Asociacion de Emprendedor@s

What Asociacion de Emprendedor@s does

Asociación de Emprendedor@s (AdE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2016 and headquartered in Anaheim, California, that delivers free Spanish-language business education and leadership development programs to Hispanic micro-entrepreneurs across Southern California. Its flagship offering is Programa Emprendedor@s, an 8-week intensive curriculum covering SWOT analysis, ITIN/EIN registration, DBA filing, marketing, sales, leadership, mission/vision/values, business planning, and financial management — delivered free of charge to preselected cohorts of 30 participants each at partner-hosted venues. The organization augments this core program with Programa SCALE (financial education and capital-access preparation), Talleres y Servicios (workshops and seminars), a graduate membership program with complimentary 3-month memberships post-graduation, and a monthly newsletter (Boletín de Actividades Mensual).

The underlying "technology" is a codified Spanish-language curriculum authored by founder Mónica Robles, combined with a high-trust distribution model that leverages consulates (Consulado de México en San Bernardino), city governments (Bellflower, Corona, Calipatria, Apple Valley), county economic development offices (Riverside, San Bernardino), and community nonprofits (The Becoming Project, Comité Cívico del Valle) as zero-cost venue and referral partners. Since 2016, AdE has trained over 1,800 entrepreneurs across 13 generations and is currently expanding into Imperial Valley (2nd cohort in Calipatria in April 2026) and adding new verticals such as AI literacy training hosted at Chapman University.

The business model is grant-funded philanthropy, not commercial. All programs are provided free to participants with no fees, memberships, or pricing tiers — eliminating any direct revenue model. Operating capital comes from foundation grants and donations, most notably the Samueli Foundation Breakaway Fund 2026 (part of a $15M investment across 89 Orange County nonprofits) and prior partnership-based support from the Latino Community Foundation's Activate Imperial Initiative. The organization runs with 9 employees, is founder-led (Mónica Robles, Fundadora y Presidenta; Brenda Walters, Directora Ejecutiva), and carries no parent company, equity investors, or commercial cap table, consistent with its nonprofit status.

Name

Asociacion de Emprendedor@s

Legal name

Asociación de Emprendedor@s

Website

https://asociaciondeemprendedores.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Asociación de Emprendedor@s is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Anaheim, California that delivers free Spanish-language 8-week business training programs to Hispanic micro-entrepreneurs across Southern California, having graduated over 1,800 founders since 2016 through partner-hosted cohorts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entrepreneurship Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAABAJ

Adult Learner Support Services (Advising, Case Management, Wraparound Supports)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Adult Secondary Education (ASE) / High School Equivalency (GED/HiSET)

SECONDARYEDAAABAH

Intensive Bootcamps & Accelerated ASE Programs

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Adult Secondary Education (ASE) / High School Equivalency (GED/HiSET)

SECONDARYEDAAABAI

Special Populations ASE (Reentry/Corrections, Homeless, Refugee/Immigrant, Foster/Justice-Involved)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Adult Secondary Education (ASE) / High School Equivalency (GED/HiSET)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship education programs
• Small business training
• Hispanic community support
• Financial literacy workshops
• Nonprofit community services

Headquarters

HQ city

Anaheim

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants and Philanthropic Funding: The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit receiving grant funding from foundations. Received Breakaway Fund 2026 from Samueli Foundation as part of a $15M investment in Orange County nonprofits. Prior funding from Latino Community Foundation and other philanthropic sources.
2. Program Services: All programs are provided completely free to participants. The organization does not charge for its educational programs, workshops, or training. Programs are funded through grants and donations rather than participant fees.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Asociación de Emprendedor@s (AdE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free Spanish-language entrepreneurship education to Hispanic microentrepreneurs across Southern California. Its core offering is the 8-week Programa Emprendedor@s, a structured curriculum covering SWOT (FODA) analysis, business structures, IRS applications (ITIN & EIN), DBA registration, marketing, sales, leadership, mission/vision/values, business plan creation, and financing. It is supplemented by the Programa SCALE for financial education and capital access, the Programa de Crecimiento para Pequeños Negocios, and Talleres y Servicios workshops, all delivered in-person or online at no charge.

Product overview

Asociación de Emprendedor@s operates as a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs designed to educate, motivate, empower, and develop the leadership and business skills of the monolingual Hispanic community in Southern California. The core offering is the Programa Emprendedor@s—an 8-week consecutive free business training program in Spanish—augmented by the SCALE financial education program for capital access preparation, Talleres y Servicios (workshops and seminars), and membership benefits including directory access and monthly bulletins. The organization has served over 1,800 Hispanic entrepreneurs since 2016.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Programa Emprendedor@s: The flagship 8-week free business training program delivered entirely in Spanish, designed to help Hispanic entrepreneurs start or grow their micro-businesses. Covers business planning, marketing, leadership, financial education, and legal requirements.
• Programa SCALE

Products and services

• Programa Emprendedor@s (Entrepreneurs Program) An 8-week consecutive, free, Spanish-language business training program for Hispanic microentrepreneurs covering SWOT (FODA) analysis, business structures, IRS applications (ITIN & EIN), DBA registration, marketing, social networks, sales, leadership, mission/vision/values, business plan creation, financing, and human resources. Each cohort accepts 30 preselected participants who commit to all 8 weekly sessions, with graduations followed by business expos.
• Programa SCALE (Financial Education) A free financial education program within the AdE ecosystem that teaches small business owners to manage business finances and prepares them to access capital. Covers how to prepare financing applications, types of capital available, common lender requirements, and tools to strengthen financial plans.
• Programa de Crecimiento para Pequeños Negocios (Small Business Growth Program) A small business growth program offering tools and support for establishing and growing microbusinesses, featuring workshops and seminars tailored for Spanish-speaking small business owners. Delivered both online and in-person at partner venues across Southern California.
• Talleres y Servicios (Workshops and Seminars) Workshops, meetings, and seminars designed to help small business owners establish or grow their microenterprises. Covers specialized topics such as AI training (Capacitación en Inteligencia Artificial, hosted at Chapman University Leatherby Center) and other supplemental skill-building sessions for Hispanic entrepreneurs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,800+ entrepreneurs trained since 2016 with business skills to start or grow their microbusinesses
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Riverside County Economic Development OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership with Riverside County to deliver the Programa Emprendedor@s. The county co-hosts graduations and provides venue support (Riverside County Innovation Center). Jointly celebrated the 13th graduation in June 2026.
• Latino Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the Activate Imperial Initiative to deliver entrepreneurship programs in Imperial Valley. Jointly celebrated the 2nd graduation in Calipatria in April 2026 with 16 graduates.
• The Becoming Project, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner hosting Programa Emprendedor@s in Calipatria at their facility. The Becoming Project, Inc. (135 E. Main St, Calipatria) serves as venue and program delivery partner.
• Comité Cívico del Valle, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImperial Valley community partner collaborating on entrepreneurship programming. Contributed to graduation ceremonies and provided photo credits for events.
• Consulado de México en San BernardinomajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMexican consulate serving as program venue for entrepreneurship training targeting San Bernardino County residents. Hosted program sessions including the August cohort.
• City of BellflowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity partner hosting Programa Emprendedor@s at Bristol Civic Auditorium. Celebrated 7th cohort graduation with 20 entrepreneurs in November 2025.
• City of CoronacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity partner and co-host of the 8th cohort graduation in Corona, September 2025. Collaboration with city government and other agencies.
• Chapman University - Leatherby CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for AI training workshop (Capacitación en Inteligencia Artificial) scheduled for July 27. Provides professional conference facilities for technology education programs.
• Heart Centered Leadership Coaching and Consulting GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Mónica Robles alongside her role at AdE. Related organization that supports leadership development components of the entrepreneurship program.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Accion: Global nonprofit providing small business loans, training, and support to underserved entrepreneurs including Hispanic and immigrant small business owners. Comparable target demographic and small-business education mission but with broader geographic scope and a capital-focused model.
• Latino Business Action Network (LBAN) at Stanford: Stanford-affiliated research and action organization advancing Latino-owned business growth through the Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative, policy advocacy, and executive education. Comparable in advancing Hispanic entrepreneurship but operates at the executive/university level rather than grassroots community training.
• UnidosUS: The largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, operating entrepreneurship and small business programs (e.g., Elevar Entrepreneurship Center) for Hispanic communities. Directly comparable in mission and target demographic but operates at vastly larger national scale and budget than AdE.
• LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens): Largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights organization in the U.S., with local councils running small business and entrepreneurship workshops for Latino communities. Comparable in providing Hispanic-targeted business education but operates as a national advocacy organization with broader scope.
• Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR): National nonprofit advancing Hispanic inclusion in corporate America through economic empowerment programs, including Hispanic business development. Comparable demographic focus but oriented toward corporate engagement rather than direct community-based training.
• Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO): National nonprofit trade association supporting under-resourced entrepreneurs, including Hispanic and immigrant business owners, through a network of CDFIs and small business development organizations. Comparable in mission (underserved entrepreneurship support) but operates as a national umbrella rather than a direct service provider.

Direct peers

• CAMEO (California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity): California statewide network of microenterprise development organizations serving small businesses, including Hispanic entrepreneurs. Operates a similar community-based, multilingual model with training, advising, and capital access — the closest direct peer to AdE at a regional level.
• California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: Statewide chamber of commerce representing Hispanic-owned businesses in California, providing training, networking, and advocacy. Directly comparable as a California-based Hispanic business support organization, though with broader advocacy focus rather than direct grassroots training.
• Grameen America: National microfinance nonprofit providing small-dollar loans and business training to women entrepreneurs, including Hispanic immigrant women in Southern California. Directly comparable in serving low-capital Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs through training-plus-capital programs.

Regional players

• Venturous Counsel: Hispanic-focused business advisory firm supporting Latino entrepreneurs and business owners through consulting and education. Comparable demographic and educational mission but operates primarily in Texas rather than California.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/asociacion_de_emprendedores
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asociacion-de-emprendedores

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Asociacion de Emprendedor@s