Southwest MSDC

What Southwest MSDC does

Southwest MSDC (legal name: Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council) is a private nonprofit founded in 1999 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, with regional offices in Oklahoma City, El Paso, and San Antonio. The organization operates as a regional affiliate council of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), one of 24 affiliates in a national network that provides access to more than 17,000 certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and hundreds of corporate members. Its core function is to certify MBEs (at least 51% minority-owned, managed, and controlled), connect them with corporate and government buyers seeking supplier diversity, and advocate for policies that preserve minority business opportunities. As of September 15, 2025, day-to-day MBE certification processing has been centralized to NMSDC's national office via the NMSDC Hub platform, leaving SMSDC focused on regional development, member engagement, and events.

The product portfolio spans two primary revenue lines: (1) certification and membership — tiered MBE certification fees ($300–$800 annually by sales class), corporate membership dues, and subscription services priced by MBE gross annual sales; and (2) events and education — the Premier Face Time Expo Conference, Business Development Summit, Oklahoma Business Opportunity Conference, Annual Stakeholders' Meeting, and the PLUS+ Platforms (Benchmarking PLUS+ for corporations, Capacity PLUS+ for MBEs). The underlying technology stack is the NMSDC Hub (a centralized MBE certification and database platform), supplemented by SMSDC's own MBE database search capabilities and a Quick Response Team rapid-matchmaking service. Key partnerships include NMSDC (flagship), the Business Consortium Fund (capital access), CPS Energy and PNM Resources (event venues), and a 2026 Premier Sponsors tier (Platinum, Gold, Silver) anchored by Avanzar, Cherokee Nation Businesses, MBN Texas, Genesis Networks Enterprises, RT Solutions, TX Security Services, and GL-Automotive.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid of recurring subscriptions (corporate membership, MBE certification, PLUS+ subscriptions) and transaction-based event registration and sponsorship fees. The customer base is two-sided and structurally diversified: thousands of certified MBEs on one side and corporate buyers (logos visible at events include Walmart, Tesla, JP Morgan Chase, Facebook, Indeed, Union Pacific, Southern Glazer's, University Health, PNM, CPS Energy) on the other. The organization does not publicly disclose revenue and operates under a regional nonprofit model constrained by its advocacy mission.

Name

Southwest MSDC

Legal name

Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council

Website

https://smsdc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Southwest MSDC is a Texas-based nonprofit regional affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council that certifies minority-owned businesses, runs supplier-diversity events, and connects certified MBEs with corporate buyers across the Southwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership Fees: Corporations pay membership fees to join SMSDC and gain access to certified minority suppliers, networking opportunities, and procurement facilitation services.
2. MBE Certification Fees: MBEs pay certification fees based on their annual sales volume (Class 1: $300, Class 2: $400, Class 3: $650, Class 4: $800). These fees fund the certification process and include basic services.
3. Subscription Services: Premium subscription services for MBEs including access to corporate purchasing agents, premium networking events, specialized procurement conferences, trade fairs, and professional development programs. Fees are tiered based on businesses' gross annual sales.
4. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from ticketed events including conferences, golf tournaments, and galas. Some events have sponsorship opportunities providing additional revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Southwest MSDC certifies minority business enterprises (MBEs) and connects them with corporate members seeking to diversify their supply chains. The organization offers MBE certification, corporate membership programs, subscription services, capacity-building courses (PLUS+ Platforms), and networking events to facilitate business relationships between minority-owned businesses and corporate buyers. Operating as a regional affiliate of NMSDC, SMSDC serves Texas, Oklahoma, and the El Paso border region.

Product overview

Southwest MSDC operates as a platform organization providing minority supplier development services across Texas and Oklahoma. The core offerings center on MBE Certification, Corporate Membership programs, and Subscription Services that connect minority-owned businesses with corporate procurement opportunities. The product portfolio includes two e-learning modules (Benchmarking PLUS+ for corporations and Capacity PLUS+ for MBEs), the Quick Response Team for urgent supplier needs, and a calendar of annual conferences and networking events including the Premier Face Time Expo, Business Development Summit, and Oklahoma Business Opportunity Conference.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PLUS+ Platforms: Live streaming and educational platforms including Benchmarking PLUS+ for corporations and Capacity PLUS+ for certified MBEs.
• MBEIC

Products and services

• MBE Certification Minority Business Enterprise certification program that verifies businesses are at least 51% owned, managed and controlled by qualified minority group members, connecting certified MBEs with corporations and government agencies. Certification fees are tiered by annual sales volume: Class 1 ($300, under $1M), Class 2 ($400, $1M-$10M), Class 3 ($650, $10M-$50M), Class 4 ($800, over $50M).
• Corporate Membership Membership program for corporations seeking to increase diverse supplier participation in their supply chain through connection with certified minority-owned businesses. Corporate members gain access to the MBE database, networking events, procurement facilitation services, and benchmarking programs.
• Benchmarking PLUS+ Online training platform for corporate members focused on increasing diverse supplier participation and benchmarking supply chain diversity performance. Delivered as a live streaming and educational course.
• Capacity PLUS+ Business development course for certified MBEs providing tools and knowledge to help minority businesses grow, crack the corporate code, and build demand for their services. Delivered as a live streaming and educational platform.
• Subscription Services Premium services for certified MBEs providing access to corporate purchasing agents, networking events, procurement conferences, trade fairs, mentor-protégé programs, and professional development opportunities across the NMSDC network. Fees are tiered based on businesses' gross annual sales.
• Quick Response Team Rapid response team providing immediate assistance and connections for diverse supplier needs, facilitating urgent procurement connections between MBEs and corporate members.
• Events and Conferences Annual and regional events including Annual Stakeholders' Meeting, Premier Face Time Expo Conference, Business Development Summit, Oklahoma Business Opportunity Conference, and various networking and educational webinars connecting MBEs with corporate buyers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Access to 17,000+ MBEs and hundreds of corporate members within the NMSDC network
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• NMSDC (National Minority Supplier Development Council)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMSDC is a regional affiliate council of NMSDC, the national organization for minority supplier development. NMSDC provides the framework for certification, the NMSDC Hub platform, national events, and access to the broader network of 17,000+ MBEs and corporate members.
• Business Consortium FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNMSDC partnership providing capital access opportunities for MBEs throughout their business life cycle through the Business Consortium Fund.
• CPS EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPS Energy serves as venue host for SMSDC's Annual Stakeholders' Meetings and Small Business Week events in San Antonio.
• PNM ResourcesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPNM Resources hosted SMSDC's Kick-off Small Business Week event in Albuquerque, NM.
• AvanzarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor of SMSDC as part of the 2026 Premier Sponsors program.
• Cherokee Nation BusinessesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCertified MBE Platinum sponsor of SMSDC as part of the 2026 Premier Sponsors program.
• MBN TexasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor of SMSDC as part of the 2026 Premier Sponsors program.
• Genesis Networks EnterprisesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of SMSDC as part of the 2026 Premier Sponsors program.
• RT SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor and website technology provider for SMSDC.
• TX Security ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of SMSDC as part of the 2026 Premier Sponsors program.
• GL-AutomotiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor of SMSDC as part of the 2026 Premier Sponsors program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• WEConnect International: Global nonprofit certifying women-owned businesses and connecting them with corporate buyers; overlaps with SMSDC's mission of supplier diversity certification and corporate connection.

Direct peers

• National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC): Certifies LGBT-owned business enterprises through affiliate chambers using the same two-sided corporate/member structure as SMSDC's minority supplier model.
• Great Plains Minority Supplier Development Council: Another NMSDC regional affiliate council covering Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas, providing MBE certification, corporate membership, and networking events in a similar two-sided marketplace model.
• National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC): National certification body for veteran-owned businesses with a regional partner model very similar to NMSDC affiliates, including corporate member access and networking events.
• Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council: Another large NMSDC regional affiliate serving Illinois and Indiana with the same supplier diversity certification and corporate membership offering.
• Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC): A parallel national council certifying women-owned businesses, with regional partner organizations running comparable certification, corporate membership, and event-driven supplier diversity programming.
• Mountain States Minority Supplier Development Council: NMSDC regional council covering Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Montana offering directly comparable MBE certification and corporate supplier diversity programming.
• Pacific Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council: NMSDC affiliate serving Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii with the same MBE certification, corporate member, and event-based supplier development model.

Broad incumbents

• National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC): The national umbrella organization of which SMSDC is a regional affiliate; now processes all MBE certifications centrally through the NMSDC Hub platform and operates the broader 17,000+ MBE network.
• U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: National Hispanic business advocacy and development organization with a chamber network model that includes corporate partner programs and business certification services relevant to SMSDC's MBE base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SMSDC_TX
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=37-sl6GT-Qo
• Facebookfacebook.com/SMSDCTX
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smsdctx
• Instagraminstagram.com/nmsdchq

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Southwest MSDC