What Sunshine Enterprises does

Sunshine Enterprises is a Chicago-based nonprofit business development organization founded in 2012 that trains, coaches, and connects under-resourced entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on Black, low-to-moderate income, and other diverse founders on Chicago's South Side, West Side, and North Side. The organization originated from Sunshine Gospel Ministries and operates its signature 12-week Community Business Academy (CBA), which has produced more than 1,000 graduates with an approximately 50% in-business rate; roughly 85% of alumni are Black. Beyond the academy, Sunshine provides lifetime Business Acceleration Services including 90-day action plan coaching, ongoing coaching (up to two sessions per month), Help Desk referrals (up to $500 in funding for approved professional services), Office Hours, the Next Level Exchange 12-month mentorship, an annual Pitch Competition with up to $17,500 in cash and prizes, and specialty cohorts in Construction Trades, Arts and Makers, and Tech & Digital (the last launched with Comcast in 2021).

Sunshine Enterprises complements its training portfolio with capital deployment through the Community Micro Equity Fund, a collaboration with Greenwood Archer Capital and PNC Foundation that issues $25,000 equity investments to qualified diverse entrepreneurs, and through Credit to Capital Workshops that build financial readiness. Since 2013, Black alumni have secured over $9 million in financing through the Access to Capital program and coaching; in 2023 alone, 45 Black-owned businesses started, 166 were strengthened, and 230 were expanded with Sunshine's support. All programs are delivered at no cost to entrepreneurs, and the organization does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its value chain is human-capital intensive, relying on a bench of CBA alumni-turned-instructors and an ecosystem of partners including Rising Tide Capital (founding partner), Comcast, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Target via HandsOn Twin Cities, and the Evanston and South Shore Chambers of Commerce.

The business model is grant- and donation-funded: revenue is sourced from foundation grants (notably PNC Foundation), corporate donations (Comcast, Target), individual giving through the website and signature events such as the annual Audacity fundraiser, and referral-linked program flows such as Cook County Source and Comcast RISE. The organization is led by CEO BJ Stewart (recruited in 2022 by board member Ethan Daly) and Executive Director Joel Hamernick, who also serves as President of parent Sunshine Gospel Ministries. It is headquartered at 1452 E 53rd Street, Chicago, employs 11-50 staff, and was recognized as a 24th Annual Chicago Innovation Awards winner in 2024 for the Community Micro Equity Fund.

Name

Sunshine Enterprises

Legal name

Sunshine Enterprises

Website

https://sunshineenterprises.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sunshine Enterprises is a Chicago-based nonprofit founded in 2012 that trains, coaches, and connects under-resourced entrepreneurs through a 12-week Community Business Academy, lifetime business acceleration services, and a $25,000 Community Micro Equity Fund, serving primarily Black and diverse founders across Chicago's South Side, West Side, and North Side.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entrepreneurship Training and Small Business Development Services

NAICS

Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA), Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship training
• Small business coaching
• Micro equity funding
• Business accelerator services
• Capital access programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants and Donations: Sunshine Enterprises operates as a non-profit organization supported by foundation grants (e.g., PNC Foundation funding for Community Micro Equity Fund) and individual donations. Services are provided at no cost to entrepreneurs.
2. Donor Contributions: The organization accepts donations through its website and has hosted fundraising events like Audacity to generate support for its programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sunshine Enterprises delivers free entrepreneurship training, coaching, and capital access to under-resourced Chicago entrepreneurs through its 12-week Community Business Academy and lifetime Business Acceleration Services. It supplements training with the Community Micro Equity Fund ($25,000 equity investments), the Next Level Exchange mentorship program, Help Desk professional service referrals, Credit to Capital workshops, and specialty cohorts including Tech & Digital CBA.

Product overview

Sunshine Enterprises operates as a nonprofit business development organization offering a unified portfolio of programs for under-resourced entrepreneurs in Chicagoland. The core offering is the Community Business Academy (CBA), a 12-week training program, which feeds into Business Acceleration Services (BAS) providing lifetime support. These are supplemented by the Community Micro Equity Fund for capital access, specialized coaching programs (90-day and regular), the Next Level Exchange mentorship, Help Desk referrals, Office Hours consultations, and an annual Pitch Competition. The organization also offers specialty tracks like the Tech & Digital CBA and Credit to Capital Workshops.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Business Acceleration Services (BAS): Post-graduation support services for Community Business Academy alumni including coaching, helpdesk, access to capital, workshops, and business opportunities.
• Community Micro Equity Fund
• Community Business Academy (CBA)
• Credit to Capital
• Next Level Exchange (NLE)

Products and services

• Community Business Academy (CBA) Sunshine Enterprises' signature 12-week intensive training program for under-resourced entrepreneurs in Chicagoland, covering business planning, financial management, marketing, and pitch development. Delivered in cohorts on the South Side, West Side, and North Side of Chicago, including specialty tracks. Services are provided at no cost to participants.
• Business Acceleration Services (BAS) Lifetime post-graduation support for Community Business Academy alumni, bundling one-on-one coaching, Help Desk referrals, access to capital, workshops, special events, community engagement, and the Next Level Exchange mentorship program. Provided at no cost to alumni.
• Community Micro Equity Fund $25,000 equity investments for Black, low-to-moderate income, and diverse entrepreneurs to leverage debt or provide equity when debt is not viable. Operated as a collaboration with Greenwood Archer Capital and funded by PNC Foundation, designed to connect over 200 qualified business owners annually with patient mezzanine equity.
• Tech & Digital Community Business Academy Specialty cohort of the Community Business Academy focused on technology-based businesses or businesses innovating through digital processes. Launched through partnership with Comcast as part of its Project UP vision for digital equity.
• Next Level Exchange (NLE) A 12-month intensive small business development program for qualified CBA alumni, pairing participants with experienced business mentors for monthly in-person meetings and one-on-one support.
• Credit to Capital Workshops Workshops that help entrepreneurs understand capital access, lending requirements, and financial readiness for growth, offered in both English and Spanish.
• Help Desk and Office Hours Referral service connecting CBA alumni with qualified professional service providers for pro bono consultations in areas such as marketing, accounting, and human resources. Offers up to $500 in financial assistance for business consulting projects with approved providers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $9 million in financing secured by Black alumni since 2013
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Cook County SourceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Coaching opportunity connected to a grant for CBA alumni. Sunshine Enterprises serves as a referral source, connecting alumni to Cook County Source program with follow-up support to ensure participation.
• Rising Tide CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partnership to launch the Community Business Academy in Chicago - Sunshine Enterprises was the first pilot outside New Jersey. Rising Tide Capital's model provided the foundation for SE's signature 12-week entrepreneurship training program.
• Sunshine Gospel MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding organization - Sunshine Enterprises originated from Sunshine Gospel Ministries' initiative to create economic opportunity on Chicago's South Side. Joel Hamernick serves as President of Sunshine Gospel Ministries and Executive Director of Sunshine Enterprises.
• Target (HandsOn Twin Cities)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPro bono consulting partnership through HandsOn Twin Cities initiative providing 10,000 hours of services for Black-, Indigenous- and people-of-color-owned small businesses. Target worked with alumni like Lisa Marsh (Ms. P's Gluten Free) on packaging and retail readiness.
• Comcast RISEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPart of Comcast's Project UP, Comcast RISE provides marketing services, technology upgrades and grants to support underrepresented small business owners. Sunshine Enterprises refers eligible alumni to the program.
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small BusinessesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlumni access to Goldman Sachs program for business development. Walter Mendenhall used growth plan structure from this program to develop personalized capital access plans for entrepreneurs.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rising Tide Capital: Jersey City-based nonprofit that originated the Community Business Academy model that Sunshine Enterprises replicates. Closest comparable in mission, curriculum, and small-business support model.
• SCORE: Nation's largest network of volunteer business mentors providing free small-business education, mentoring, and resources. Closest direct competitor to the CBA + coaching model at a national scale.
• Grameen America: Microfinance nonprofit providing small-dollar loans, business training, and peer support to low-income entrepreneurs, predominantly women of color. Highly comparable mission and target population.
• Accion: Global nonprofit providing small-business loans, training, and support to underserved entrepreneurs. Directly comparable in combining capital access with business education for under-resourced founders.
• TruFund Financial Services: Nonprofit CDFI providing capital, coaching, and capacity-building to small businesses in underserved communities, including minority- and women-owned businesses. Closely aligned with Sunshine's access-to-capital focus.
• Pacific Community Ventures: Nonprofit supporting small businesses in underserved communities through advising, capital access, and impact investing. Directly comparable on the small-business-support-plus-impact-capital model.

Broad incumbents

• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: Goldman Sachs's national program providing education, capital access, and networking for small businesses. Functions as both a referral partner for Sunshine and a broader-incumbent alternative for the same population.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): Large national community development nonprofit investing in affordable housing, economic development, and small business in under-resourced communities. Operates small-business programs that overlap with Sunshine's mission.

Emerging players

• Impact Hub: Global network of entrepreneurship hubs providing co-working, programs, and community for impact-driven entrepreneurs. Comparable as an ecosystem builder for under-resourced founders, though more globally focused.

Regional players

• Chicago Community Trust: Regional community foundation serving the Chicago region with grantmaking across economic opportunity, including small-business support. Comparable as a regional funder and convener in Sunshine's geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sunshineenterpriseschicago
• Xx.com/EnterprisesSun
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sunshine-enterprises-chicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

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 Sunshine Enterprises