NAWBO San Diego

What NAWBO San Diego does

NAWBO San Diego is a local chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), a 501(c)(6) nonprofit membership organization founded in 1975 as the first advocacy body for U.S. women business owners. The organization operates a national network of 50+ chapters serving 5,000+ members, with the San Diego chapter providing regional programming, networking, and events for women entrepreneurs in Southern California. Members join through one of multiple tiers: Premier ($479.40/year), Basic ($359.40/year), NextGen for early-stage entrepreneurs ($120/year), Corporate Supporting ($795/year), Virtual ($250/year for those outside 45 miles of a chapter), and Individual Supporting ($500/year).

The organization's core products span membership, education, certification, and advocacy. Education is delivered through the NAWBO Institute for Entrepreneurial Development, a wholly-owned 501(c)(3) foundation offering stage-based programs: the Circle program ($2,000-$3,500/year) for $1M+ businesses, Strategic Leap ($2,000/12 months) for $150K-$999K scaling businesses, NAWBO Journeys with an AI guide, and the Established & Ready to Grow program. WBE/MWBE certification ($350-$1,650) is processed through a SupplierGateway digital integration. The technology stack centers on the GrowthZone app for member management and directory, the NAWBO Institute online platform (24/7 access), and SupplierGateway for certification processing.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across recurring membership dues, program subscriptions, one-time certification fees, event registrations (Women's Business Conference, On the Rise Summit), affinity partner revenue sharing (UPS, Dell, Office Depot, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Verizon), and advocacy-related sponsorships. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: growth is generated through chapter-based word-of-mouth, the New Member Orientation funnel, the Connect & Learn webinar series (~125 attendees/month), and content channels including a 30,000+ subscriber newsletter and 90+ episode podcast.

Name

NAWBO San Diego

Legal name

National Association of Women Business Owners

Website

https://nawbo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NAWBO San Diego is a chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, a 50-year-old nonprofit membership organization serving 5,000+ women entrepreneurs across 50+ U.S. chapters through tiered dues, education programs, WBE/MWBE certification, and policy advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees at multiple tiers ranging from $120 to $795 annually depending on membership level (Premier, Basic, NextGen, Supporting, Corporate). Virtual membership at $250/year. Plus one-time application fees of $100 or less.
2. Circle Program: Confidential peer-driven community for women business owners with $1M+ companies. Annual cost of $2,000-$3,500 for mastermind, executive learning, and in-person experiences.
3. Strategic Leap Accelerator: 12-month growth accelerator program for women scaling to $1M. Member pricing at $2,000 for the full program ($167/month). Combines coaching, mastermind, and curriculum.
4. WBE/MWBE Certification: Certification fees ranging from $350-$1,650 depending on membership status and business size. Member pricing: $350-$850. Non-member: $750-$1,650. Annual or biennial renewal with $150 discount.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

NAWBO San Diego is a local chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, a dues-based membership organization founded in 1975. It provides women business owners with access to a national network of 50+ chapters, education programs, advocacy representation, WBE/MWBE certification support, mentorship circles, and member discounts. Membership is offered in multiple tiers (Premier, Basic, NextGen, Virtual, Supporting, Corporate) and is supplemented by programs such as Circle, Strategic Leap, and the NAWBO Institute.

Product overview

NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) is a dues-based membership organization representing women entrepreneurs across all industries. The organization offers a multi-tiered membership structure (Basic, Premier, NextGen, Virtual, Supporting) providing access to a national network of 5,000+ members, advocacy programs, education, and member perks. Key programs include the NAWBO Institute (a 501(c)(3) educational foundation) with the Circle Program for $1M+ businesses, Strategic Leap 12-month accelerator, NAWBO Journeys stage-based guidance, WBE/MWBE Certification (powered by SupplierGateway), Established and Ready to Grow program, and NextGen for early-stage entrepreneurs. The organization also provides advocacy representation, annual awards, the NAWBO on the Go podcast, and local chapter networks including San Diego.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NAWBO Institute: NAWBO Institute for Entrepreneurial Development - a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational foundation providing resources, expert insights and community for women entrepreneurs at every stage.
• NAWBO Circle
• Strategic Leap
• NAWBO Institute Certification
• NAWBO on the Go Podcast

Products and services

• NAWBO Membership (Premier and Basic tiers) Core annual membership providing women business owners with access to NAWBO's national network of 50+ chapters, advocacy representation, the member directory, discounts, and educational programming. Available in Premier and Basic tiers.
• NAWBO NextGen Membership Annual membership tier tailored for next-generation (under 35) women entrepreneurs, providing access to community, mentorship, and stage-appropriate educational programming.
• Virtual Membership Annual membership tier for women business owners who do not reside within a local chapter geography, providing digital access to community, education, and member benefits without in-person chapter participation.
• Corporate Supporting Membership Annual corporate membership tier for companies seeking to demonstrate support for women-owned businesses, providing brand visibility, supplier diversity alignment, and engagement with the NAWBO member community. Priced at $795/year.
• NAWBO Circle Program Subscription-based peer group and mentorship program that pairs women business owners into facilitated Circles for accountability, peer learning, and business growth support.
• Strategic Leap Accelerator Subscription-based accelerator program for established women-owned businesses seeking structured support to scale revenue, operations, and team capacity.
• WBE/MWBE Certification Support Paid certification support service that helps women business owners complete WBE/MWBE certification applications via the SupplierGateway platform, enabling access to corporate supplier diversity programs.
• Established and Ready to Grow Program Stage-specific educational program for women business owners whose companies are established and preparing to scale, providing curated curriculum and peer support.
• NAWBO Institute for Entrepreneurial Development Online educational platform offering courses, workshops, and resources designed to support women business owners' professional and entrepreneurial development.
• NAWBO Journeys Structured program offering curated business growth pathways and learning journeys tailored to women entrepreneurs at different stages of business maturity.
• Member Perks and Discounts Program Member benefit program providing exclusive discounts and perks from a network of partner vendors, available to all paid NAWBO members.

Quantifiable outcome

• Member perk discounts valued at up to $5,000 from affinity partners
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 core and minor.

• SupplierGatewaycoreTechnology or IntegrationNAWBO Institute Certification is now powered by SupplierGateway, a trusted digital certification platform. Provides simplified application process, secure platform, access to 2,500 buyers and 360,000 suppliers, global translation in 100+ languages, and 24/7 AI-powered support.
• Bank of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBank of America partners with NAWBO Institute to provide education and resources for women business owners at various business sizes and stages. Sponsors Woman Business Owner of the Year Award.
• Wells FargocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWells Fargo partners with NAWBO Institute to provide educational resources and support for women entrepreneurs through the Institute platform.
• VerizonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVerizon partners with NAWBO Institute to provide educational resources for women business owners through the Institute platform.
• Cultivate AdvisorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness advisory firm partner offering expert insights in customer service, financial fundamentals, recruiting, and other business topics through the NAWBO Institute platform. Provides classes and educational content.
• Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAWBO partners with WIPP on advocacy efforts including joint statements on legislation affecting women business owners such as the Ending Discrimination in Government Contracting Act.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SCORE: SCORE is the largest volunteer mentor network in the U.S. for small business owners, offering free education and mentorship. Like NAWBO, it targets entrepreneurs seeking community and learning resources, though SCORE is volunteer-driven and free while NAWBO is dues-based and women-focused.
• Ellevate Network: Ellevate Network is a professional women's network focused on career and business advancement through community, events, and mentorship. It competes with NAWBO's networking and education offerings, particularly for women in mid-career and entrepreneurship.
• Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC): WBENC is the largest third-party certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S., directly comparable to NAWBO's WBE/MWBE certification program. Both organizations serve women business owners seeking corporate supplier diversity access, making them the most direct competitor in the certification and advocacy space.
• Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO): EO is a global peer-to-peer network of entrepreneurs with $1M+ revenue businesses, closely aligned with NAWBO's Circle program for $1M+ women owners. Both monetize through peer masterminds, executive learning, and in-person experiences.
• National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC): NMSDC provides MBE certification and corporate supplier diversity connections, directly analogous to NAWBO's WBE/MWBE certification. Both operate certification programs connecting minority/women-owned businesses to corporate procurement opportunities.
• National Association of Women MBAs (NAWMBA): NAWMBA (now part of the Forté Foundation) supports women in business school and business careers. It overlaps with NAWBO in advancing women in business, though NAWMBA focuses earlier in the career pipeline.
• American Business Women's Association (ABWA): ABWA is a long-standing U.S. national business association providing networking, leadership development, and education for working women. It overlaps with NAWBO's mission and programming across networking and education, though ABWA serves a broader 'working women' audience.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): The SBA is the federal government agency supporting U.S. small businesses through education, capital access, and contracting programs. While not a direct dues-based membership, it competes for the attention of women entrepreneurs and overlaps in advocacy and education.

Emerging players

• Female Founder Collective: Female Founder Collective is a nonprofit community supporting women-owned businesses through peer connection and advocacy. It represents a newer, digital-native community model that overlaps with NAWBO's mission but serves a younger, more digitally engaged demographic.
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is a no-cost education and business support program for growth-oriented entrepreneurs. Its curriculum and accelerator offerings overlap with NAWBO's Strategic Leap and Established & Ready to Grow programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NAWBONational
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/nawbonat
• Facebookfacebook.com/NAWBO
• Instagraminstagram.com/nawbo_national

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 NAWBO San Diego