FAMU Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

What FAMU Small Business Development Center (SBDC) does

FAMU Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a non-profit, government-funded business advisory organization hosted by Florida A&M University and operating as part of the Florida SBDC Network and the national SBDC program. It provides free consulting, training, and resources to small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs across an eight-county service territory in North Florida's Big Bend region. Its core service offering comprises one-to-one business consulting, structured cohort programs such as the Business Consulting Lab and CEO XChange, startup incubation via the F.A.N.G. Incubator (in partnership with Wells Fargo), regional convenings including Big Bend Regional Small Business Week, and government contracting advisory delivered through the Florida APEX Accelerator partnership. Technically, the center is a service-delivery organization rather than a technology platform; its underlying assets are advisor capacity, program curricula, and institutional partnerships rather than proprietary software or data infrastructure.

The business model is grant- and appropriations-funded, with no client-facing pricing and no earned revenue stream. Operating resources come from a concentrated set of institutional funders, principally the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of Florida, host institution Florida A&M University, and selected corporate and federal partners such as Wells Fargo and the Department of Defense. There is no equity, venture, or commercial funding dimension. Customer segments served include pre-venture entrepreneurs, existing small business owners, and minority-owned businesses across rural North Florida, with no enterprise or B2B SaaS counterpart. Operating scale is small, with a headcount reported in the 1–10 employee range, consistent with a single regional SBDC host site.

Name

FAMU Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

Legal name

SBDC at FAMU

Website

https://sbdcfamu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2026

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The FAMU Small Business Development Center provides free consulting, training, and incubation services to small businesses and entrepreneurs across an eight-county Big Bend region of North Florida, operating as a non-profit host within the Florida SBDC Network and Florida A&M University.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Consulting Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships Advisory (JVs, Alliances, Carve-outs) (BPAHAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI), Management Accounting & FP&A (EDABAJAC)

Keywords

• Small business consulting
• Business development services
• Access to capital
• Government contracting assistance
• Entrepreneurship training

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallahassee

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

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: The SBDC at FAMU operates as a nonprofit business development center funded by public sources including the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Department of Defense, State of Florida, Florida A&M University, and other private and public partners. Services are provided at no cost to clients.
2. Training Programs: While core consulting services are provided at no cost, some specialized training programs or events may have a registration fee according to their FAQ page. This represents minimal revenue generation for specific programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Florida SBDC at Florida A&M University is a non-profit regional center that provides confidential, no-cost one-on-one business consulting and training to entrepreneurs and small business owners in North Florida. Core services include business planning, access to capital preparation, financial analysis, marketing and sales support, government contracting guidance (via the Florida APEX Accelerator), and disaster preparedness and recovery assistance. Services are delivered by certified business consultants and supplemented by programs such as the F.A.N.G. Incubator, CEO XChange Peer Group, and the SBDC Business Consulting Lab.

Product overview

The Florida SBDC at FAMU is a business consulting and support organization offering a portfolio of services through its network of certified business consultants. The core offering consists of six primary consulting services: Business Consulting, Access to Capital, Financial Analysis, Marketing & Sales Support, Government Contracting Help (via Florida APEX Accelerator partnership), and Disaster Preparedness & Recovery. These are supplemented by specialized programs including the F.A.N.G. Incubator for startups, CEO XChange Peer Group for established business leaders, and the SBDC Business Consulting Lab pairing businesses with graduate students. The organization also provides training through local workshops, live online sessions, and an on-demand video library, culminating in annual events like Big Bend Regional Small Business Week. All consulting services are provided at no cost to entrepreneurs and business owners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Florida APEX Accelerator: A program that helps startups and small businesses grow by providing mentorship, resources, and access to funding for government contracting opportunities.
• F.A.N.G. (Founders Accelerated Network Group) Incubator
• CEO XChange Peer Group
• SBDC Business Consulting Lab

Products and services

• Business Consulting Confidential one-on-one consulting providing strategic guidance for business planning, operations, and growth across various stages from startup to expansion, delivered by certified business consultants at no cost.
• Access to Capital Guidance to help entrepreneurs prepare for financing by organizing lender-ready documentation, understanding capital needs, and exploring financing options including SBA loans.
• Financial Analysis Financial consulting including forecasting, break-even analysis, cash flow management, P&L review, budgeting, and profitability improvement strategies for small business owners.
• Marketing & Sales Support Confidential marketing consulting to help small businesses develop brand identity, conduct market research, identify target audiences, and strengthen digital marketing strategy.
• Government Contracting Help Specialized guidance through partnership with Florida APEX Accelerator to help businesses compete for federal, state, and local government contracts including procurement navigation and proposal preparation.
• Disaster Preparedness & Recovery Business continuity planning, emergency preparedness, and post-disaster recovery assistance including SBA disaster loan application support for businesses in hurricane and disaster-vulnerable regions.
• F.A.N.G. Incubator Startup accelerator powered by Wells Fargo providing structured mentorship, business development tools, collaborative workspace, and pitch opportunities for startups and growth-ready businesses in North Florida.
• CEO XChange Peer Group Peer-to-peer advisory group connecting growth-focused business owners generating over $1 million in annual revenue with facilitated discussions to address business challenges and strategic opportunities.
• SBDC Business Consulting Lab Multi-week program matching small business owners with Florida A&M University graduate students for consulting projects resulting in comprehensive presentations with actionable recommendations.
• Local Training Events & Workshops Interactive in-person and online sessions on business basics, marketing, financial management, growth strategy, and peer-to-peer roundtables delivered to small business owners and entrepreneurs.
• On-Demand Training Videos Recorded workshops and instructional videos available through the Florida SBDC library covering a range of business topics for self-paced learning by entrepreneurs and small business owners.
• Big Bend Regional Small Business Week Annual regional event (43rd edition in 2026) featuring workshops, networking, vendor exhibit fair, keynote presentations, and awards luncheon to support entrepreneurs at every stage of business growth across North Florida.

Quantifiable outcome

• $3.8 billion in new sales generated by Florida SBDC Network clients in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Florida A&M UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlorida A&M University hosts the SBDC and provides university-backed resources, academic expertise, and access to graduate student talent through the Business Consulting Lab program where FAMU students work with small business clients.
• Florida SBDC NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide partnership program nationally accredited by the Association of America's SBDCs. Network headquarters is at University of West Florida. Provides access to statewide resources, market research tools, training programs, and shared expertise.
• Florida APEX AcceleratorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide specialized government contracting assistance. Through APEX, businesses access guidance on federal, state, and local contracting opportunities, procurement processes, certifications, and proposal development.
• Wells FargomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for the F.A.N.G. (Founders Accelerated Network Group) Incubator program. Wells Fargo provides financial support enabling the incubator to offer mentorship, resources, and collaborative workspace to startups and growth-ready businesses.
• Bank of AmericaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLogo partner shown on SBDC website indicating collaborative relationship supporting small business development.
• Big Bend Minority Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional partner organization collaborating on small business support and economic development in North Florida.
• Capital City Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional partner organization collaborating on small business support in the Tallahassee area.
• Tallahassee Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional partner organization collaborating on small business support in the Tallahassee area.
• Community Foundation of North FloridaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional partner organization supporting economic development initiatives in North Florida.
• Wells Fargo (Small Business Week Sponsor)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting and Keynote Sponsor for the 43rd Annual Big Bend Regional Small Business Week 2026.
• Office of Economic VitalityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDistinguished Sponsor for Big Bend Regional Small Business Week 2026.
• Grova CreativeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOpening and Reception Sponsor for Big Bend Regional Small Business Week 2026. Award-winning creative and marketing firm whose founder serves as SBDC consultant.
• FAMU School of Business & IndustryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpening and Reception Sponsor for Big Bend Regional Small Business Week 2026. Academic partner providing student talent and expertise.
• FSU Jim Moran InstituteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorkshop Sponsor for Big Bend Regional Small Business Week 2026.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Centers: Federal program providing business consulting and access to capital for minority-owned businesses; comparable in advisory function and federal funding backing but with a different target demographic than the general-purpose FAMU SBDC.
• FSU Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship: Tallahassee-based university-affiliated small business advisory and executive education program; geographically adjacent peer offering comparable no-cost or low-cost consulting to Florida entrepreneurs, including as a workshop sponsor for the FAMU SBDC's Big Bend Regional Small Business Week.

Direct peers

• SCORE: National SBA-affiliated nonprofit providing free small business mentoring and consulting, the most direct functional peer to FAMU SBDC; both deliver no-cost 1:1 advisory, training, and workshops to entrepreneurs, though SCORE is volunteer-driven and digital-first whereas FAMU SBDC is regionally embedded.
• Georgia SBDC: University-hosted regional SBDC network providing the same SBA-backed small business consulting, training, and capital access services as FAMU SBDC; comparable operating model and federal funding structure.
• Florida APEX Accelerator: Partner program embedded at FAMU SBDC that provides specialized government contracting assistance; a direct functional peer in the government contracting advisory niche within the same Florida small business support ecosystem.
• Florida SBDC at University of West Florida: Headquarters of the Florida SBDC Network and sibling regional SBDC; shares the same funding model, accreditation, and service portfolio as FAMU SBDC and is the closest organizational peer within the statewide network.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): Federal agency that funds and oversees the SBDC network; comparable as the umbrella organization for small business development programs, though broader in scope (loans, contracting, advocacy) than a single regional SBDC.
• Florida Department of Economic Opportunity: State agency funding the Florida SBDC Network and supporting broader economic and small business development across Florida; an institutional funder/peer that overlaps in mission around small business growth and economic development.

Emerging players

• Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC): SBA-funded resource partner offering business development services including consulting, training, and referrals to veteran entrepreneurs; comparable model to SBDCs but with a focused veteran-owned business audience.
• Women's Business Centers (SBA program): SBA-funded program providing tailored business training and advising to women entrepreneurs; partially overlaps with FAMU SBDC's advisory services but targets a specific demographic niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@FSBDCFAMU
• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Florida-SBDC-at-Florida-AM-University/61576567386647
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/florida-small-business-development-center-at-famu
• Instagraminstagram.com/sbdcfamu
• Xx.com/SBDCrattlers

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 FAMU Small Business Development Center (SBDC)