Think Big!

Name

Think Big!

Legal name

Think Big Corporation, Inc.

Website

https://thinkbig815.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Development Services

NAICS

Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Business Associations (81391), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK), Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

Keywords

• Minority business accelerator
• Entrepreneurship training programs
• Small business coaching
• Business development workshops
• Vendor marketplace events

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Think Big operates as a nonprofit organization accepting donations to fuel tools, training, and transformational opportunities for minority entrepreneurs. Donations are collected online via Stripe payment processing.
2. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support Think Big events, programs, and initiatives. Sponsors gain visibility and connection with diverse audience while empowering minority entrepreneurs.
3. Vendor Fees: Think Big Market vendors pay one-time seasonal fees: $50 for Service/Non-Profit vendors, $100 for Retail vendors, $150 for Food vendors and Food Trucks for the entire season.
4. Membership Program: Free membership program providing access to workshops, School of Business, business coaching, and monthly networking opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Think Big! is a nonprofit minority business accelerator that delivers a structured 4-week School of Business curriculum, one-on-one coaching, workshops, and monthly networking events to minority and women entrepreneurs. It supplements training programs with an annual Think Big Expo, a seasonal Think Big Market vendor marketplace, and a curated resource directory that connects members to local and state small business support organizations.

Product overview

Think Big! is a nonprofit minority business accelerator that operates as a unified platform offering multiple interconnected programs designed to support minority and women entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. The core offerings include the Think Big School of Business (a structured 4-week curriculum covering business formalization, credit, branding/marketing, and business planning), the annual Think Big Expo (flagship showcase event), and the Think Big Market (indoor/outdoor vendor marketplace). These are complemented by workshop series, one-on-one coaching, membership program, and a resource directory that connects entrepreneurs with local, regional, and state partner organizations for technical assistance, training, mentorship, and capital access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Think Big School of Business: A structured curriculum program designed to equip entrepreneurs with essential business skills through interactive workshops, one-on-one coaching, and networking opportunities.
• Think Big Business Expo
• Think Big Market

Products and services

• Think Big School of Business

Quantifiable outcome

• 80 businesses have seen growth in revenue and market reach since joining Think Big
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Business First (Rockford)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPersonalized sessions where entrepreneurs meet with regulatory stakeholders to discuss requirements to start a business in Rockford at a commercial location. Think Big refers members to this program for business formalization support.
• Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides business guidance, training, capital advisory, and resources to help both start-up and existing small businesses. Think Big ecosystem partner for comprehensive small business support.
• Rockford Local Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerService-oriented commercial lender that simplifies the loan application process as a small business champion and catalyst for community and economic development. Helps Think Big members access capital.
• Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency with mission to create equitable economic opportunities across Illinois. Provides programs and resources for minority entrepreneurs through Think Big network.
• Illinois Secretary of StateminorOthersProvides business documents including incorporation documents, annual reports, and amendments. Think Big refers members for business formalization requirements.
• Winnebago County ClerkminorOthersAdministers 'Doing Business As' (DBA) business licenses and Certificates of Ownership. Think Big refers members for local business licensing.
• Midland States BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMartesha Brown serves as Director of Community Economic Development at Midland States Bank. Strategic partnership for financial services access and economic development initiatives in Rockford.
• Wabongo Leadership CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit co-founded by Matthew Simpson (Director of Economic Impact at Think Big). Community leadership development organization serving Rockford area.
• Greater Rockford Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNathaniel Jordan (Treasurer at Think Big) serves on the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Business networking and advocacy partnership.
• Northern Illinois Minority Company AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCraig Sockwell (Board President at Think Big) served as Treasurer. Industry association promoting minority business development in northern Illinois.
• Northern Black Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCraig Sockwell (Board President at Think Big) served as Treasurer. Chamber focused on Black business development and advocacy.
• Rockford Park District Board of CommissionersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMartesha Brown (Strategic Partner at Think Big) elected as first Black woman to Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners in 2021 and now serves as President.
• Goodwill of Northern IllinoisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKhaneidra Horton previously served as Mission Integration Program Manager. Community development and workforce services organization.
• Habitat for HumanityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMartesha Brown serves on the board. Housing and community development nonprofit serving Winnebago County.
• Winnebago CASAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMalasia Heyward (Financial Coach at Think Big) serves as board member. Organization providing advocacy for abused and neglected children.
• SIU College of Marketing External Advisory BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNathaniel Jordan (Treasurer at Think Big) serves on the advisory board. Southern Illinois University marketing program partnership.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bunker Labs: Nonprofit supporting entrepreneurship among underrepresented founders (military veterans and spouses) through community-led programs, cohorts, and events. Mirrors Think Big's community-led accelerator model targeting a specific underrepresented segment.
• Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC): ICCC supports inner-city and minority-owned businesses through executive education, coaching, and capital-connection programming. Direct peer to Think Big in mission (minority business growth and capital access), but operates as a national program rather than a single-city nonprofit.
• Pacific Community Ventures (Now Common Future): Nonprofit that runs small-business accelerator and advising programs for underrepresented entrepreneurs, combining coaching, peer networks, and capital connections. Shares Think Big's coaching-plus-capital-acceleration approach.

Broad incumbents

• SCORE: National nonprofit providing free business mentoring, workshops, and resources to entrepreneurs. Closest analogue to Think Big's free-coaching and workshop model, but operating at vastly greater scale and without a minority-business focus.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National community development nonprofit supporting small businesses, affordable housing, and economic opportunity in underserved neighborhoods. Has partnerships with many of the same ecosystem actors as Think Big and operates entrepreneur-support programs.
• Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO): National membership association for the U.S. microbusiness and small-business development field, supporting community-based entrepreneurs through advocacy, capital access, and capacity building. Comparable in mission of serving underrepresented microentrepreneurs, but operates as an industry convener rather than a local accelerator.
• National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC): National corporate membership organization advancing business opportunities for certified minority-owned businesses through corporate buyer connections, capacity building, and certification. Adjacent to Think Big's mission of growing minority businesses but focused on B2B supplier diversity rather than local SMB acceleration.
• National Urban League Entrepreneurship Center: National civil rights organization with entrepreneurship centers that deliver business development services to Black and minority entrepreneurs through local affiliates. Similar target population to Think Big but with national scale and chapter network.

Emerging players

• Grameen America: Nonprofit microfinance organization providing small business loans and financial coaching to women entrepreneurs in贫困 communities. Comparable in serving minority/women entrepreneurs with wraparound support, but primary value prop is lending rather than accelerator programming.
• Accion Opportunity Fund (Accion): Community development financial institution providing small business loans, coaching, and accelerator programs to underserved small business owners, including minorities. Overlaps with Think Big's mission to address the minority funding gap through capital and advisory services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thinkbig815
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/think-big-corporation
• Instagraminstagram.com/thinkbig815
• Xx.com/thinkbig815

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

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 Think Big!