What Centro Community Partners does

Centro Community Partners is an Oakland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2010 by Arturo A. Noriega that serves low-to-moderate income entrepreneurs, with particular depth in Hispanic, immigrant, and minority communities across the San Francisco Bay Area, Miami, Birmingham, New York, and select international markets. Its product portfolio pairs AI-enabled software — the Centro Business Planning App, Centro CEO App, and the Centro Innovation Lab — with a structured program suite (Start My Business, Fund My Business, Grow My Business Coaching, Financial Empowerment Workshop, Self-Paced Bootcamp, Online Instructor-Led Bootcamp) and the Centro Capital Hub, through which it acts as the official Kiva Hub for San Francisco, Oakland, and Alameda County, facilitating interest-free microloans up to $15,000 and small business loans up to $250,000 through CDFI partners. The Small Business Advisor Program and partnerships with USF, SJSU, and Mills College channel MBA students into volunteer advisor capacity, extending delivery beyond the organization's 1–10 person staff.

The business model is grant-dependent. Primary funding comes from a diversified base of foundations (W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Truist Foundation, Knight Foundation, Vodafone Americas Foundation, Techstars Foundation, Friedman Family Foundation, Haas), corporate funders (Google.org, Cisco, Kaiser, eBay Foundation, Microsoft), and financial institutions (Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi, Capital One). Programs are delivered free of charge to entrepreneurs; some workshops carry nominal fees of $10–$50. Notable funders include a $250,000 first-place Truist Foundation Inspire Award in April 2024 and an MIT Solve 2021 Reimagining Pathways Challenge win. Cumulative impact metrics — 9,100+ entrepreneurs served, $12,143,541+ in facilitated small business loans, and 13,970+ hours of business coaching — indicate operational scale well beyond what the 1–10 employee headcount would suggest, made possible through the volunteer advisor pipeline and digital program delivery.

Name

Centro Community Partners

Legal name

Centro Community Partners

Website

https://centrocommunity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Centro Community Partners is an Oakland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses AI-enabled business planning tools and a structured program suite to help low-to-moderate income entrepreneurs start, fund, and grow micro-businesses, primarily across the US West Coast, East Coast, and via international fellowships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Entrepreneurship Education and Small Business Support

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Loan Brokers (6163)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Inclusion & Consumer Empowerment (Banking Access, Credit Building) (BPAGALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK), Microloans & Working Capital Loans (FSAKAGAA)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship education programs
• Small business coaching
• Microloan capital access
• Financial literacy training
• Business planning tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Primary revenue from foundations (W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Truist Foundation, Knight Foundation, Vodafone Americas Foundation, Techstars Foundation, Friedman Family Foundation, Haas), corporations (Google.org, Cisco, Kaiser, eBay Foundation, Microsoft), and government agencies. Grants fund program operations and entrepreneur support.
2. Donations: Individual donations and in-kind contributions from donors. All donations are tax-exempt as Centro is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
3. Program Fees (Minimal): Some workshops have nominal fees ($10-$50) but most programs are free to entrepreneurs. Financial institutions, corporations, and foundations subsidize free programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Centro Community Partners is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free entrepreneurship education, financial literacy, and 1-on-1 business coaching to low-to-moderate income entrepreneurs through structured programs (Start My Business, Fund My Business, Grow My Business, Financial Empowerment, Self-Paced Bootcamp). It supplements these services with a Capital Hub that connects entrepreneurs to Kiva interest-free microloans (up to $15,000) and CDFI small business loans (up to $250,000), all supported by proprietary AI-driven tools including the Centro Business Planning App and Centro CEO Platform.

Product overview

Centro Community Partners offers a portfolio of interconnected programs and digital tools designed to support low-to-moderate income entrepreneurs from idea through growth. The core suite includes the Centro Business Planning App (an AI-powered mobile and web tool used across all programs for business plan creation and journey mapping), the Centro Capital Hub (providing access to Kiva microloans up to $15,000 and larger small business loans up to $250,000), and the Centro Innovation Lab (employing AI-driven technologies to deliver and scale services). These are delivered through complementary programs: the Start My Business Program (5-session training), Fund My Business Program (3-session capital access training), Grow My Business 1-on-1 Coaching, Financial Empowerment Workshop, Self-Paced Entrepreneurship Bootcamp (LMS-delivered online course), and Online Instructor-Led Bootcamp. The Small Business Advisor Program rounds out the ecosystem by training business school students as volunteer advisors for entrepreneurs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Centro Business Planning App Flagship AI-powered mobile and web application that guides low-to-moderate income entrepreneurs through creating a business plan via journey mapping; used across all Centro programs to support business building, ecosystem development, and financial empowerment.
• Start My Business Program 5-session (2 hours per session) entrepreneurship training program that guides participants in launching a venture, covering business foundations, entrepreneurial mindset, vision, mission, values, market analysis, marketing strategy, operations, and financial planning.
• Fund My Business Program 3-session (2 hours per session) program that connects entrepreneurs with funding opportunities and expert guidance to secure and manage capital, including access to microloans through the Centro Capital Hub.
• Grow My Business Coaching Tailored business and financial coaching service providing free 1-on-1 advising to tackle challenges and seize growth opportunities; available to both Centro program graduates and non-graduates.
• Centro Capital Hub Capital access platform that helps entrepreneurs access funding through Kiva loans (interest-free loans up to $15,000 for California-based entrepreneurs) and partnerships with local non-profit CDFI lenders providing small business loans up to $250,000; Centro is the official Kiva Hub for San Francisco, Oakland, and Alameda County.
• Centro Innovation Lab Innovation unit employing AI-driven technologies and solutions to teach entrepreneurship and guide low-to-moderate income entrepreneurs with vital local resources.
• Financial Empowerment Workshop Financial education workshops that demystify budgeting, financial planning, credit management, and cash flow management for low-to-moderate income entrepreneurs.
• Self-Paced Entrepreneurship Bootcamp Free, self-paced online entrepreneurship course delivered via Centro's Learning Management System and Business Planning App; participants progress through video and written lessons covering basic business concepts in approximately 5 hours, available in English.
• Online Instructor-Led Bootcamp Facilitator-led, discussion-based online entrepreneurship course scheduled over two sessions (6 hours total over three weeks); ideal for entrepreneurs who prefer structured learning, networking, and live feedback from facilitators.
• Small Business Advisor Program Program that trains business school students to become business advisors and professional coaches; students volunteer to work one-on-one with entrepreneurs in Centro's training programs, advised by experienced professional mentors.
• Centro CEO Platform AI-powered platform featuring journey mapping for business building, ecosystem development, and financial empowerment tools to support low-to-moderate income entrepreneurs at every stage of their business journey.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served 9,100+ small business entrepreneurs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• KivacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentro serves as the official Kiva Hub for San Francisco, Oakland, and Alameda County. Helps entrepreneurs access interest-free Kiva loans up to $15,000 and provides application support and endorsement.
• MIT SolveflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentro won the Reimagining Pathways to Employment Challenge, recognizing its AI-powered Business Planning App democratizing entrepreneurship for women and minorities.
• The Workers LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected as one of 10 finalists for the Fall 2020 Innovation Fund supporting worker recovery from COVID-19.
• Mandela MarketplacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on fall workshop series in Castlemont, Oakland for local small business entrepreneurs, combining legal and business coursework.
• The Unity CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver Basic Finance Workshops led in Spanish for small business owners in the Fruitvale District of Oakland.
• Sustainable Economies Law CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on legal and business coursework for Mandela Marketplace workshop series.
• IREX Community Solutions ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFellowship program sponsoring international participants through the US Department of State, with fellows joining Centro's Small Business Advisor Program.
• University of San FranciscocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for MBA Advisor Program where business students volunteer to advise Centro entrepreneurs as part of their coursework.
• San Jose State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for MBA Advisor Program where SJSU MBA students serve as volunteer advisors for Centro entrepreneurs.
• Mills CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for MBA Advisor Program where Mills College MBA students serve as volunteer advisors for Centro entrepreneurs.
• Mayfield AccountingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSmall business accounting firm led free Tax Preparedness Workshop for Centro entrepreneurs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kiva: Kiva is a global microfinance platform that provides interest-free crowdfunded loans to underserved entrepreneurs. Centro operates as Kiva's official Hub for San Francisco/Oakland/Alameda County, making Kiva both a core operating partner and the most directly comparable peer in mission, model, and beneficiary population.
• SCORE: SCORE is a U.S. nonprofit network providing free business mentoring, education, and resources to small business owners — directly comparable to Centro's free entrepreneurship education, coaching, and business planning offerings for underserved entrepreneurs.
• Grameen America: Grameen America is a nonprofit microfinance organization providing small loans, financial education, and peer support to low-income women entrepreneurs. It is directly comparable to Centro in target population (underserved entrepreneurs) and the combination of capital access plus education/coaching.
• Accion Opportunity Fund: Accion Opportunity Fund is a CDFI providing small business loans and advisory services to underserved entrepreneurs, particularly women and minority-owned businesses. It mirrors Centro's combined model of capital access (loans up to $250K) plus business advising/education for similar demographics.
• Mission Asset Fund: Mission Asset Fund is a San Francisco-based nonprofit providing zero-interest loans and financial inclusion services to low-income immigrant communities. Directly comparable to Centro in serving LMI/immigrant populations with capital access and financial empowerment programming in the Bay Area.
• Women's Initiative for Self Employment: Women's Initiative is a Bay Area-based nonprofit providing entrepreneurship training, business advising, and capital access to low-income women entrepreneurs. Highly comparable to Centro in target audience, program mix (training + coaching + capital), and Bay Area footprint.
• Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center: Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center is a Bay Area nonprofit providing entrepreneurship training, business development services, and capital access to low-income entrepreneurs. Directly comparable to Centro in geography, target population, and the integrated training-plus-capital service model.
• Start Small Think Big: Start Small Think Big is a nonprofit providing free business development services, legal aid, and marketing support to low-income and minority entrepreneurs. Highly comparable to Centro in serving underserved entrepreneurs with free, multi-disciplinary business support services.

Broad incumbents

• Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): The U.S. Small Business Development Center network is a federally funded nationwide program providing free business advising and training to entrepreneurs. Comparable to Centro as a free, government/backed alternative for small business education and capital-readiness coaching, though it operates as a broad public program rather than a niche AI-driven nonprofit.

Emerging players

• Camino Financial: Camino Financial is a fintech lender providing loans and credit-building products to underserved Hispanic and immigrant small business owners. Comparable to Centro's Centro Capital Hub in serving the Hispanic/Latino entrepreneur segment with capital access, but operates as a for-profit fintech rather than a nonprofit intermediary.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Centro Community Partners