Name

Soul District

Legal name

Soul District Business Association

Website

https://souldistrictbiz.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual or monthly subscription-based membership providing access to workshops, networking events, business coaching, website hosting, CRM access, and calendar systems. Priced at $250/year or $25/month.
2. Program Fees: Variable pricing for specialized programs including Lending Connections (grant writing and funding support) and Legal Essentials (subscription-based legal services). Business Basics program is offered free of charge.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Annual MLK Dream Run fundraiser supporting youth internships and educational programs. Monthly donor program (Soul District Investor Circle) provides steady flexible support. General donations support district-wide coordination and outreach.
4. Event Revenue: Revenue from event registrations, sponsorships, vendor fees, and race participation for the MLK Dream Run and related community events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Soul District Business Association (SDBA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering small business support services in Portland's historic Soul District. Core offerings include Business Basics (free startup guidance), Lending Connections & Access Capital (funding support), Legal Essentials for Business (subscription-based legal services via Business Legal Shield), the SDBA Digital Navigator System (AI-powered digital marketing, CRM, e-commerce, and automation tools), the Soul District Youth Fellows internship program, and annual membership ($250/year or $25/month) with coaching, website hosting, CRM access, and networking. The organization also hosts the MLK Dream Run annual fundraiser.

Product overview

The Soul District Business Association (SDBA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of programs and services supporting small businesses in Portland's historic Soul District. The core offerings include: Business Basics (free startup guidance), Lending Connections & Access Capital (funding support), Legal Essentials for Business (subscription-based legal services), the SDBA Digital Navigator System (AI-powered digital marketing and tools), Soul District Youth Fellows (youth internship program), annual MLK Dream Run (community fundraiser), and membership programs with coaching, website hosting, and CRM access. These programs work together to strengthen small businesses, preserve cultural legacy, and expand economic opportunity in the district.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SDBA Marketing & Digital Transformation: Digital marketing and digital transformation services for small businesses, including AI-powered marketing, CRM tools, e-commerce, automation, and procurement-ready systems
• SDBA Digital Navigator System
• Soul District Youth Fellows
• MLK Dream Run

Products and services

• Business Basics A free foundational program for individuals starting a business from the ground up, providing one complimentary consultation (up to 60 minutes), a step-by-step business startup checklist, and education on additional programs and resources. Helps participants build a strong foundation in the right order to ensure compliance, efficiency, and long-term success, from registering the business to understanding certifications and key requirements.
• Lending Connections & Access Capital A variable-priced program for business owners who have completed registration and are ready to seek funding to grow. Provides personalized introductions to trusted lending officers, grant writing and funding application support, and two 60-minute business coaching consultations to help businesses navigate lending and capital opportunities.
• Legal Essentials for Business Subscription-based legal services delivered through Business Legal Shield, providing affordable and predictable access to attorneys for contract review, legal advice, document drafting, and guidance that helps prevent small issues from becoming major problems.
• SDBA Digital Navigator System A digital transformation service that helps small businesses move beyond basic online presence into fully functioning digital systems. Participants implement AI-powered marketing, CRM tools, e-commerce, automation, and procurement-ready systems through hands-on workshops and personalized advising. Includes a 14-day free trial.
• Soul District Youth Fellows A hands-on internship program for youth ages 16-24 connecting participants to podcasting, video production, small business initiatives, and major community events like the MLK Dream Run to build real skills, experience, and connections.
• Soul District Membership Annual membership at $250/year (or $25/month) providing twelve hours of one-on-one small business coaching, free networking events, discounted webinars, website hosting ($26/month value), CRM system access ($49/month value), and calendar system ($39/month value). Total member value of $595.
• MLK Dream Run

Quantifiable outcome

• Total membership value of $595 for $250/year
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Historic Mississippi Avenue Business AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOne of two business associations within the Soul District boundaries, representing a key commercial corridor and community stakeholder in district-wide economic development and cultural preservation efforts.
• Williams Vancouver Business AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOne of two business associations within the Soul District boundaries, representing a key commercial corridor and community stakeholder in district-wide economic development and cultural preservation efforts.
• Trusted Lending Officers NetworkcoreOthersNetwork of trusted financial partners providing personalized introductions to lending officers for businesses in the Lending Connections program. Includes grant writing and funding application support services connecting businesses to capital opportunities.
• Business Legal ShieldcoreTechnology or IntegrationSubscription-based legal service provider connecting business owners to attorneys for contract review, legal advice, and document drafting. Delivered through the Legal Essentials for Business program as an affordable, predictable access point for everyday business legal needs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Black Chamber of Commerce: Long-standing national chamber organization focused on the economic empowerment of Black businesses through advocacy, education, and connections to capital. Comparable to SDBA at a national scale with the same mission orientation.
• SCORE: SCORE is the largest free network of volunteer business mentors and resource partners in the U.S., offering advising, workshops, and templates to small business owners. It overlaps with SDBA's core mission of guiding entrepreneurs through startup, funding, and growth.
• U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. National advocacy and chamber organization representing Black-owned businesses across the country, providing access to capital, capacity building, and policy advocacy. Highly comparable to SDBA in mission focus on Black entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
• U.S. Small Business Administration: Federal agency providing funding programs, contracting opportunities, and free resource partners (SBDCs, SCORE, Women's Business Centers) to U.S. small businesses. Sets the competitive baseline that SDBA's advising and lending connection services must differentiate against.

Others

• National Urban League: National civil rights and economic empowerment organization running entrepreneurship and small business programs within its local affiliates, focused on African American communities. Comparable in mission orientation and in delivering wraparound economic services to underserved entrepreneurs.

Regional players

• Portland Business Alliance: Regional chamber of commerce serving the Portland metro with advocacy, networking, and business support programming. Comparable as a Portland-area business membership organization, though broader in scope and not culturally specific.

Direct peers

• Oregon Small Business Development Center Network: Statewide SBDC network providing free one-on-one advising, training, and capital access support to small businesses across Oregon, including in the Portland metro. Directly comparable to SDBA in service mix (advising, lending connections, training) and target audience.
• Mercy Corps Northwest: Portland-headquartered nonprofit providing small business development, microloans, and financial coaching to underserved entrepreneurs, including refugees and immigrants. Closely comparable to SDBA in geography, mission, and wraparound service model.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SoulDistrictBusinessAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/soul-district-business-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/mlkdreamrun
• Xx.com/SDBAPDX

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Soul District