Emerge and Rise

What Emerge and Rise does

Emerge and Rise, Inc.™ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Venture Development Organization (Tax ID 87-1714805) headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, founded in 2021 and led by Founder Lina Rugova. The organization works with established San Antonio small and medium-sized businesses that lack conventional access to capital, networks, and resources, with a primary focus on women-led companies, first-generation and international entrepreneurs, and veterans in transition. Its central product is a suite of hands-on, personalized business support programs including Small Business 911 (emergency business support), Corporate Training, International Soft Landing, Technical Assistance Programs, the Digital Literacy Program, a formal Mentorship Program, and Membership Services that provide business address, registered agent, LLC/nonprofit registration, and meeting space. Its core differentiator is the trademarked Owner Independence Framework™, a research-informed methodology with four anchors (Empower, Equip, Educate, Elevate), twelve building blocks, and a CESI process layer designed to help founders move beyond self-reliance dependency.\n\nThe organization does not operate a proprietary technology platform; services are delivered in-person at its Broadway (District 10) innovation hub and through programs, workshops, and delegations. Revenue is generated through a mix of membership fees, program fees (e.g., $55 Digital Literacy Program participation, refunded upon completion), donations, and likely grants, all reinvested into the mission. Its strategic positioning is reinforced by core-tier affiliations with the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, World Affairs Council of San Antonio, NALCAB, National Digital Inclusion Alliance, Grow with Google (Impact Partner), NTEN, and National Coalition for Community Capital, and operationalized through strategic partnerships including NEWITY for SBA-backed financing (announced 2026-05-28) and AI Cowboys/Learn2AI for the Digital Literacy Initiative.\n\nRecognition includes the 2025 SME Expansion Facilitator of the Year from the International Trade Council's Go Global Awards and the 2026 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency. Geographic reach is concentrated in San Antonio and Texas, with international activity signaled through the Ireland Delegation Trip 2026 and International Soft Landing program.

Name

Emerge and Rise

Legal name

Emerge and Rise, Inc.™

Website

https://emergeandrise.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Emerge and Rise is a San Antonio-based 501(c)(3) Venture Development Organization that provides hands-on business support, mentorship, digital and financial literacy programs, and membership infrastructure to established underserved small and medium-sized businesses, including women-led, first-generation, international, and veteran entrepreneurs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marketing, Branding & Sales Skills (EDAMAHAG), Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC), STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

Keywords

• Small business support
• Venture development services
• Business mentorship programs
• Digital literacy training
• Nonprofit consulting services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Antonio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The organization charges membership fees for access to business support services, physical space, registered agent services, and professional resources. Membership provides infrastructure for business operations including business address, legal support, and compliant mail handling.
2. Program Fees: Fees charged for specific programs and services including the Digital Literacy Program ($55, refunded upon completion) and various training workshops.
3. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Emerge and Rise receives donations and likely grant funding to support operations and mission. The organization reinvests all revenue into the mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Emerge and Rise is a nonprofit Venture Development Organization that provides hands-on, personalized business support to established San Antonio small and medium-sized enterprises ready for growth, modernization, or expansion. Services include emergency business support, corporate training, international market entry, technical assistance, digital literacy, mentorship, and a membership program offering registered agent, business address, and operational infrastructure.

Product overview

Emerge and Rise is a nonprofit Venture Development Organization providing a comprehensive suite of business support services to established San Antonio small and medium-sized enterprises ready for growth. The organization operates as a service-based nonprofit rather than a software product company. Its portfolio includes core advisory and support programs (Small Business 911, Corporate Training, Technical Assistance Programs), international market entry support (International Soft Landing), educational initiatives (Digital Literacy Program, Mentorship Program), and membership infrastructure services (business address, registered agent, LLC registration, meeting space access). The organization also facilitates special programs including international delegations, awards, and innovation training workshops.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Owner Independence Framework™: A research-informed, practice-validated model designed to mitigate founder reliance by integrating human-centered development, operational systems, skills education, and organizational elevation for sustainable small business and nonprofit leadership.
• Small Business 911
• Digital Literacy Initiative

Products and services

• Small Business 911 Emergency and immediate business support program for small businesses needing urgent assistance with operations, strategy, or problem-solving, designed for established SMBs past the startup phase.
• Corporate Training Corporate programs designed to build innovation capacity within larger organizations and the broader community, including Fostering Innovation Training workshops.
• International Soft Landing Program supporting international companies and first-generation business owners building operations in San Antonio, including business development support, market entry assistance, and international trade facilitation.
• Technical Assistance Programs Technical support services helping businesses adopt digital tools, strengthen operations, and access procurement and capital opportunities, delivered through hands-on consulting.
• Digital Literacy Program In-person digital literacy program teaching small business owners digital skills from professional email setup, social media, websites, and e-commerce to AI tools and automation, offered in three phases over six evenings. Participation fee of $55 is refunded upon completion.
• Mentorship Program Formal program connecting emerging entrepreneurs and established business owners with experienced mentors to provide guidance, insights, and support for navigating challenges and seizing opportunities.
• Membership Services Business membership providing infrastructure support including business address, registered agent services, compliant mail handling, LLC and nonprofit registration assistance, and access to meeting and podcast space.
• Owner Independence Framework™ Proprietary, research-informed, practice-validated methodology designed to mitigate founder reliance by integrating human-centered development, operational systems, skills education, and organizational elevation for sustainable small business and nonprofit leadership.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% of small businesses that receive mentoring survive for five years or more, double the rate of those without mentors
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SAHCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with SAHCC provides connection to the Hispanic business community in San Antonio and referral pathways for entrepreneurs seeking support services.
• World Affairs Council of San AntoniocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation supports international business development and provides access to global trade resources and networks for San Antonio entrepreneurs.
• San Antonio Council for International VisitorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting international visitor engagement and cross-cultural business exchange opportunities.
• National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affiliation providing access to resources, research, and best practices for Latino community asset building and economic development.
• Grow with Google Impact PartnercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial Google impact partner providing digital skills training and technology resources to underserved entrepreneurs.
• National Digital Inclusion AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation supports digital inclusion initiatives and provides framework for digital literacy programming for underserved communities.
• Global Cyber AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting cybersecurity resources and education for small businesses operating in digital environments.
• Pro LiteracyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation supporting literacy-focused programming and resources for entrepreneurs and community members.
• NTEN (Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in nonprofit technology network provides access to best practices, resources, and community for technology integration in mission-driven organizations.
• National Coalition for Community CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation supports community wealth building initiatives and access to capital resources for underserved entrepreneurs.
• AI CowboyscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenerous sponsor of the Digital Literacy Initiative program. AI Cowboys provides funding and support for digital literacy programming for San Antonio entrepreneurs.
• Learn2AIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation partner co-hosting the Digital Literacy Initiative. Learn2AI provides access to cutting-edge AI tools, mentorship, and real-world application support for program participants.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SCORE: SCORE is a national nonprofit network providing free mentorship, education, and resources to small businesses — directly mirroring Emerge and Rise's mentorship and training model for SMBs, just at a much larger scale.
• DreamSpring: Certified CDFI offering capital, coaching, and connections to underserved small business owners including women, minorities, veterans, and immigrants — strong overlap on target segments and bundled financing + advisory model.
• Start Small Think Big: Nonprofit providing pro bono business support, mentorship, and digital services to under-resourced small business owners nationwide — directly comparable mission, services, and target customer base.
• Accion Opportunity Fund: Community Development Financial Institution providing small business capital and education to underserved entrepreneurs across the U.S. — overlaps strongly on customer segment (women, minorities, immigrant entrepreneurs) and bundled capital-plus-education model.
• LiftFund: San Antonio-headquartered CDFI providing small business loans and support to underserved entrepreneurs — overlapping geography, customer base (women, minorities, immigrants), and support services including technical assistance.
• UTSA Small Business Development Center: San Antonio SBDC providing no-cost consulting, training, and capital access navigation to small business owners — directly competes for the same client base in the same metro with similar educational and advisory services.

Others

• Babson College STEP Project: Babson's Strategic Transformation & Empowerment Project and related programs support entrepreneur education and small business growth through structured curricula — comparable ecosystem-builder role in academic/research-driven entrepreneurship development.
• AEO (Association for Enterprise Opportunity): National membership organization supporting a network of CDFIs and small business support nonprofits serving underserved entrepreneurs — directly comparable mission and beneficiary focus, with affiliated members including several of Emerge and Rise's own partners (e.g., NALCAB).

Broad incumbents

• Women's Business Centers (SBA): SBA-funded network of centers providing business training, mentoring, and resources specifically to women entrepreneurs — directly comparable on women's business focus and the free-advisory-service delivery model.
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: National business education and growth program for small businesses, providing intensive training, mentorship, and network access — comparable cohort-based, education-led model, but at much larger scale and with corporate backing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/emergeandrise
• Facebookfacebook.com/emergeandriseorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emergeandrise

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Emerge and Rise