Women's Enterprise Development Center

What Women's Enterprise Development Center does

Women's Enterprise Development Center (WEDC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1997 that delivers entrepreneurial training, advisory services, and access-to-capital programming to women entrepreneurs across Westchester County and the Mid-Hudson Valley in New York State. The organization operates two physical centers — a headquarters in White Plains (Westchester) and a regional office in Poughkeepsie (Mid-Hudson) — serving seven counties (Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, Ulster, Orange, Sullivan) through in-person workshops, one-on-one counseling, virtual/Zoom sessions, and partner-hosted events at libraries and community centers. WEDC also delivers bilingual programming under the WEDC en Español umbrella.

WEDC's core product suite centers on the Entrepreneur Growth Lab (EGL), a 15-session structured training program priced at $200 per participant that produces a Business Model Canvas, Executive Summary, Financial Projections, and Pitch Deck, culminating in a cash-prize pitch competition. Complementary offerings include single-session topical workshops (QuickBooks, Canva, CapCut, cybersecurity, digital marketing), an Inclusive Entrepreneurship Accelerator, an annual Business Plan Competition, one-on-one Business Advisor counseling, and Financial Assistance navigation. The Spanish-language equivalent (Laboratorio para el Crecimiento Emprendedor) is offered at $70 per participant, with many workshops provided free of charge to reduce access barriers for underserved populations including veterans, mature adults 50+, Spanish-speakers, and child care providers.

The revenue model is a hybrid nonprofit structure: approximately 46-48% of program costs come from federal SBA Women's Business Center cooperative agreements (~$300,000 per location), supplemented by NYS Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers Program funding, municipal grants (CDBG, county economic development), individual and corporate donations, foundation support, nominal program fees, and event revenue from galas such as the Lillian Vernon Award Ceremony. WEDC employs 8-10 full-time staff and serves approximately 300 clients annually, with leadership including CEO Nikki A. Hahn, Westchester WBC Director Iris Cohello, Mid-Hudson WBC Director Cynthia Marsh-Croll, EAC/Spanish Programming Director Veronica Bazan, Director of Finance and Compliance Terri Cotton, and Senior Program Manager Lizbeth Julca.

Name

Women's Enterprise Development Center

Legal name

Women's Enterprise Development Center Inc.

Website

https://wedcbiz.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

White Plains

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: WEDC receives partial funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Women's Business Center Program and the NYS Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers Program. Federal funding comprises approximately 46-48% of program costs.
2. Program Fees: Revenue generated from participant fees for training programs such as the Entrepreneur Growth Lab ($200) and workshop series. Some programs are offered free of charge.
3. Donations and Sponsorships: The organization accepts individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation support to fund operations and programs.
4. Event Revenue: Revenue from event ticket sales and sponsorship packages for programs like the Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards Gala and Lillian Vernon Award Ceremony.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Women's Enterprise Development Center (WEDC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers entrepreneurial training programs, one-on-one business counseling, workshops, webinars, and access-to-capital assistance to women entrepreneurs across Westchester County and the Mid-Hudson Valley. Its signature offering is the 15-session Entrepreneur Growth Lab (EGL), available in English and Spanish (Laboratorio para el Crecimiento Emprendedor), which guides participants through a Business Model Canvas, Executive Summary, Financial Projections, and a Pitch Deck.

Product overview

Women's Enterprise Development Center (WEDC) is a non-profit organization offering a comprehensive suite of entrepreneurial support services rather than a software product. The core offerings include the Entrepreneur Growth Lab (EGL), a 15-session comprehensive business training program available in both English and Spanish (Laboratorio para el Crecimiento Emprendedor), various single-session workshops covering business topics (marketing, finance, technology, operations), one-on-one business advisory services, a Business Plan Competition, webinars, and the Inclusive Entrepreneurship Accelerator. WEDC also provides access to capital programs and specialized services for Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs through its WEDC en Español initiative. Programs serve entrepreneurs at all stages from early-stage through established businesses across Westchester County and the Hudson Valley region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Entrepreneur Growth Lab (EGL) A comprehensive 15-session business training program designed for entrepreneurs at all stages. Participants develop a Business Model Canvas, Executive Summary, Financial Projections, and Pitch Deck. The program culminates in a pitch contest with cash prizes.
• Laboratorio para el Crecimiento Emprendedor (LCE) Spanish-language version of the Entrepreneur Growth Lab - a 15-session business training program providing tools, strategies, and confidence for entrepreneurs. Participants create a Business Model Canvas, Executive Summary, Financial Projections, and Pitch Deck.
• Workshops Single-session workshops covering various business topics including marketing, finance, technology, and business operations. Topics include QuickBooks training, cybersecurity, digital marketing, pricing strategies, and business planning.
• Business Plan Competition Annual business plan competition where finalists compete for cash funding for their businesses. Includes networking opportunities with entrepreneurs, institutions, and business experts.
• Business Advisor Services One-on-one business counseling and advisory services providing individualized guidance on business development, loan applications, and business growth strategies.
• Webinars Online educational sessions covering business topics for entrepreneurs, available in both English and Spanish.
• Inclusive Entrepreneurship Accelerator Specialized accelerator program designed to support underrepresented entrepreneurs in building successful businesses.
• Financial Assistance Programs Access to capital programs including assistance with loan applications and connections to financial resources for small business development.
• WEDC en Español Spanish-language programs and services including workshops, webinars, and the Laboratorio para el Crecimiento Emprendedor for Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ clients served per year across training programs, workshops, and counseling services

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Westchester County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner that supported WEDC's launch as the Women's Enterprise Project. Continues as a community partner supporting economic development initiatives.
• Think Dutchess Alliance for BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey regional partner hosting WEDC's Mid-Hudson office and collaborating on programs and workshops for Dutchess County entrepreneurs.
• Neighbors LinkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner in Ossining providing venue for WEDC's Spanish-language entrepreneur training programs including the Laboratorio para el Crecimiento Emprendedor.
• Community Capital New YorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial services partner collaborating on workshops such as the Bookkeeping & QuickBooks series, providing expertise in small business financing.
• Ulster Savings BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity bank partner sponsoring WEDC workshops including 'Convierte Tu Talento en Ingreso Extra' and hosting networking events.
• Valley BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking partner collaborating on events including Speed Dating with Business Experts and providing expertise on credit and lending topics.
• Rockland County Economic DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government partner providing funding for Rockland County-specific workshop series including the Access to Capital Series.
• CCNY/ArchdioceseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner collaborating on Spanish-language programming including Canva workshops and CapCut video training sessions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SCORE: SCORE is a national nonprofit network providing free mentoring, workshops, and business education to entrepreneurs, partially funded by the SBA. It is the most direct peer to WEDC, delivering similar advisory and training services — including for women entrepreneurs — but at national scale rather than regional.
• Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE): CWE operates women's business centers in the Northeast (including Massachusetts and Rhode Island) offering training, counseling, and access to capital — closely mirroring WEDC's women's-business-center model, programs, and target demographic.
• DreamSpring: DreamSpring is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) providing small business loans, training, and coaching to underserved entrepreneurs, including a specific focus on women, people of color, and immigrants. It is a direct peer in serving capital-constrained entrepreneurs with wraparound support services.
• Women's Business Development Center (WBDC): WBDC is a Chicago-based nonprofit providing entrepreneurship training, consulting, and certification for women business owners. It is one of the original SBA-designated Women's Business Centers and a direct peer in mission, federal funding model, and programming structure.
• Springboard Enterprises: Springboard Enterprises is a nonprofit accelerator and community dedicated to women entrepreneurs building high-growth companies. It overlaps with WEDC's mission of supporting women business owners but focuses on scaling ventures rather than early-stage or community-based entrepreneurship.
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is a structured, multi-session business education program for growth-oriented small business owners. Its cohort-based curriculum and pitch-style capstone are conceptually similar to WEDC's 15-session EGL, though it targets a more growth-stage audience nationally.
• National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO): NAWBO is a national membership organization for women business owners providing advocacy, networking, and resources. It shares WEDC's women-business-owner focus and is a peer in the broader ecosystem, though it is a membership/advocacy body rather than a direct training provider.
• Women's Initiative for Self-Employment (WISE): WISE is a Bay Area-based nonprofit providing entrepreneurship training, mentoring, and access to capital specifically for low-income and immigrant women. It is a direct peer in mission (women-focused entrepreneurship, multilingual programs, SBA WBC designation) and program structure.

Emerging players

• Astia: Astia is a global nonprofit organization that supports women entrepreneurs building innovation-driven companies. It is an emerging peer with a narrower focus on tech and high-growth ventures, partially overlapping with WEDC's women-entrepreneur focus at the higher end of the business-stage spectrum.

Broad incumbents

• Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Program: The SBDC program is the SBA's national network of small business support centers, offering training, counseling, and capital access across all 50 states. SBDCs are a broader incumbent — overlapping with WEDC's services but serving all entrepreneurs rather than specializing in women.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/womens-enterprise-development-center
• Xx.com/wedcbiz
• Facebookfacebook.com/WEDCbiz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Women's Enterprise Development Center