Start Small Think Big
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Start Small Think Big firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Start Small Think Big
- Legal name
- Start Small Think Big
- Website
- https://startsmallthinkbig.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Start Small Think Big industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Small Business Support Services
- NAICS
- Marketing Consulting Services (541613)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM), Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)
Keywords
Where Start Small Think Big is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Start Small Think Big business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID: 27-1821066), Start Small Think Big operates entirely on donated funds. Revenue comes from corporate partnerships, foundation grants, individual donations, and cause-related marketing programs where companies donate per transaction to support the nonprofit's mission.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | Free comprehensive small business services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Start Small Think Big product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Start Small Think Big is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free legal, finance, and marketing services to Black, Latinx, and other underserved small business owners across the United States. The organization connects entrepreneurs with a network of 2,400+ skilled professional volunteers who deliver pro bono expertise in entity formation, trademark registration, contract review, bookkeeping, cash flow planning, pricing analysis, and capital access preparation. All services are delivered at no cost to qualifying entrepreneurs.
Product overview
Start Small Think Big is a nonprofit organization that provides free small business services to Black and Latinx entrepreneurs through two core service programs: the Finance Program (offering bookkeeping guidance, cost analysis, cash flow planning, pricing analysis, capital access preparation, and forecasting assistance) and the Legal Program (providing entity formation, trademark search, contract review, employment counseling, and website terms/privacy policy assistance). Additional offerings include a Video Library of educational content covering finance, legal, marketing and leadership topics, and the Shop #AllforSmall marketplace that showcases supported small businesses nationwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Finance Program
Quantifiable outcome
- $21 million saved in pro bono services for entrepreneurs in 2024
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Start Small Think Big
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Start Small Think Big technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Start Small Think Big partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Contract BlackcorePartnership with Contract Black, a freelance marketplace connecting individuals and businesses with highly skilled Black professionals. Addresses biases in online hiring by creating more freelance opportunities for people of color and connecting Black professionals with small businesses to meet outsourcing needs. Contract Black offers free and paid plans with a 20% discount for Start Small Think Big community using code SSTB20.
- BVAcorePartnership focused on diversity and inclusion initiatives. BVA provides expertise and strategy to drive business success for underserved groups. Addresses the lack of online presence for businesses owned by people of color, leveraging BVA's experience across commerce service lines.
- Empire State DevelopmentflagshipPublic-private partnership between Empire State Development, Start Small Think Big, and the New York State Bar Association. Provides small businesses and landlords with pro bono legal assistance to renegotiate lease terms during COVID-19. Part of New York Forward initiative with capacity to serve thousands of small businesses statewide.
- American ExpressflagshipAmerican Express General Counsel's Office received ABA Pro Publico Award for pro bono partnership with Start Small Think Big. Partnership recognized as a model for corporate skill-based volunteerism, supported by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP and Debevoise & Plimpton.
- Brooklyn Navy YardcoreLocal Bites food kiosk program at Brooklyn Navy Yard Building 77. Provides NYCHA residents who graduated from Food Business Pathways program with temporary retail space. Collaboration with NYCHA REES, JPMorgan Chase, and Fund for Public Housing.
- LCCRSF (Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area)flagshipStrategic partnership for Bay Area COVID-19 small business assistance. LCCRSF provides 1-hour remote legal consultations on commercial leases and small business legal advising in Spanish and Chinese. Start Small Think Big provides COVID-19-specific business loan applications and financial/marketing assistance.
- Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLPcoreLaw firm partner supporting American Express pro bono partnership with Start Small Think Big. Provides corporate legal volunteer services.
- Debevoise & PlimptoncoreLaw firm partner supporting American Express pro bono partnership with Start Small Think Big. Provides corporate legal volunteer services.
- ICA Fund Good JobsminorReceived funding from eBay Foundation alongside Start Small Think Big for COVID-19 relief efforts.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Start Small Think Big competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SCORE Association: SCORE is the closest direct peer — a nonprofit network providing free mentoring, workshops and resources to small business owners, funded by the SBA and partners. Like SSTB, it relies on a volunteer professional network and targets underserved entrepreneurs.
- Accion Opportunity Fund: Community Development Financial Institution providing small business loans and advisory services to underserved entrepreneurs, including women and minority-owned businesses. Highly comparable to SSTB's Black/Latinx/LMI focus and adjacent to its Kiva partnership.
- Grameen America: Nonprofit microfinance organization providing small business loans and support to women entrepreneurs in impoverished communities. Comparable in targeting underserved micro-entrepreneurs and bundling capital with non-financial support.
- Kiva: Nonprofit crowdfunding platform offering 0% interest loans up to $15K to underserved entrepreneurs. Kiva is already an SSTB referral partner (PayPal-funded) and is a direct peer in the small business microfinance/community development space.
- Tory Burch Foundation: Foundation providing capital, education and mentorship to women entrepreneurs, including a Fellows Program. Comparable in its mission-driven support to underrepresented SMB owners and corporate partnership-driven funding model.
- Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC): Nonprofit focused on driving economic prosperity in under-resourced communities through small business support, including the Inner City Capital Connections program. Comparable mission to SSTB's focus on minority entrepreneurs in urban areas.
- U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation: Foundation arm of the USHCC providing education, training and access to capital for Hispanic small business owners. Highly comparable target segment to SSTB's Latinx entrepreneur focus and similar corporate partner-driven funding model.
Broad incumbents
- Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): A nationwide SBA-funded network offering free consulting and training to small businesses. SBDCs are the broad incumbent in the small business advisory space, overlapping with SSTB on free advisory and education but operating at much larger scale and scope.
- Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (Babson College): Large-scale business education program for small business owners delivered through Babson College, with a similar tuition-free / scholarship model funded by corporate partners. Comparable in serving SMBs with pro bono education and partner network.
- National Urban League - Entrepreneurship Center: Major civil rights organization providing small business support, capacity building and access to capital for African American entrepreneurs. Comparable in mission and target audience but operates as a broader, more diversified nonprofit.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Start Small Think Big social profiles
Digital presenceStart Small Think Big financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Start Small Think Big leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Start Small Think Big funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Start Small Think Big 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 Start Small Think Big
What does Start Small Think Big do?
Start Small Think Big is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free legal, finance, and marketing services to Black, Latinx, and other underserved small business owners across the United States. The organization connects entrepreneurs with a network of 2,400+ skilled professional volunteers who deliver pro bono expertise in entity formation, trademark registration, contract review, bookkeeping, cash flow planning, pricing analysis, and capital access preparation. All services are delivered at no cost to qualifying entrepreneurs.
Is Start Small Think Big a public or private company?
Start Small Think Big is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Start Small Think Big founded?
Start Small Think Big was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Start Small Think Big based?
Start Small Think Big is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Start Small Think Big make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Grants.
Who are Start Small Think Big's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SCORE Association, Accion Opportunity Fund, Grameen America, Kiva, Tory Burch Foundation, Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) and U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Broad incumbents are Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (Babson College) and National Urban League - Entrepreneurship Center.
Does Start Small Think Big have an API?
No public API is recorded for Start Small Think Big.
What industry is Start Small Think Big in?
Start Small Think Big's product category is Nonprofit Small Business Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAFAK, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education, with a secondary code of EDAAAOAM, Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs. Its NAICS code is 541613 and its SIC code is 8742.