University of La Verne SBDC

What University of La Verne SBDC does

The University of La Verne Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a non-profit business assistance program hosted by the University of La Verne's College of Business and Public Management and operated under a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. It is part of the SBA's largest service program and the broader Los Angeles SBDC Network. The center provides no-cost business advising and low-cost training workshops to small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Eastern San Gabriel Valley, organized across three lifecycle stages: startup, new business, and growing business. Its service portfolio combines one-on-one advising sessions, innovative workshops delivered both in person and via webinar, and in-depth programs covering business planning, financial projections, marketing, social media, licensing and permits, contract negotiations, cash flow management, rebranding, SEO, email segmentation, and disaster planning. Documented client outcomes include accessing SBA-guaranteed loans (e.g., $25,000 Community Express Loan for Planet Bouncy), grants such as the California Dream Fund, and cumulative LA SBDC Network metrics of $70M+ in capital accessed and 3,835+ jobs created or retained across Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties.

The center's technology stack is deliberately lightweight and standard, comprising a Zoom-equivalent webinar platform for remote workshops, Constant Contact for email newsletters and client communication, and the lasbdcnet.ecenterdirect.com portal for client registration and appointment booking. There are no proprietary technology products, no mobile applications, no API surface, and no AI or ML capabilities disclosed. Service delivery is fundamentally human-advisor-led rather than technology-mediated.

The business model is a hybrid non-profit / public-funding structure. Revenue is not commercially generated; instead, the SBDC is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, supplemented by host institution support from the University of La Verne and minor workshop fees. Services are provided at no cost to clients by design, distinguishing the SBDC from private business consultants and accelerators. Distribution is regional, executed through direct appointments, workshop attendance, online self-serve registration, phone contact, and referral pipelines established via mutual partnerships with twelve municipalities (Industry, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, West Covina, San Dimas, Irwindale, La Puente, Claremont, Glendora, Pomona, La Verne) as well as LA County and co-marketing partnerships with Google Digital Coaches and BizBuySell.

Name

University of La Verne SBDC

Legal name

The University of La Verne Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

Website

https://lavernesbdc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1891

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The University of La Verne SBDC is a non-profit, federally funded business assistance center that provides no-cost advising, low-cost workshops, and in-depth programs to small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Eastern San Gabriel Valley, operating under a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. SBA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Development Services

NAICS

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Management Consulting Services (54161), All Other Business Support Services (561499)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

SBIC Venture Debt Funds (FSANAIAD), SBA/USDA Government-Backed Loan Intermediation (FSAEAEAI)

Keywords

• Small business advising
• Business development services
• Entrepreneur training programs
• SBA funding assistance
• Small business consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

La Verne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. SBA Cooperative Agreement Funding: Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBDC operates as a non-profit business assistance program providing no-cost services to small businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The University of La Verne SBDC provides no-cost business advising, innovative workshops, and in-depth programs to small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Eastern San Gabriel Valley region. Services are organized across three business lifecycle stages—Startup, New Business, and Growing Business—covering business planning, financial projections, contract negotiations, cash flow management, rebranding, digital marketing, and access to SBA-guaranteed loans and grants. Workshops are offered both in-person and via webinar at low cost, complementing the free one-on-one advisory service.

Product overview

The University of La Verne SBDC is a service organization that provides a unified portfolio of no-cost and low-cost business development resources to small businesses and entrepreneurs. The core offering combines one-on-one advising, innovative workshops, and in-depth programs organized across three business lifecycle stages: Startup, New Business, and Growing Business. Services include free business consulting for business planning, financial management, and growth strategies, supplemented by low-cost training workshops covering topics such as business plans, financial projections, marketing, social media, licenses, permits, and business formation. The SBDC serves the Eastern San Gabriel Valley region and is funded through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• One-on-One Business Advising
• Innovative Workshops
• In-Depth Programs
• Startup Services
• New Business Services
• Growing Business Services
• Low-Cost Training Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Created and retained 3,835+ jobs across Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• City of IndustryminorOthersPublic sector partner providing economic development support for small businesses
• City of AzusaminorOthersPublic sector partner providing economic development support for small businesses
• City of Baldwin ParkminorOthersPublic sector partner providing economic development support for small businesses
• City of CovinaminorOthersPublic sector partner providing economic development support for small businesses
• West CovinaminorOthersPublic sector partner providing economic development support for small businesses
• City of San DimasminorOthersPublic sector partner providing economic development support for small businesses
• City of IrwindaleminorOthersPublic sector partner providing economic development support for small businesses
• City of La PuenteminorOthersPublic sector partner providing economic development support for small businesses
• Claremont CaliforniaminorOthersPublic sector partner providing economic development support for small businesses
• City of GlendoraminorOthersPublic sector partner providing economic development support for small businesses; co-hosts workshops such as Google Business Profiles & Local SEO
• City of PomonaminorOthersPublic sector partner providing economic development support for small businesses
• City of La VerneminorOthersPublic sector partner providing economic development support for small businesses
• LA CountyminorOthersLos Angeles County partner providing public sector support for small businesses. LA County has nearly 10 million residents and is one of the nation's largest counties.
• BizBuySellminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness brokerage network partner. Ed Pendarvis, founder and chairman emeritus of Sunbelt Business Broker Network, co-presents workshops on buying a business.
• GoogleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoogle Digital Coaches present workshops on digital tools for business including establishing professional domains, websites, and emails.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): The SBA is the federal agency that funds the La Verne SBDC's cooperative agreement and operates the broader resource partner network (SBDC, SCORE, WBC, VBOC). It is the regulatory and funding incumbent that the SBDC operates under.
• America's SBDC (ASBDC): America's SBDC is the national association representing the SBDC network of which the University of La Verne SBDC is a member. It is an umbrella/incumbent in the same program category, providing strategic direction, training, and resources to all local SBDCs.
• California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA): CalOSBA is the California state agency that supports small businesses and is referenced as a partner on the La Verne SBDC website. It is a broader public-sector incumbent operating in the same small business support category across the state.

Regional players

• Local Chamber of Commerce (e.g., San Gabriel Valley Chamber of Commerce): Local Chambers of Commerce in the Eastern San Gabriel Valley provide business networking, workshops, and advocacy to small businesses in the same geography. They overlap with the La Verne SBDC's clientele and service offerings but operate on a membership/membership-fee model rather than no-cost federal funding.

Emerging players

• Accion Opportunity Fund: Accion Opportunity Fund is a Community Development Financial Institution providing capital and advisory services to small business owners, including the Magic Oil Box client featured in the La Verne SBDC's success stories. It is a partner-adjacent peer with overlapping client base and capital access focus.
• Hello Alice: Hello Alice is a digital platform providing free resources, mentorship, and grant access to small businesses. It represents an emerging digital channel that addresses many of the same small business support needs as the La Verne SBDC but at a national scale.
• Small Business Majority: Small Business Majority is a national small business advocacy and research organization offering education, resources, and policy advocacy to entrepreneurs. It overlaps with the La Verne SBDC on small business education and policy engagement.

Direct peers

• SCORE: SCORE is the SBA's other flagship small business mentoring service, providing free one-on-one advising, workshops, and educational resources to entrepreneurs. It is the closest direct peer to the University of La Verne SBDC, with an analogous no-cost, federal-backed service model.
• Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC): VBOCs are SBA-funded centers providing business counseling, training, and resources to veteran entrepreneurs. Comparable to the La Verne SBDC in service model and SBA funding structure, though targeted to a specific demographic.
• Women's Business Centers (WBC) Program: WBCs are SBA-funded centers providing business training and advising specifically to women entrepreneurs. They share the same SBA-funded no-cost advisory model as the La Verne SBDC and serve overlapping small business client segments.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lavernesbdc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of La Verne SBDC