Oakland Thrive
Oakland Thrive is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free small business consulting, training, and workshops to entrepreneurs, immigrants, veterans, child care providers, and hospitality businesses across Oakland County, funded primarily by Oakland County's $17 million Business Forward contract.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersPontiac, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Oakland Thrive does
Oakland Thrive is a Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in March 2023 and headquartered at 35 W Huron St., Suite 201, Pontiac, Michigan. Originally launched as a county-level initiative called Business Forward, the organization was spun off as an independent nonprofit using federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars channeled through Oakland County. It provides free small business consulting, training, and workshops to entrepreneurs, startups, immigrants, refugees, child care providers, hospitality businesses, and veteran-owned enterprises across Oakland County and southeast Michigan, operating specialized programs including the Global Resource Program for newcomers, the Support A Hero Fund for veterans, and countywide economic development initiatives in partnership with Oakland County government.
The organization's service portfolio spans direct consulting (one-on-one business development, market research, eCommerce, and legal/accounting referrals), event-driven programming (One Million Cups, Fish Tank, Small Business Success Series, Thrive Connect resource fairs), and vertical-specific modules (Child Care, Hospitality, Government Contracting, Defense and Aerospace via Project DIAMOnD). Oakland Thrive is a service-based nonprofit with no proprietary technology platform; its tools consist of standard business applications for client management, event coordination, digital marketing, multilingual content delivery (English, Spanish, Arabic, Simplified Chinese), and basic calendar/Zoom integrations. A Business Intelligence service intended to leverage SEO, GIS, market research, and AI data is listed as "Coming soon" but not yet deployed.
Revenue is derived primarily from government/county contracts, with Oakland County as the anchor funder via a $17 million Business Forward Small Business Program contract, supplemented by individual and corporate donations, project management fees for county economic development initiatives, and grants (including a $250,000 Michigan Economic Development Corporation award in May 2025). All core consulting, training, and workshops are provided free of charge to qualifying small businesses, while meeting space rental is offered on a flexible, pay-as-you-go basis. Day-to-day operations are led by CEO Camille Walker Banks, with a 13+ person staff, a 6-member Board of Directors, and a partner network exceeding 150 organizations.
Oakland Thrive firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Oakland Thrive
- Legal name
- Oakland Thrive
- Website
- https://oaklandthrive.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Oakland Thrive is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free small business consulting, training, and workshops to entrepreneurs, immigrants, veterans, child care providers, and hospitality businesses across Oakland County, funded primarily by Oakland County's $17 million Business Forward contract.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Oakland Thrive industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Small Business Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
Keywords
Where Oakland Thrive is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pontiac
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Oakland Thrive business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Government/County Contracts: Oakland Thrive receives significant funding from Oakland County contracts, including a $17 million contract with Oakland County to implement the Business Forward Small Business Program. Funding also comes from federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars.
- Donations and Contributions: Oakland Thrive accepts corporate and individual donations. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, contributions may qualify as charitable deductions for federal income tax purposes.
- Project Management Services: Oakland Thrive provides project management services to Oakland County for various economic development initiatives including Defense and Aerospace development.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free Small Business Consulting Services |
| Freemium | Others | Event and Workshop Access |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Meeting Space Rental |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Oakland Thrive product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Oakland Thrive is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free business consulting, training, and support services to entrepreneurs and small business owners across Oakland County, Michigan. The organization delivers one-on-one consultations, workshops, networking events, and specialized programs in areas including government contracting, child care business support, hospitality services, and immigrant entrepreneurship. It is funded primarily through a $17 million Oakland County contract (using federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars) and corporate/individual donations.
Product overview
Oakland Thrive is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that functions as a multi-service small business support platform rather than a single product. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected services organized around three core pillars: (1) Direct Small Business Support via Small Business Consulting, the Global Resource Program for immigrant entrepreneurs, and specialized Child Care and Hospitality Services; (2) Business Growth Services including government contracting, defense and aerospace development, and Business Intelligence; and (3) Ecosystem Building through Partner Projects, B2B/Corporate/Nonprofit Partnership Programs, and county-wide Workshops and Events. Additional programs include the Support A Hero Fund for veteran assistance and Meeting Space Rental for community use. Services are delivered through one-on-one consultations, workshops, training sessions, networking events, and partner referrals, with special attention given to underrepresented communities including minority, woman, LGBTQ, and veteran-owned businesses.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Small Business Consulting Free one-on-one business consultations providing targeted support in business development, market research, eCommerce, legal support, accounting, and training workshops for entrepreneurs and small business owners in Oakland County.
- Global Resource Program Program assisting new immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers interested in becoming entrepreneurs or improving their small businesses, providing practical training, a business guide for newcomers, immigrant special skills recognition, and 1:1 business consultations.
- Business Growth Services Services including government contracting support, child care business support, defense and aerospace connections, hospitality services, and business intelligence to help businesses explore expansion and new opportunities.
- Hospitality Services Dedicated expert services for restaurant and food businesses including business turnaround, operational analysis, financial analysis, menu development, licensing support, and workforce training.
- Partner Projects Economic development partnership providing assistance with contracting, project management, and government process navigation, including Project DIAMOnD, Diverse Connections events, and Economic Outlook publications.
- Workshops and Events County-wide economic development and business events including One Million Cups, Fish Tank networking series, Small Business Success Series, industry conferences, business matchmaking, Thrive Connect resource fairs, and trainings on social media, commercial real estate, credit and capital, franchising, and government contracting.
- Support A Hero Fund Veteran food assistance initiative providing food, transportation, resources, and entrepreneurial education support to veterans in Oakland County in partnership with Oakland County Veterans' Services.
- Meeting Space Rental Flexible meeting spaces available for community partners, small business organizations, nonprofits, and mission-aligned groups including a conference room (up to 20 attendees) and classroom-style space (up to 30 participants) with audiovisual capabilities.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 2,500 food boxes and $242,000 in food cards distributed to veterans in need
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Oakland Thrive
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Oakland Thrive technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability1 record
Oakland Thrive partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- Oakland CountycoreOakland County is the primary government partner and funder of Oakland Thrive. The organization was created using federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars and Oakland County secured a $17 million contract with Oakland Thrive to implement the Business Forward Small Business program. Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter is actively involved in supporting the organization.
- Automation Alley / Project DIAMOnDcoreOakland County and Automation Alley created Project DIAMOnD, the country's largest 3D printing marketplace and network. Oakland Thrive is involved in driving effectiveness and efficiencies through project management and navigation of government processes related to this initiative.
- Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC)coreAPACC partners with Oakland Thrive for advancing inclusivity and economic growth. The partnership provides essential support for APACC's mission of creating stronger, more inclusive impact in the business community.
- Michigan Hispanic Chamber of CommercecoreMichigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce collaborates with Oakland Thrive to provide entrepreneurs with tools and knowledge through expert-led workshops and wide network access, empowering small business owners to grow, adapt, and succeed.
- Schoolcraft College APEX AcceleratorcoreSchoolcraft College APEX Accelerator has partnered with Oakland Thrive since its inception. The partnership involves referring clients seeking government procurement assistance and receiving referrals for business development training. The trusted partnership enhances quality of services available to Oakland County small businesses.
- Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small BusinessescoreGoldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses partners with Oakland Thrive to provide program access to Detroit-area entrepreneurs. Oakland Thrive serves as a referral partner and community advocate for the program.
- FranNet of MichigansecondaryFranNet of Michigan, led by Mark D. Cory, provides franchise placement services and has referred clients to Oakland Thrive while receiving referrals from Oakland Thrive consultants for complementary services.
- Fifth Third BankcoreFifth Third Bank partners with Oakland Thrive on the Small Business Success Series, a six-part workshop series designed to guide entrepreneurs through critical stages of business development. The bank also provides the Financial Empowerment Mobile at events.
- SCOREcoreSCORE provides marketing assistance and mentorship to small business clients referred by Oakland Thrive consultants. SCORE volunteers offer expertise complementing Oakland Thrive's services.
- Oakland County Veterans ServicescoreOakland Thrive partners with Oakland County Veterans' Services to provide food, transportation, and resources to veterans through the Support A Hero Fund initiative.
- Oakland Chamber NetworksecondaryOakland Chamber Network serves as a gateway to 27 Oakland County Chambers of Commerce, helping businesses connect with local chambers and business communities.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Oakland Thrive competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC): Michigan chamber serving Asian American and Pacific Islander businesses. Comparable because APACC is one of Oakland Thrive's named strategic partners, jointly delivering workshops and outreach to the same underserved SMB communities in Michigan.
- Automation Alley: Michigan-based technology and manufacturing business association. Comparable because Oakland Thrive partners with Automation Alley on Project DIAMOnD and shares a focus on Southeast Michigan economic development and defense/aerospace connections.
Direct peers
- Great Lakes Women's Business Council (CEED Lending): Southeast Michigan-based nonprofit providing business development and lending to women entrepreneurs. Directly comparable because CEED Lending is one of Oakland Thrive's named capital referral partners and operates the same women/minority-focused SMB support model.
- Michigan Small Business Development Center (MI-SBDC): Statewide network offering no-cost consulting, training, and market research to Michigan small businesses. Closest direct peer to Oakland Thrive because both deliver free, government- and university-affiliated small business advisory services to Michigan-based SMBs.
- Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC): Detroit's nonprofit economic development organization running small business programs and neighborhood revitalization initiatives. Closely comparable in mission and structure to Oakland Thrive as a Michigan nonprofit small business support platform.
- Ann Arbor SPARK: Regional economic development organization serving Washtenaw and Wayne counties with business attraction, retention, and acceleration services. Directly comparable as a Michigan-focused nonprofit economic development intermediary supporting small and growth-stage businesses.
Emerging players
- Local First (Michigan/Wealthy Theatre): West Michigan-based organization supporting locally owned independent businesses. Adjacent peer because it operates a similar place-based small business support model emphasizing local economic development, though focused on a different Michigan region.
Broad incumbents
- Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: National small business education and capital program for entrepreneurs. Highly relevant because Oakland Thrive is an active referral partner for the Detroit-area cohort while delivering overlapping business education, networking, and growth programming.
- Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC): State-level quasi-governmental economic development organization. Comparable because MEDC is both an Oakland Thrive funder (via the $250,000 investment round) and a broader provider of overlapping small business support, incentives, and economic development programming across Michigan.
- SCORE: National nonprofit network providing free mentoring, workshops, and resources to small business owners. Directly comparable because Oakland Thrive already partners with SCORE for client referrals while operating an overlapping free consulting model in the same SMB segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Oakland Thrive social profiles
Digital presenceOakland Thrive compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Oakland Thrive financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Oakland Thrive leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
Oakland Thrive funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Oakland Thrive M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Oakland Thrive
What does Oakland Thrive do?
Oakland Thrive is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free business consulting, training, and support services to entrepreneurs and small business owners across Oakland County, Michigan. The organization delivers one-on-one consultations, workshops, networking events, and specialized programs in areas including government contracting, child care business support, hospitality services, and immigrant entrepreneurship. It is funded primarily through a $17 million Oakland County contract (using federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars) and corporate/individual donations.
Is Oakland Thrive a public or private company?
Oakland Thrive is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Oakland Thrive founded?
Oakland Thrive was founded in 2023. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Oakland Thrive based?
Oakland Thrive is headquartered in Pontiac, United States, in the North America region.
How does Oakland Thrive make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government/County Contracts are the primary driver. The others are donations and Contributions and project Management Services.
Who are Oakland Thrive's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC) and Automation Alley. Direct peers are Great Lakes Women's Business Council (CEED Lending), Michigan Small Business Development Center (MI-SBDC), Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) and Ann Arbor SPARK. Local First (Michigan/Wealthy Theatre) is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and SCORE.
Does Oakland Thrive have an API?
No public API is recorded for Oakland Thrive.
What industry is Oakland Thrive in?
Oakland Thrive's product category is Small Business Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated). Its NAICS code is 8133 and its SIC code is 8600.