capacity of Native CDFIs delivering financial services and business development in tribal communities — a closely aligned peer in Native-specific economic empowerment.

Broad incumbents

• SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives): SCORE is a SBA-affiliated national network providing free mentorship, workshops, and business training to entrepreneurs across the U.S. — a broader incumbent in the same entrepreneurship education category without Native-specific focus.
• Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program: Aspen EOP advances economic opportunity for low-income workers, entrepreneurs, and communities — comparable mission of building economic assets in underserved populations, but at a broader national/policy level rather than tribal-specific.
• Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO): AEO is a national trade association supporting the U.S. microbusiness and small business development field — peers with ONABEN in serving micro-entrepreneurs but at a national ecosystem-building level rather than direct curriculum delivery.
• Opportunity Finance Network (OFN): OFN is the leading national network of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), many of which serve Native communities — a comparable ecosystem player providing financing and capacity building for underserved entrepreneurs.

Regional players

• National Indian Education Association (NIEA): NIEA is a national Native education organization focused on K-12 and higher education policy — adjacent in cultural specificity and Native community focus, overlapping with ONABEN's youth programming but not entrepreneurship specifically.

Others

• Cherokee Nation Businesses / Tribal Enterprises (e.g., Citizen Potawatomi Nation): Tribal enterprises like Cherokee Nation Businesses and Citizen Potawatomi Nation's economic arms run their own entrepreneur support programs — adjacent ecosystem participants rather than direct competitors, serving a similar constituency through tribal-government-led channels.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ONABEN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/onaben
• Xx.com/ONABEN

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ONABEN