Founders First CDC
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Founders First CDC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Founders First CDC
- Legal name
- Founders First Community Development Corporation
- Website
- https://foundersfirstcdc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Founders First CDC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Small Business Development Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
Keywords
Where Founders First CDC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Founders First CDC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Program Tuition and Scholarships: Revenue generated from accelerator program fees, with scholarships covering up to 90% of tuition costs for eligible applicants. Programs range from $250 to $2,500.
- Grant Disbursements: Unrestricted grants awarded year-round, both regionally and nationally, to support diverse founder-led businesses.
- Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting the mission of building an inclusive economy for diverse founders.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Passport On-Demand self-paced funding readiness program |
| Subscription | Monthly | Passport Community weekly expert-led sessions |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Zebra Leadership 6-session leadership program |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | FastPath cohort-based growth accelerator |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Passport Premium comprehensive funding readiness |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | National Pride Grant for LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Stephen L. Tadlock Veteran Business Grant |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Kitty Fund Mompreneur Business Grant |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Founders First CDC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Founders First CDC is a nonprofit platform that supports diverse founder-led small businesses through accelerator programs (Passport tiers, FastPath, Zebra Leadership, Clydesdale), year-round unrestricted grants, and Capital Activation events that connect founders with funders. It combines curriculum-based funding readiness training, mentorship, a vetted partner network of lenders and investors, and grant disbursement to help service-based B2B/B2G businesses access growth capital and create premium-wage jobs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Passport: Funding readiness program with four pillars: Capital, Revenue, Financials, and Readiness. Includes Passport On-Demand, Passport Community, and Passport Premium tiers.
- FastPath
- Zebra Leadership
- Clydesdale
Products and services
- Passport On-Demand Self-paced, mobile-friendly funding readiness curriculum for diverse-led founders, built around four pillars (Capital, Revenue, Financials, Readiness) with a free assessment, concise video modules, and a completion certificate. Targeted at SMB founders who want structured prep before applying for capital.
- Passport Community Weekly 90-minute live expert-led cohort masterclasses delivered virtually across marketing, sales, operations, and finance, designed for SMB founders who want peer accountability. Sold as a $1,499 3-month subscription with scholarships available.
- Passport Premium Premium funding-readiness offering for SMB founders that bundles 1:1 accountability sessions, consulting hours, advanced frameworks, the MyBoss financial systems assessment, and the Budgeto forecasting tool on top of the Passport curriculum.
- FastPath Cohort-Based Growth Accelerator Cohort-based growth accelerator with expert coaching, growth frameworks, and funding navigation for B2B founders generating $1M+ in annual revenue. Designed to compress growth milestones into a structured multi-year cohort experience.
- Zebra Leadership Program Six-session leadership development program for SMB founders with 2+ employees and at least $250K in annual revenue, focused on building the management capacity required to scale past the founder stage. Sold at $1,699 with scholarships available.
- Clydesdale Community Leadership Program Community education program exposing 5th-grade students to entrepreneurial concepts and financial terminology through a music-based curriculum delivered in partnership with Rhymes with Reason. Marketed as a sub-brand under the Founders First CDC umbrella.
- Capital Activation Events Invite-only in-person events that connect B2B and B2G founders directly with funders, advisors, and peers, structured in tiers (CEO Gathering; Capital Activation Brunch) with documented funding pathways up to $2M.
- National Pride Grant Program Unrestricted grant program exclusively for LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs, awarding micro-grants plus free Passport or Zebra Leadership program access. Distributed in partnership with Pink Media, multiple LGBTQ+ Chambers of Commerce, GGBA, and the Los Angeles LGBT Center.
- Stephen L. Tadlock Veteran Business Grant Unrestricted grant program for U.S. veteran entrepreneurs committed to creating premium-wage jobs, providing micro-grants paired with Passport or Zebra Leadership program access valued at $1,499–$1,699.
- Kitty Fund Mompreneur Business Grant Unrestricted grant program for mompreneurs running employer-based small businesses with two or more employees, providing micro-grants alongside program access.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3,085 companies served in 2024
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Founders First CDC
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Founders First CDC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Founders First CDC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Center for Economic InclusioncoreVanguard Accelerator partnership providing $750,000+ for Latina and Black Women-Owned Businesses in Twin Cities. Awarded more than $400,000 in grants, program scholarships, forgivable loans, and site redevelopment support to Black, Indigenous, and Latina-owned businesses.
- Rhymes with ReasoncoreCollaboration to deliver the Clydesdale Community Leadership Program exposing 5th grade students to entrepreneurial concepts and financial terminology through vocabulary in popular music. The Young CEO Playlist is divided into 3 sections covering business basics, starting a business, and business skills.
- Pink MediaminorLGBTQIA+ focused media partner supporting Pride Fund grant program marketing and outreach.
- San Diego LGBTQ+ Chamber of CommerceminorRegional LGBTQ+ chamber partner supporting Pride Fund grant program in San Diego region.
- Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber of CommerceminorRegional chamber partner supporting Pride Fund grant program in Utah region.
- California LGBTQ Chamber of CommerceminorState chamber partner supporting Pride Fund grant program across California.
- Greater San Diego Business Opportunity Expo (GGBA)minorBusiness opportunity organization partner for Pride Fund outreach.
- Los Angeles LGBT CenterminorLGBT+ community organization partner in Los Angeles supporting Pride Fund program.
- Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of CommerceminorRegional chamber partner for Pride Fund program in Wisconsin.
- NEOO PartnerscorePartner in Vanguard Accelerator initiative supporting Black, Indigenous, and Latina women-owned businesses in Twin Cities.
- County of San DiegocoreBusiness pilot programs launched to strengthen local diverse-led businesses in San Diego County.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Founders First CDC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hello Alice: Digital platform supporting small business owners — including programs, grants, and a community — with explicit focus on diverse and underrepresented founders. Most direct comparable to Founders First CDC's Passport product line and grant operations.
- Accion: Global nonprofit providing capital, coaching, and education to small businesses historically excluded from traditional financing. Direct peer in combining funding-readiness education with capital pathways for underserved founders.
- Grameen America: U.S. microfinance nonprofit providing small-dollar loans, financial education, and peer-support groups to women entrepreneurs. Directly comparable in mission (economic mobility for underserved founders) and bundled education-plus-capital model.
Broad incumbents
- Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: Established national small-business accelerator (and adjacent CDFI loan fund) focused on growth-stage founders. Comparable in mission and program design (cohort-based accelerators, capital access), though backed by a far larger institution.
- SCORE: Largest U.S. network of volunteer business mentors providing free education and advisory to small business owners. Comparable in delivering structured business education and resource access, though less focused on capital activation.
- National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE): Long-standing membership organization providing resources, benefits, and grants to self-employed and small business owners. Comparable in serving diverse small-business founders with education, resources, and growth-support programming.
- Tory Burch Foundation: Foundation supporting women entrepreneurs through entrepreneur education programs (often via Babson College) and a capital program. Comparable in mission and program structure (cohort-based accelerator, fellowship-style support) though more narrowly focused on women founders.
Others
- Opportunity Finance Network: National network of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). Indirect peer — Founders First partners with and refers to CDFIs; OFN represents the broader capital-provider ecosystem that Founders First's capital activation events tap into.
Emerging players
- Bumble Fund: Bumble's venture fund providing grants and investment to early-stage businesses led by underrepresented founders. Comparable in providing non-dilutive capital and visibility to diverse founders, though structured as a venture fund rather than a 501(c)(3) accelerator.
Regional players
- Center for Economic Inclusion (Vanguard Accelerator): Twin Cities-based economic inclusion organization; partnered with Founders First CDC on the Vanguard Accelerator. Comparable in mission and accelerator model; functions as a regional cohort partner rather than a national platform competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Founders First CDC social profiles
Digital presenceFounders First CDC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Founders First CDC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Founders First CDC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Founders First CDC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Founders First CDC
What does Founders First CDC do?
Founders First CDC is a nonprofit platform that supports diverse founder-led small businesses through accelerator programs (Passport tiers, FastPath, Zebra Leadership, Clydesdale), year-round unrestricted grants, and Capital Activation events that connect founders with funders. It combines curriculum-based funding readiness training, mentorship, a vetted partner network of lenders and investors, and grant disbursement to help service-based B2B/B2G businesses access growth capital and create premium-wage jobs.
Is Founders First CDC a public or private company?
Founders First CDC is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Founders First CDC founded?
Founders First CDC was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Founders First CDC based?
Founders First CDC is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Founders First CDC make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Program Tuition and Scholarships are the primary driver. The others are grant Disbursements and donations.
Who are Founders First CDC's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hello Alice, Accion and Grameen America. Broad incumbents are Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, SCORE, National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) and Tory Burch Foundation. Opportunity Finance Network is listed as an others. Bumble Fund is listed as an emerging player. Center for Economic Inclusion (Vanguard Accelerator) is listed as a regional player.
Does Founders First CDC have an API?
No public API is recorded for Founders First CDC.
What industry is Founders First CDC in?
Founders First CDC's product category is Small Business Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAL, Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated). Its NAICS code is 81321.