What Widener University Small Business Development Center does

Widener University Small Business Development Center (Widener SBDC) is a university-affiliated, non-profit Small Business Development Center established in 2007 and headquartered at the Leslie C. Quick Center on Widener University's campus in Chester, Pennsylvania. The organization delivers no-cost, confidential one-on-one business consulting, educational training programs, and productized research services to small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in southeastern Pennsylvania — specifically serving Philadelphia, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties. It assists over 700 entrepreneurs annually and operates a three-step engagement funnel from online registration through discovery call to expert consultant matching. Through its Center of Excellence in Spanish Language Services, the SBDC extends bilingual and bicultural consulting to Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs throughout the entire state of Pennsylvania, a regional differentiator.

The service portfolio is structured around three pillars: (1) core consulting engagements via expert consultants, (2) educational training programs delivered as live webinars, on-demand recorded sessions, and multi-session Growth Academy masterclasses including Kauffman FastTrac, and (3) four productized research products — Social Media Review, Business Plan Review, Industry Financial Report, and Custom Contact List — that entrepreneurs can request as standalone deliverables. Specialized programs include APEX Accelerators for government procurement assistance and the Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP) for environmental compliance. The SBDC does not develop proprietary technology; it leverages third-party platforms (Zoom, eCenter Direct, JotForm) to deliver services and operates as a consulting and training entity rather than a technology company.

The revenue model is entirely grant-funded under a cooperative agreement structure: the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) provide funding through a cooperative agreement, with Widener University serving as the host institution providing the physical facility, administrative support, and in-kind operational infrastructure. All services to clients are free of charge with no fee-for-service revenue. The organization is a member of the Pennsylvania SBDC network (one of 17 university-based centers) and America's SBDC national network, and maintains a referral ecosystem of 17+ strategic partners including Community First Fund, PIDC, KIVA, Google, Kauffman, and PA PREP.

Name

Widener University Small Business Development Center

Legal name

Widener University Small Business Development Center

Website

https://widenersbdc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Widener University Small Business Development Center is a non-profit SBDC in Chester, PA providing no-cost consulting, training, and research services to 700+ small business owners annually across Philadelphia, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties, with statewide bilingual Spanish-language services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Consulting Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54), Business and Secretarial Schools (611410)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Small business consulting
• Entrepreneurship training programs
• Business plan advisory
• Bilingual business services
• Government contracting assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Chester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Federal SBA Grant Funding: The Widener University SBDC is partially funded by a cooperative agreement grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration. This funding does not constitute an express or implied endorsement of the SBDC's opinions, findings, conclusions, recommendations, products, or services.
2. State DCED Funding: Partially funded by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Department of Community & Economic Development. Provides operating support and resources.
3. University Support (In-Kind): Widener University serves as the host institution, providing physical facilities (Leslie C. Quick Center), administrative support, and operational infrastructure. This is an in-kind contribution rather than direct cash revenue.
4. Client Services (Free): All SBDC consulting, training, and research services are provided to clients at no cost. No fee-for-service revenue is generated from small business clients. The organization operates as a government-funded nonprofit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Widener University SBDC is a Small Business Development Center that provides no-cost, confidential one-on-one business consulting, educational training programs (live webinars, on-demand library, multi-session masterclasses), productized research reports, and specialized assistance in government procurement and environmental compliance to entrepreneurs and small businesses. Services are delivered in English and Spanish and funded through cooperative agreements with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, with Widener University serving as host institution.

Product overview

Widener SBDC is a consulting and training organization that provides no-cost business assistance to entrepreneurs in southeastern Pennsylvania. The core service portfolio includes one-on-one consulting and educational training programs in English and Spanish. The primary productized offerings are four Business Research Products: Social Media Review, Business Plan Review, Industry Financial Report, and Custom Contact List. Additional services include a Growth Academy with Masterclass programs, a library of on-demand webinars, and e-books/guides covering business startup, funding, digital marketing, and established business topics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Center of Excellence in Spanish Language Services for Pennsylvania: Provides bilingual (Spanish/English) and bicultural business consulting services to entrepreneurs throughout Pennsylvania
• APEX Accelerators
• Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP)
• Growth Academy

Products and services

• One-on-One Business Consulting Free, confidential one-on-one consulting service for entrepreneurs and small business owners in southeastern Pennsylvania. Engagements follow a three-step process: clients register online at pasbdc.ecenterdirect.com, a discovery call is scheduled to assess business needs and recommend a plan, and the client is matched with a designated expert consultant. Services cover business planning, capital access, marketing, government contracting, international trade, environmental compliance, and cybersecurity.
• Center of Excellence in Spanish Language Services Bilingual (Spanish/English) and bicultural business consulting and training program providing the same training and consulting offerings to Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs throughout the entire state of Pennsylvania — beyond the primary three-county service territory. Includes Spanish-language Growth Academy programs, Conozca Sus Numeros financial literacy series, and Kauffman FastTrac en Español (Camino al Exito).
• APEX Accelerators (Government Procurement Assistance) Specialized consulting service helping businesses market products and services to federal, state, and local government agencies. Provides counseling on understanding, applying for, and complying with government contracts, plus free access to Bid Match for opportunity matching.
• Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP) Free and confidential environmental compliance assistance for small businesses. Consultants help clients understand environmental regulatory requirements and prepare plans and permit applications for start-ups and existing businesses.
• Growth Academy Masterclass Program Multi-session masterclass program using a Design, Test, Learn, and Evolve methodology to help established entrepreneurs acquire new skills to innovate and grow. Includes Kauffman FastTrac (12-week program), Digital Marketing and Online Presence (4-session workshop), and Camino al Exito (Spanish-language entrepreneurship program). Participants receive verified digital certificates upon completion.
• Social Media Review Productized research service providing detailed feedback on clients' social media and digital marketing strategy to help identify, address, and modify social platforms for organic growth.
• Business Plan Review Productized research service delivering detailed feedback on business plans to help entrepreneurs identify gaps, meet loan application requirements, and strategize against business uncertainty.
• Industry Financial Report Productized research service providing narrative reports on industry financial conditions to help entrepreneurs understand their industry's financial landscape and make crucial financial decisions.
• Custom Contact List Productized research service generating customized lists of business contacts including names, phone numbers, and emails to help identify new customers, suppliers, and professional contacts.
• On-Demand Webinar Library Library of 15+ pre-recorded webinar sessions available 24/7 covering topics including digital marketing, buying and selling a business, banking relationships, design thinking, starting a business, gig economy, PPP forgiveness, and customer validation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Assists over 700 entrepreneurs annually across Delaware, Philadelphia, and Montgomery Counties.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• Widener UniversitycoreOthersWidener University serves as the host institution, providing physical facilities (Leslie C. Quick Center, School of Business), administrative support, operational infrastructure, and partial funding. The SBDC leverages the university's academic resources, faculty expertise, and student pipeline.
• America's SBDCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWidener SBDC is a member of the America's SBDC national network, providing access to best practices, resources, and a national ecosystem of SBDC centers across the United States.
• National Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWidener SBDC is a member of the ASBDC, connecting it to the national association of SBDC centers and providing access to industry resources, training, and networking opportunities.
• Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center Network (PASBDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWidener SBDC is one of 17 university-based centers in the Pennsylvania SBDC network, which operates under the direction of the Main Office at Kutztown University. The network has 90+ extension locations statewide and has helped small firms raise capital, start new companies, and generate billions in exports.
• APEX Accelerators (formerly PTAC Southeast PA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPEX Accelerators helps businesses market products and services to federal, state, and local government. Widener SBDC provides counseling services to help entrepreneurs understand, apply, and comply with government contracts. The APEX program provides free access to Bid Match as an added value for SBDC clients.
• Kauffman FastTracmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKauffman FastTrac is a 12-week entrepreneurship curriculum offered through the Widener SBDC Growth Academy. It provides a flexible course with a solid framework to support entrepreneurs starting a business. Widener SBDC offers this program in English and Spanish (Camino al Exito con Kauffman FastTrac).
• GooglemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoogle supports the Growth Academy Digital Marketing and Online Presence masterclass as a partner, with a Google representative teaching directly how to use Google tools to position small businesses online.
• PA PREP (Pennsylvania Procurement Outreach Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPA PREP is a procurement outreach program operated by the Pennsylvania DCED that connects small businesses with government contracting opportunities. Widener SBDC partners with PA PREP to provide government procurement services to Pennsylvania businesses.
• Delaware County Commerce CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn umbrella economic development organization for Delaware County, operating as part of the Delaware County Commerce Center. Widener SBDC collaborates with this agency to support economic development in Delaware County.
• Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) / Greater Philadelphia Cultural AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator program is administered by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance on behalf of the PCA. Widener SBDC refers creative entrepreneurs in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties to this program, which prioritizes BIPOC entrepreneurs and those in low-income communities.
• Verizon Small Business Digital ReadyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA free online business education program offering courses on marketing, finance, and efficiency, along with networking and expert coaching. Widener SBDC promotes this program as a partner resource, with grant applications available to eligible small businesses.
• City of Chester Economic Development Authority (CEDA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEDA serves as the administrative agent for the City of Chester's economic, housing, and community development programs. Widener SBDC has collaborated with CEDA on client projects, including the Silvercare Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility redevelopment, which utilized Chester's LERTA and CDBG programs.
• The Welcoming CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA nonprofit supporting immigrant entrepreneurship in Philadelphia. Widener SBDC collaborated with The Welcoming Center on the Mole Poblano Restaurant case, providing guidance on COVID-19 relief and business continuity for immigrant-owned businesses.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Broad incumbents

• Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC): SBA-sponsored centers delivering training, consulting, and resource referrals to veteran-owned small businesses; parallels Widener SBDC in being a federal resource partner offering no-cost, expert-led business development services.
• America's SBDC (ASBDC): The national association representing the U.S. SBDC network of nearly 1,000 centers; comparable as the umbrella organization providing resources, branding, and federal coordination that underpin Widener SBDC's operations and service model.
• Women's Business Centers (WBC) Program: SBA-funded resource partners providing business training, mentoring, and consulting to women entrepreneurs; comparable delivery model and federal funding architecture, with overlapping clientele at the intersection of small-business support.

Others

• Community First Fund: A Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that partnered with Widener SBDC to provide a bridge loan to Silvercare Nursing; comparable as a small-business capital provider operating in the same southeastern Pennsylvania underserved-market ecosystem.
• Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund / Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC): PIDC provides loans and grants to Philadelphia-area businesses when traditional financing is unavailable, and is part of Widener SBDC's referral network for capital access; an adjacent ecosystem participant serving overlapping SMB clients with capital rather than consulting.
• The Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians: A Philadelphia-based nonprofit supporting immigrant entrepreneurship through training and resources; co-served clients such as Mole Poblano Restaurant with Widener SBDC during the COVID-19 relief effort, providing a comparable bilingual, immigrant-focused business-support model.

Direct peers

• Kutztown University SBDC (PASBDC Lead Office): The lead office of the Pennsylvania SBDC network that administers the statewide program Widener SBDC belongs to; delivers identical SBA-funded consulting and training, sets network standards, and represents the broader competitive context in which Widener operates.
• Temple University SBDC: A fellow Pennsylvania SBDC host institution, Temple University SBDC delivers the same SBA-funded one-on-one consulting and training services to small businesses in the greater Philadelphia region, overlapping with Widener SBDC's primary three-county service territory.
• La Salle University SBDC: Another Philadelphia-area university-based PASBDC center offering no-cost consulting and training to entrepreneurs in southeastern Pennsylvania, competing for the same SBA cooperative-agreement client base and network referrals as Widener SBDC.
• SCORE Association: SCORE is a national nonprofit network providing free, confidential business mentoring, consulting, and educational workshops to small businesses — directly comparable to Widener SBDC's no-cost consulting, training, and on-demand webinar model. Both are SBA resource partners serving entrepreneurs with volunteer-expert delivery.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/widenerSBDC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/widener-sbdc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Widener University Small Business Development Center