Beset

What Beset does

Beset, SPC is a Washington State Social Purpose Corporation founded in 2021 by Brieanna O'Duinn (and co-founder Kaye Jones), headquartered in Trout Lake in the Columbia Gorge region. The company operates a hybrid for-profit / not-for-profit model, delivering business advisory services to medium and large purpose-driven organizations while channeling profits into equity-focused programs for historically marginalized individuals. Core offerings include Business Advisory Services (strategy, growth, succession, digital transformation, leadership development), the Negotiate for Equity negotiation coaching subscription ($1,050/month full cost, $525/month subsidized via the Pay it Forward Fund), the Women's Business Council peer advisory program (6-seat cohort model), and the Deborah Ann Angel Fund (Columbia Gorge small business grants established in March 2025 with Four Rivers Community Corporation). The Women's Leadership Collective ran from January 2021 through February 2026 and has since concluded.

The underlying "technology" is human-delivered professional services rather than a software platform; no proprietary technology, AI capabilities, patents, or certifications are disclosed. Revenue mechanics rely on three streams: (1) professional services fees from business advisory engagements with mid-market clients (no public pricing), (2) monthly subscription fees from the Negotiate for Equity program, and (3) indirect funding of programs via donations to the Deborah Ann Angel Fund through Four Rivers Community Corporation. Go-to-market is primarily community-led (peer councils, events, the Blinders Off newsletter, local sponsorships) supplemented by a sales-led consultation model offering free 30-minute initial calls. Customers served include Portland Pet Food Company and Blue Skies Bakery as named SMB references, with primary segments being purpose-driven organizations, women entrepreneurs/executives in the Columbia Gorge, historically marginalized individuals seeking negotiation support, and Columbia Gorge small businesses eligible for grants.

No institutional investment, headcount disclosures, or revenue figures are present in the available data. The business operates as a boutique consultancy with two named founders, a regional Pacific Northwest footprint, and a partner ecosystem spanning financial services (KeyBank, Morgan Stanley affiliate), education (Columbia Gorge Community College SBDC), economic development (Mid-Columbia Economic Development District, Four Rivers Community Corporation), and local lifestyle brands (COR Cellars, Cave Creek Farm, Mushroom Color Atlas, Dragonfly Play School).

Name

Beset

Legal name

Beset, SPC

Website

https://besetchange.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Beset, SPC is a Washington-based Social Purpose Corporation offering business advisory services, negotiation coaching, peer advisory programs for women entrepreneurs, and small business grants, serving purpose-driven organizations and historically marginalized individuals in the Pacific Northwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management Consulting Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH)

Keywords

• Business advisory services
• Negotiation coaching
• Management consulting
• Peer advisory councils
• Small business grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Trout Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Business Advisory & Consulting Services: Fees from providing strategic business consulting, advisory services, and growth planning to medium and large purpose-driven companies. This revenue stream funds the company's not-for-profit programs including the Women's Leadership Collective and Strategic Negotiations.
2. Negotiation Coaching Services: Personalized negotiation strategy and coaching services for historically marginalized individuals facing personal and professional negotiations. Pricing at $1,050/month full cost or $525/month subsidized rate through the Pay it Forward Fund.
3. Grant Program Administration: The Deborah Ann Angel Fund provides grants to small businesses in the Columbia Gorge. While not a revenue source, the program is administered in partnership with Four Rivers Community Corporation and funded through donations. Target award amount is $75,000 in 2025 with grants of $5,000-$10,000 each.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Beset is a Social Purpose Corporation that delivers strategic business advisory and consulting services to purpose-driven organizations (covering growth planning, succession planning, digital transformation, leadership development, and marketing). It also runs a personalized negotiation coaching program (Negotiate for Equity) for historically marginalized individuals, a peer-based Women's Business Council for women entrepreneurs and executives, and the Deborah Ann Angel Fund grant program for small businesses in the Columbia Gorge. Consulting profits cross-subsidize the not-for-profit advocacy and community programs.

Product overview

Beset is a Social Purpose Corporation offering a portfolio of advisory and advocacy services focused on supporting changemakers and women leaders. The core offerings include Business Advisory Services (strategic consulting for business growth and digital transformation), the Negotiate for Equity program (personalized negotiation coaching for historically marginalized individuals), the Women's Business Council (a peer-advisory cohort program for women executives), the Deborah Ann Angel Fund (community grants for Columbia Gorge small businesses), and the Pay it Forward Fund (scholarship mechanism for the negotiation program). The Women's Leadership Collective ran from 2021-2026 and has now concluded. Beset operates a hybrid funding model, using profits from business advisory services to medium and large companies to cross-subsidize its not-for-profit programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Advisory Services Strategic business consulting and advisory services for purpose-driven organizations covering business strategy, growth planning, sales development, succession planning, digital transformation, marketing, leadership development, and team-building.
• Negotiate for Equity Personalized negotiation strategy and coaching program providing intensive support to historically marginalized individuals navigating personal and professional negotiations including job offers, promotions, business sales, divorces, and equity opportunities.
• Women's Business Council Peer-based advisory council program for women entrepreneurs and executives providing monthly expert-facilitated peer roundtables, mentorship, guest speakers, business strategy workshops, and DEIA training to accelerate growth of women-led organizations.
• Deborah Ann Angel Fund Grant program providing $5,000-$10,000 awards to small businesses in the Columbia Gorge region that demonstrate community engagement and commitment to equity, administered in partnership with Four Rivers Community Corporation.
• Pay it Forward Fund Scholarship fund supporting access to the Negotiate for Equity program for individuals experiencing financial hardship, with participants agreeing to pay it forward through financial contributions or outreach.

Quantifiable outcome

• 71 percent of small business owners with advisory boards predict up to 10 percent increase in profits

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Four Rivers Community CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Partnership for administering the Deborah Ann Angel Fund. Beset established the fund through this organization and they serve as the 501c(3) pass-through for tax-deductible donations.
• Mid-Columbia Economic Development DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for grant applications for the Deborah Ann Angel Fund supporting small businesses in the Columbia Gorge region.
• Columbia Gorge Community College Small Business Development CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLupine Sponsor for Women's Business Council. Provides business plan development, loan application packaging, marketing strategies, and other small business support services to program members.
• Tomie T Schmidt, CFP, Morgan StanleyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLupine Sponsor providing financial planning expertise and resources. In partnership with Dragonfly Play School, providing resources and financial support to Women's Business Council members with children.
• KeyBankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLupine Sponsor for Women's Business Council. Contributed directly to scholarship program.
• Cave Creek FarmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerButtercup+ Sponsor providing venue for member learning sessions and relaxation at their farmstead in Trout Lake, Washington.
• Mushroom Color AtlasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerButtercup Sponsor supporting Women's Business Council with creative resources.
• COR CellarsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerButtercup Sponsors providing wine for events; tasting room located in Lyle, Washington.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• FSG: Global social impact strategy consulting firm advising foundations, corporations, and nonprofits on strategy, evaluation, and equity. Comparable to Beset in its focus on purpose-driven organizations and equity-oriented advisory work.
• BCT Partners: Management consulting firm specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), research, and social impact strategy. Comparable to Beset in its equity-focused mission and advisory work with mission-driven organizations and underrepresented leaders.
• The Bridgespan Group: Nonprofit and social sector strategy consulting firm serving foundations, NGOs, and purpose-driven leaders. Comparable to Beset in target audience (mission-driven leaders and organizations) and advisory services focused on growth and impact.
• Geneva Global: Philanthropic advisory and strategy firm serving foundations, families, and corporations with social impact consulting. Comparable to Beset in its hybrid advisory model targeting donors and purpose-driven organizations seeking measurable equity outcomes.
• Changing Our World: National consulting firm specializing in nonprofit fundraising, philanthropy, and corporate social impact strategy. Comparable to Beset in working with purpose-driven organizations and offering hybrid advisory + philanthropic programming.
• La Piana Consulting: Boutique consulting firm supporting nonprofits and philanthropic organizations with strategy, leadership, and organizational development. Comparable to Beset in serving small-to-mid mission-driven organizations and offering peer/executive advisory engagements.
• TCC Group: Consulting firm focused on nonprofit strategy, evaluation, and philanthropic effectiveness. Comparable to Beset in advising foundations and nonprofit organizations on growth, impact measurement, and leadership development.
• Arabella Advisors: Boutique advisory firm that provides philanthropic and social impact strategy consulting to foundations, nonprofits, and individual donors. Closely comparable to Beset given its hybrid advisory-plus-philanthropy model and mission-driven client base.

Broad incumbents

• SCORE: National nonprofit providing free business mentoring, advisory, and education to small business owners. Comparable to Beset in offering advisory services to small businesses, particularly those led by historically underrepresented founders.
• Tides Foundation: Large national philanthropic organization that provides fiscal sponsorship, grantmaking, and social impact infrastructure. Comparable to Beset's Angel Fund grantmaking program, but at vastly greater scale with institutional infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/beset

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Beset