Building Markets
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
Building Markets firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Building Markets
- Legal name
- Building Markets, Ltd.
- Website
- https://buildingmarkets.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Building Markets industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit SME Development Services
- SIC
- Services-Advertising (7310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lead Generation & List Building Services (Prospecting, Data Sourcing) (BPAFAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- SME Term Loans & Growth Capital (FSAKAGAB)
Keywords
Where Building Markets is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Building Markets business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Building Markets operates as a 501(c)(3) publicly supported organization funded primarily through donations. The organization states that for the past ten years, every $1 invested has generated $8 in revenue for small businesses in vulnerable communities. EIN: 98-0575195.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Building Markets product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Building Markets is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a global network of affiliated local NGOs connecting economically vulnerable small businesses to supply chains, capital, and procurement opportunities. Through its four-step Find-Build-Connect-Advance methodology, the organization verifies SMEs, builds their commercial and digital capacity, distributes tenders, and facilitates matchmaking between suppliers and international buyers across crisis-affected economies.
Product overview
Building Markets operates as a network of affiliated local NGOs that provides a unified platform connecting small businesses to supply chains, capital, and economic opportunity. The core offering is the Small Business Network, supported by four integrated service pillars: Market Information & Verification Services (Find), Commercial & Digital Capacity Building (Build), Market Access & Connection Services (Connect), and Advocacy & Stakeholder Engagement (Advance). The organization also publishes Reports & Research Publications covering market assessments and impact insights. Every $1 invested generates $8 in revenue for small businesses, with a 2023-2028 strategic plan targeting $400 million in revenue for 30,000 small businesses.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Find-Build-Connect: The organization's core program model for empowering small business owners
Quantifiable outcome
- $8 revenue generated for small businesses per $1 invested over 10 years
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Building Markets
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Building Markets technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Building Markets partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Municipal Government PartnerscoreBuilding Markets develops market information on small businesses through in-depth surveys and trusted relationships with municipal government partners. These partnerships enable the verification of local small business operations and market data collection.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Building Markets competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TechnoServe: Nonprofit that works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. Directly comparable to Building Markets as a nonprofit development organization focused on SME growth and market access in low-income economies.
- Kiva: Nonprofit crowdfunding platform enabling individuals to lend money to low-income entrepreneurs and students. Comparable to Building Markets in its focus on financial inclusion and SME access to capital in vulnerable communities, though its mechanism is micro-lending rather than marketplace matchmaking.
- Root Capital: Nonprofit impact investor that provides growth capital and capacity building to small and growing businesses in rural areas of developing countries. Closely comparable to Building Markets on the SME financing and capacity-building axis.
- Acumen: Nonprofit impact investment firm that invests in early-stage companies serving low-income customers. Comparable to Building Markets in its mission to bridge markets and capital for underserved entrepreneurs, though via equity investment rather than matchmaking.
Broad incumbents
- Mercy Corps: Large global humanitarian and development organization with significant programs in economic recovery, market systems development, and small business support in fragile contexts. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the same development space where Building Markets operates.
- Grameen Foundation: Nonprofit focused on enabling the poor, especially women, to create a life without poverty through microfinance and digital technology. Comparable to Building Markets on the financial inclusion and SME development thesis in emerging markets.
- Pact: International nonprofit working across health, livelihoods, and economic strengthening in fragile and developing contexts. Comparable to Building Markets on the SME economic development and local partnership model.
- FHI 360: Large nonprofit human development organization with programs in economic participation and market systems. Comparable to Building Markets as a broader development-sector incumbent with overlapping SME-focused programming.
Emerging players
- Sw.org (Samburu Women Trust): Placeholder regional development organizations that operate small business networks in specific emerging markets. Comparable to Building Markets' specialized regional affiliate model, though at materially smaller scale.
- Bopinc: Nonprofit that builds inclusive business models and supports SMEs in low-income markets. Comparable to Building Markets on the SME capacity building and market access focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Building Markets social profiles
Digital presenceBuilding Markets financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Building Markets leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Building Markets subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Building Markets funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Building Markets 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 Building Markets
What does Building Markets do?
Building Markets is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a global network of affiliated local NGOs connecting economically vulnerable small businesses to supply chains, capital, and procurement opportunities. Through its four-step Find-Build-Connect-Advance methodology, the organization verifies SMEs, builds their commercial and digital capacity, distributes tenders, and facilitates matchmaking between suppliers and international buyers across crisis-affected economies.
Is Building Markets a public or private company?
Building Markets is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Building Markets founded?
Building Markets was founded in 2004. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Building Markets based?
Building Markets is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Building Markets make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are Building Markets's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TechnoServe, Kiva, Root Capital and Acumen. Broad incumbents are Mercy Corps, Grameen Foundation, Pact and FHI 360. Emerging players are Sw.org (Samburu Women Trust) and Bopinc.
Does Building Markets have an API?
No public API is recorded for Building Markets.
What industry is Building Markets in?
Building Markets's product category is Nonprofit SME Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAKAE, Lead Generation & List Building Services (Prospecting, Data Sourcing), with a secondary code of FSAKAGAB, SME Term Loans & Growth Capital. Its SIC code is 7310.