The BIG We
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersMemphis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
The BIG We firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The BIG We
- Legal name
- The BIG We
- Website
- https://thebigwe.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The BIG We industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cultural Economy Development Services
- NAICS
- Historical Sites (71212), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO)
Keywords
Where The BIG We is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Memphis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The BIG We business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Federal Grants: The organization receives federal funding for historic preservation and cultural programs, exemplified by the $3.1 million federal grant awarded through Congressman Steve Cohen for Historic Clayborn Temple restoration.
- Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts donations through platforms like Kindful for campaigns such as Historic Clayborn Temple preservation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The BIG We product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Big We is a Memphis-based social enterprise that builds resources and infrastructure for the cultural economy through creative placemaking, social entrepreneurship, and storytelling. It operates Historic Clayborn Temple (Memphis' only Certified National Treasure) and the Memphis Culture Coalition, and delivers community programs including the In This Place season of cultural events, the COIN cooperative building program, the SHElectricity youth entrepreneurship program, and an annual Artist-In-Residence program.
Product overview
The Big We is a social enterprise that offers a portfolio of cultural programs rather than a unified technology product. Its core offerings include powering Historic Clayborn Temple (Memphis' Certified National Treasure) and the Memphis Culture Coalition. The organization runs the In This Place cultural events season, the COIN cooperative building program, SHElectricity entrepreneurship workshops, and an annual Artist-In-Residence program. These programs focus on creative placemaking, social entrepreneurship, and storytelling to build resources and infrastructure for Memphis' cultural economy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Historic Clayborn Temple Memphis' only Certified National Treasure and home of the iconic 'I AM A MAN' imagery, operated by The Big We as a historic preservation and cultural programming site for the Memphis community.
- Memphis Culture Coalition A coalition of Memphis-based creatives and arts professionals powered by The Big We, working together to build a collective civic voice, create a case for culture in Memphis, and change the city's national narrative.
- In This Place Season An annual cultural events season featuring community programming such as Community Sing events, artistic performances, and community gatherings at venues like Crosstown Concourse, curated in partnership with the Artist-In-Residence.
- COIN (Co-Op Opportunity for Inclusive Neighborhoods) Historic Clayborn Temple's cooperative building program that trains aspiring co-op owners and small business entrepreneurs; has expanded to a tri-state initiative with participants from Tennessee, Northern Mississippi, and Kentucky.
- SHElectricity An entrepreneurship program delivered in partnership with Freedom Prep Academy that helps middle school girls discover their inner entrepreneur through weekly gatherings focused on imagination, idea building, and creative confidence.
- Artist-In-Residence Program Annual residency program in which The Big We selects an artist to co-curate the In This Place season and lead one major creative project, receiving a living-wage stipend, housing, project budget, and access to community spaces and historical archives.
Quantifiable outcome
- Historic Clayborn Temple received $3.1 million federal grant for restoration
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The BIG We
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The BIG We technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The BIG We partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Crosstown ArtscoreCollaboration with Crosstown Arts provides space, resources, and community connection for The Big We's national Artist in Residence. The partnership supports embedding artists deeply in Memphis's cultural life and creative future development.
- Tennessee Mass ChoirflagshipThe Tennessee Mass Choir partners with Historic Clayborn Temple and The Big We for Community Sing events, including the opening of In This Place 2026: This Is Memphis season at Crosstown Concourse.
- Historic Clayborn TempleflagshipThe Big We powers Historic Clayborn Temple, Memphis's only Certified National Treasure and home of the iconic 'I AM A MAN' imagery. The organization serves as the operational force behind this historic civil rights site.
- Memphis Culture CoalitionflagshipThe Big We powers Memphis Culture Coalition, a coalition of Memphis-based creatives and arts professionals working together to build collective civic voice, create a case for culture in Memphis, and change the city's national narrative.
- Freedom Prep AcademyminorPartnership with Freedom Prep Academy to deliver the SHELECTRICITY program, helping middle school girls discover their inner entrepreneur through weekly gatherings focused on imagination, idea building, and entrepreneurship.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The BIG We competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- National Civil Rights Museum: Operates the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. It is the most directly comparable institution — a Memphis-based heritage site preserving civil rights history and serving as a major cultural and tourism anchor in the same city.
- Crosstown Arts: Memphis-based arts organization operating within Crosstown Concourse and providing space and residency support. It is a direct peer and core strategic partner, co-hosting Artist-In-Residence and In This Place programming at the same venue.
Broad incumbents
- National Trust for Historic Preservation: The national nonprofit that designates Certified National Treasures (the status held by Historic Clayborn Temple). It is the broader incumbent ecosystem player in heritage preservation with which The Big We has a direct institutional relationship through Clayborn Temple's designation.
- Studio Museum in Harlem: A leading cultural institution dedicated to preserving and promoting the work of artists of African descent. Comparable as an African American heritage-rooted arts organization with residency programs and community-centered programming.
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National community-development financial institution supporting cooperatives and inclusive neighborhood economic development. Comparable as a funder/operator in the cooperative-business and community-economy space that COIN operates in.
- National Museum of African American History and Culture (Smithsonian): The Smithsonian's national museum dedicated to African American history and culture. While at far greater scale, it shares the mission of interpreting civil rights heritage and is an aspirational counterpart for a National Treasure-level site.
Regional players
- Soulsville Foundation: Memphis-based nonprofit operating the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and adjacent music academy. It is a comparable Memphis-rooted cultural-heritage nonprofit stewarding a landmark site tied to African American history and operating education programs.
- The Blues Foundation: Memphis-headquartered nonprofit dedicated to preserving blues music heritage. It shares The Big We's profile as a Memphis cultural-heritage organization stewarding community programming, events, and education.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The BIG We social profiles
Digital presenceThe BIG We financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The BIG We leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The BIG We subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
The BIG We funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The BIG We M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The BIG We
What does The BIG We do?
The Big We is a Memphis-based social enterprise that builds resources and infrastructure for the cultural economy through creative placemaking, social entrepreneurship, and storytelling. It operates Historic Clayborn Temple (Memphis' only Certified National Treasure) and the Memphis Culture Coalition, and delivers community programs including the In This Place season of cultural events, the COIN cooperative building program, the SHElectricity youth entrepreneurship program, and an annual Artist-In-Residence program.
Is The BIG We a public or private company?
The BIG We is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The BIG We founded?
The BIG We was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The BIG We based?
The BIG We is headquartered in Memphis, United States, in the North America region.
How does The BIG We make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Federal Grants are the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising.
Who are The BIG We's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are National Civil Rights Museum and Crosstown Arts. Broad incumbents are National Trust for Historic Preservation, Studio Museum in Harlem, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and National Museum of African American History and Culture (Smithsonian). Regional players are Soulsville Foundation and The Blues Foundation.
Does The BIG We have an API?
No public API is recorded for The BIG We.
What industry is The BIG We in?
The BIG We's product category is Cultural Economy Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAO, Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises. Its NAICS code is 71212.