Builders Avenue

What Builders Avenue does

Builders Avenue, legally organized as Business Services Collective, NFP, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2020 (following a 2019 pilot) and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The organization serves BIPOC construction entrepreneurs across the Chicagoland and Cook County area, delivering no-cost or low-cost coaching, training, and back-office support designed to close the racial wealth gap. Its core offerings center on a 40-hour, one-on-one mentorship program covering bid estimation, QuickBooks-based bookkeeping and job cost accounting, financial planning, funding and capital access, business growth strategy, and project management support. The platform model integrates a curated Service Partner Network of estimators, bookkeepers, and CPAs, a Shared Services Cooperative (Co-Op) for resource pooling among construction professionals, and the Empower Program for intensive strategic coaching with monthly accountability.

The organization does not rely on proprietary technology — it is a service delivery platform, not a software company — and it provides no apps, APIs, or integrations. Revenue is sourced from grants, donations, and government-adjacent funding rather than client fees, with a PayPal donation flow and partnerships with community development organizations (LISC Chicago, NHS Chicago, Greenwood Archer Capital) and capital providers (Elevate, Cook County Small Business Source) underpinning its finances. Go-to-market is community-led: the organization relies on builder story testimonials, referral and partner channels (including a partnership with be.ex in Kansas City signaling potential geographic extension), newsletter, and direct outreach via Google Forms for contractor consultations. The customer base consists of SMB construction trades including general contracting, HVAC, plumbing, landscaping, property preservation, and post-construction cleaning, and the leadership team combines construction, microlending, and institutional partnership expertise under a board chaired by Deon Lucas (President, EG.Woode).

Name

Builders Avenue

Legal name

Business Services Collective, NFP

Website

https://buildersavenue.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Builders Avenue is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides no-cost or low-cost coaching, mentorship, and back-office support to BIPOC construction entrepreneurs across Chicagoland, focusing on bid estimation, bookkeeping, capital access, and business growth through a network of vetted service partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Construction Business Support Services

NAICS

Residential Building Construction (2361), Construction of Buildings (236)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), Operative Builders (1531)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Multi-Family Residential Construction (Apartments, Condos, Townhomes) (IMAFABAB)

Keywords

• Construction contractor support
• Small business mentorship
• Bid estimating training
• Back-office bookkeeping services
• Minority business development

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Nonprofit funding and donations: Builders Avenue operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Revenue is generated through grants, donations, and potentially government funding rather than client fees. Services are described as no-cost or low-cost to entrepreneurs in the construction industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Builders Avenue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides no-cost or low-cost one-on-one coaching, training, and back-office support to BIPOC construction entrepreneurs in the Chicagoland area. Its core offering is a 40-hour mentorship program covering bid estimating, financial planning, QuickBooks setup, funding access, and business growth strategy, delivered through a network of trusted local service partners. The organization also operates a Shared Services Cooperative (Co-Op) that allows construction professionals to pool resources and expertise.

Product overview

Builders Avenue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides a platform of integrated business support services for BIPOC construction entrepreneurs. Its core offerings include 1-to-1 Business Support & Mentorship (delivering 40 hours of personalized coaching), Action Plan Development, Bid Estimating Assistance, Financial Planning & Back-Office Support (including QuickBooks setup), Funding Opportunities & Capital Access, Business Growth Strategies, Project Management Support, and a Service Partner Network connecting contractors with estimators, bookkeepers, and CPAs. The organization also operates a Shared Services Cooperative (Co-Op) for collaborative resource-sharing and partners with Cook County Source to extend advising and financing access to small businesses across Cook County. The Empower Program provides intensive strategic planning with monthly accountability. Together these services form a unified ecosystem designed to develop the financial health of diverse construction businesses through one-on-one training and implementation support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 1-to-1 Business Support & Mentorship One-on-one coaching and training program providing 40 hours of personalized mentorship from expert service partners, covering bid estimation, bookkeeping, financial planning, and back-office support for construction entrepreneurs.
• Bid Estimating Assistance Expert estimating support helping contractors improve their ability to cost estimate and bid on projects through one-on-one coaching and training.
• Financial Planning & Back-Office Support Specialized financial planning services tailored to contractors, including job cost accounting, bookkeeping setup (QuickBooks Online), tax preparation, and accounting organization.
• Funding Opportunities & Capital Access Assistance navigating and accessing various funding options, grants, and capital for construction projects, including connections to lenders (e.g., Elevate) and preparation of loan applications.
• Shared Services Cooperative (Co-Op) Cooperatively owned platform gathering construction professionals to share resources, knowledge, and expertise, enabling contractors to build together and access group purchasing and collective advancement.
• Empower Program Intensive coaching program providing strategic business planning with monthly accountability, financing connections, one-on-one consultations, and networking opportunities with other entrepreneurs.

Quantifiable outcome

• $185,000 line of credit secured for Pink Hats Construction
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• LISC ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Chicago is a community partner working alongside Builders Avenue to build just and equitable communities by mobilizing people, ideas, and resources to rebuild systems.
• ElevatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElevate is a nonprofit that offers lines of credit for contractors and partners with Builders Avenue to provide financing opportunities and resources for construction entrepreneurs.
• Greenwood Archer CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreenwood Archer Capital is a community partner focused on building economically and environmentally healthy communities, supporting Builders Avenue's mission to close the racial wealth gap.
• Cook County Small Business SourcecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCook County Source provides free one-on-one expert business advising, tools and resources for business growth, events, and access to financing opportunities for small businesses across Cook County.
• NHS ChicagomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS (Neighborhood Housing Services) of Chicago works to rebuild communities and is a community partner of Builders Avenue.
• be.exmajorStrategic or Co-development Partnerbe.ex (KC) is a community partner working to build just and equitable communities in the Kansas City area.
• SOulminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOul is a community partner program focused on community development and support.
• CCT (Cook County Together)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCT is a community partner organization working to build just and equitable communities.
• Leo Becerra, CPA (BM Accounting and Tax, Inc.)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorService partner providing accounting and tax services to construction entrepreneurs through Builders Avenue's cooperative network. Leo is part of the Builders Support Cooperative (BSC) providing services to entrepreneurs.
• Kelly Love, CPA (LBL Financial Services)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorService partner providing tax returns and financial services to Builders Avenue organization and clients. Kelly has been a proud partner for about three years, handling nonprofit and construction business tax returns.
• Service Partners NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of estimators, bookkeepers, and other professionals passionate about supporting local businesses. Service partners receive diverse business opportunities, collaborative environment, and professional support to enhance operations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs): SBA-funded network providing free business advising, training, and resources to small businesses. Comparable coaching and capacity-building offering; competes for the same entrepreneur attention but with broader scope and government funding.
• Grameen America: Nonprofit microfinance organization providing small loans and financial services to entrepreneurs in underserved communities. Similar in serving capital-constrained entrepreneurs with limited conventional access, but with a microfinance model rather than holistic business support.
• SCORE: Free nationwide business mentoring and education network, partially funded by SBA. Comparable in the free, no-cost mentoring and back-office support model, though it serves all small businesses rather than focusing on construction or BIPOC entrepreneurs.
• Operation HOPE: Nonprofit providing financial literacy, coaching, and small business support to underserved communities. Comparable in the financial empowerment mission and free coaching model targeting minority entrepreneurs.
• Accion: Nonprofit providing small business loans and support to underserved entrepreneurs. Comparable in the capital-access mission and partnership with Builders Avenue's funders (Elevate), though national rather than Chicago-focused.
• Women's Business Centers (WBCs): SBA-funded centers providing training, mentoring, and capital access for women entrepreneurs. Similar in providing free coaching and back-office support to underserved entrepreneurs, with a focus on women rather than BIPOC communities.

Direct peers

• National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC): Trade association supporting minority-owned construction contractors through advocacy, training, and networking. Most directly comparable to Builders Avenue in mission and target customer (BIPOC construction entrepreneurs), with a national footprint versus Builders Avenue's regional focus.
• National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC): Trade association providing education, training, and support for women in construction. Comparable in mission to support underrepresented construction professionals with growth resources and networking, though with a gender focus rather than racial equity focus.
• Turner School of Construction Management (Turner Construction): Turner Construction's intensive program preparing minority and women-owned construction businesses for growth. Directly comparable model of structured training, mentorship, and capacity building for diverse construction entrepreneurs.

Broad incumbents

• National Urban League: National civil rights organization providing economic empowerment, including small business support for minority entrepreneurs. Comparable in the BIPOC economic empowerment mission, with broader focus areas beyond construction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/builders-avenue

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Builders Avenue