NYC Small Business Resource Network

What NYC Small Business Resource Network does

NYC Small Business Resource Network (NYCSBRN) is a nonprofit public-private partnership launched in 2020 to support New York City's 230,000+ small businesses through COVID-19 recovery and beyond. The organization operates a referral and service-matching platform that connects SMBs across all five boroughs with grants, loans, digital marketing support, website building, lease negotiation guidance, business planning, and MWBE certification assistance, delivered through on-the-ground Small Business Support Specialists affiliated with each borough's Chamber of Commerce. The network is owned and operated by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce as the operational lead, with the other four borough chambers (Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island) acting as distribution partners, and NYC SBS and NYC EDC as government collaborators.

The core product is the Open + Online program, launched in 2021, which provides free Squarespace-based website building (including e-commerce), logo and branding design, and SEO consulting services to qualifying NYC small businesses. Dedicated Project Managers and web designers handle delivery, with video tutorials and ongoing Tech Specialist support. The supporting technology stack is intentionally low-capability: a Wix-hosted marketing website for NYCSBRN itself and Squarespace as the website builder for end-user businesses. There is no proprietary software product, no mobile application, no API, and no disclosed AI or ML capability.

The business model is grant- and donation-funded rather than revenue-generating. NYCSBRN charges nothing to end-user small businesses; operating capital comes from a multi-year grant by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, additional funding from the NYC Economic Development Corporation, a $1.5 million City investment announced by Mayor Eric Adams in July 2022, and corporate contributions to the Open + Online program from Amazon, Bank of America, Google, Meta, KKR, Capital One, Macy's, and Crown Castle. The organization runs with a 1-10 employee base and serves a geographically bounded addressable market limited to New York City.

Name

NYC Small Business Resource Network

Legal name

NYC Small Business Resource Network

Website

https://nycsmallbusinessresourcenetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The NYC Small Business Resource Network is a nonprofit public-private partnership, operated by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, that provides free personalized guidance, grants and loans assistance, and digital services to NYC's 230,000+ small businesses across all five boroughs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Support Services

NAICS

All Other Business Support Services (561499)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

Keywords

• Small business support
• Grants and loans advisory
• Website building services
• Business recovery consulting
• Digital marketing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Public-Private Partnership Funding: The network operates as a public-private partnership funded by grants and donations rather than generating revenue from small business clients. Services are provided free of charge to qualifying small businesses. Funding is sourced from foundations (Peter G. Peterson Foundation), government entities (NYC Economic Development Corporation), and corporate/philanthropic partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The NYC Small Business Resource Network is a public-private partnership that provides free, personalized guidance and recovery resources to NYC's 230,000+ small businesses across all five boroughs. Its flagship offering, the NYC Small Biz: Open + Online Program, builds free quality websites (including e-commerce), logos, and SEO consulting for participating businesses. Complementary services include grants and loans navigation, digital marketing support, lease negotiation guidance, and business planning assistance, all delivered at no cost to qualifying small businesses.

Product overview

The NYC Small Business Resource Network is a public-private partnership offering personalized guidance and recovery resources to NYC's 230,000+ small businesses affected by COVID-19. The primary product is the Open + Online Program, which provides free website building, logo design, and SEO consulting services. Additional service offerings include grants and loans assistance, digital marketing support, lease negotiations, and business planning advisory.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NYC Small Biz: Open + Online Program A free program that creates a quality website (including e-commerce functionality), logo, and brand identity for NYC small businesses, paired with SEO consulting, a dedicated Project Manager, design sessions with web designers, video tutorials for site management, and ongoing Tech Specialist support. Delivered via Squarespace, with the first year of hosting funded by the program. Targeted at NYC small businesses that need a stronger online presence.
• Business Support Services (Grants & Loans, Digital Marketing, Lease Negotiations, Business Planning) A suite of free, personalized advisory services for NYC small businesses delivered through on-the-ground Small Business Support Specialists. Covers grants and loans application assistance (e.g., LISC, ESD, FEMA, NYS Pandemic Recovery), digital marketing setup, lease negotiation guidance, and business planning support. Includes MWBE certification support and emergency disaster/flood recovery assistance. Available across all five NYC boroughs via the borough Chambers of Commerce.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of small businesses received free websites and logos through Open + Online program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bronx Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five borough Chambers of Commerce in the network. Serves as local touchpoint for Bronx small businesses seeking assistance.
• Brooklyn Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates the NYC Small Business Resource Network website. Serves as the organizational hub for the network and primary contact for Brooklyn small businesses.
• Manhattan Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five borough Chambers of Commerce in the network. Provides localized support and outreach for Manhattan small businesses.
• Queens Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five borough Chambers of Commerce in the network. Supports Queens small businesses with resources and connection to the broader network.
• Staten Island Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five borough Chambers of Commerce in the network. Provides local support and services for Staten Island small business community.
• NYC Small Business Services (NYC SBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner collaborating on small business recovery initiatives and economic development programs.
• Partnership Fund for New York CityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership organization supporting NYC economic development and small business initiatives.
• Verizon Small Business Digital ReadyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital training program connecting Valid Vibes and other small businesses with digital skills courses and resources.
• Business Solutions CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides business courses and educational opportunities that network specialists share with small business clients for continued learning.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• SCORE: National nonprofit providing free small business mentoring, education, and resources — the closest direct analog to NYCSBRN's free advisory model, though operating nationally with a volunteer mentor network rather than chambers.
• Main Street America: National nonprofit focused on strengthening small business districts and downtown economies through training, funding, and networks — a thematically comparable SMB-support mission delivered via local partner organizations.
• Accion: Nonprofit small business lender and advisor providing capital, coaching, and resources to underserved SMBs — comparable free-support-plus-capital access model, though Accion generates revenue from loan repayments rather than grant funding.
• America's SBDC (Small Business Development Centers): Federally funded nationwide network providing free one-on-one business advising, training, and resources to SMBs — directly comparable free-advisory model with local-delivery via host institutions, similar in mission and structure to NYCSBRN's chamber-based model.
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: Free, multi-week business education and support program for SMB owners, comparable in delivering free comprehensive services (education, access to capital, networking) to underserved small business communities.
• Verizon Small Business Digital Ready: Verizon's free digital skills training, coaching, and grant program for SMBs — a corporate-led direct competitor specifically cited in NYCSBRN client stories, focused on the same digital-presence use case as Open + Online.

Regional players

• Partnership Fund for New York City: NYC-focused nonprofit supporting economic development and small business initiatives; an existing NYCSBRN partner organization operating in the same geography with overlapping funder and stakeholder relationships.

Broad incumbents

• LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation): National community development financial institution that provides grants, loans, and technical assistance to small businesses in underserved neighborhoods — a documented NYCSBRN partner funder (Vincent's Barber Shop received $10K LISC grant) that operates at much larger scale.
• Bank of America Institute for Women's Entrepreneurship at Cornell: Bank of America's free online small business education program in partnership with Cornell — a corporate funder of Open + Online that delivers comparable free training to SMBs at national scale.
• NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS): NYC government agency offering free business courses, certification assistance, and resources to NYC SMBs; overlaps directly with NYCSBRN's service scope and is already a listed partner, but at far larger scale and budget.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 NYC Small Business Resource Network