WASHINGTON STATE MICROENTERPRISE ASSOCIATION

What WASHINGTON STATE MICROENTERPRISE ASSOCIATION does

Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA) is a Washington-incorporated 501(c)-type nonprofit (EIN 30-0434103) founded in 2004 and headquartered in Olympia, WA. It operates as a pass-through grantmaking intermediary and capacity-building hub for Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) that serve Washington's microbusinesses — businesses with five or fewer employees, a population the organization sizes at more than 400,000 statewide. WSMA receives funding from the Washington State Department of Commerce and redistributes it through competitive Statewide and Urban Grant Programs delivered via a SmartSimple-powered online grant portal, complemented by technical assistance, training webinars, and networking convenings. It also operates Evergreen BizLink, a web-based business resource navigator and directory connecting entrepreneurs with regional service providers.

WSMA's core products are Evergreen BizLink, the Statewide and Urban Grant Programs, the SmartSimple grant portal, a Member Directory of ESO partners, and a portfolio of Technical Assistance and Training Programs delivered through webinars and in-person events. Its technology stack is modest: a Webflow-hosted website, the SmartSimple grant management platform, Evergreen BizLink as a custom directory, and standard third-party integrations (Google Maps API, Meetup, Zoom, Google Translate, Gravatar). The organization maintains an active presence on six social media platforms and publishes a regular e-newsletter.

WSMA serves two primary customer segments. The direct segment comprises 150+ ESOs across Washington, including Economic Development Districts, CDFIs, SBRN partners, Port Districts, Chambers of Commerce, and Associate Development Organizations. The end segment comprises microbusinesses, with explicit focus on BIPOC-owned businesses and rural community businesses as priority sub-segments. Revenue is generated almost exclusively through government grants and grant administration contracts from the Washington State Department of Commerce; WSMA provides services to ESOs at no cost and does not sell products to end customers. The organization employs 1-10 staff and is led by Executive Director Lisa Smith.

Name

WASHINGTON STATE MICROENTERPRISE ASSOCIATION

Legal name

Washington State Microenterprise Association

Website

https://wamicrobiz.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Washington State Microenterprise Association is a Olympia-based 501(c) nonprofit that distributes Washington State Department of Commerce grants and provides training to 150+ Entrepreneur Support Organizations serving the state's 400,000+ microbusinesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Olympia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: WSMA receives funding from the Washington State Department of Commerce to distribute as grants to ESOs and provide training/technical assistance to microbusiness support organizations throughout Washington State.
2. Grant Administration: WSMA administers competitive grant programs for the Washington State Department of Commerce, awarding funds to nonprofit ESOs that provide business training, technical assistance, and financing support to microenterprises.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WSMA is a nonprofit that builds the capacity of Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) by awarding competitive state-funded grants, delivering training and technical assistance, and operating the Evergreen BizLink business-resource navigator. Its customers are nonprofit ESOs in Washington State that, in turn, serve microbusinesses with five or fewer employees. The organization administers grants on behalf of the Washington State Department of Commerce and convenes a statewide ESO network of more than 150 organizations.

Product overview

The Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA) is a nonprofit that operates as a hub-and-spoke network supporting the smallest businesses in Washington State through multiple interconnected programs. The core offerings include Evergreen BizLink (a business resource navigator that helps entrepreneurs find local services), competitive grant programs for Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) delivered via SmartSimple portal, and ongoing technical assistance and training webinars. WSMA does not offer a unified software platform but rather a portfolio of services including grantmaking, capacity building, resource coordination, and networking opportunities for microbusinesses (typically 5 or fewer employees).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Evergreen BizLink Business Resource Navigator

Quantifiable outcome

• Awarded $240,000 to 24 nonprofits in 2025-26 grant cycle
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• Washington State University (WSU) ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2025Collaborates with WSMA and Association of Washington Cities to support Local Investment Networks (LINs). WSU Extension provides research-based guidance, tools, and expertise including a field guide and monthly Community of Practice gatherings.
• Small Business Resiliency Network (SBRN)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2025WSMA partners with SBRN and ORIA on webinars addressing worksite compliance, immigration issues, and regulatory requirements for small businesses.
• Governor's Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance (ORIA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2025Partners with WSMA to help businesses navigate Washington's environmental and regulatory systems. ORIA provides the Small Business Guide as a key resource.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2024SBA Microloan Program partner. WSMA has hosted webinars about becoming an SBA microlender in Washington State.
• Association of Washington CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with WSMA and WSU Extension on Local Investment Networks initiative, helping communities design systems for local investment and economic development.
• Washington Health Benefit ExchangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on healthcare coverage webinars for small businesses, helping entrepreneurs find health insurance options through Washington Healthplanfinder.
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBDC is a key resource partner referenced in WSMA programming, offering free/low-cost advising and management training for small businesses.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO): National trade association of microenterprise and small business development organizations. AEO is the closest functional analog to WSMA at the national level, serving as the membership and capacity-building body for a network of ESOs — directly comparable as the same organizational archetype.
• National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE): Long-standing membership organization representing self-employed and small business owners in the U.S. Comparable to WSMA as a membership-driven association that aggregates resources, advocacy, and benefits for the smallest-business segment.
• Grameen America: Nonprofit microfinance organization providing small-dollar loans to microentrepreneurs, predominantly women, in underserved U.S. communities. Comparable to WSMA in microenterprise mission and end-borrower focus, but executes via direct lending rather than grant intermediation.
• LiftFund: Nonprofit small business lender (CDFI) providing microloans and small business support services primarily to minority and low-income entrepreneurs. Comparable to WSMA in serving the smallest businesses with non-traditional financing and capacity-building resources.
• Accion Opportunity Fund: Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) providing small business loans, resources, and advisory to underserved entrepreneurs across the U.S. Comparable as a mission-aligned microenterprise capital and support provider.
• Prosperity Now: National nonprofit focused on economic opportunity for low-income Americans, including supporting CDFIs and microbusiness ecosystems. Comparable to WSMA in mission and ecosystem-building role, but operating at the national rather than state level.
• SCORE: SBA-supported volunteer mentor network providing free business mentoring, training, and resources to small business owners. Comparable to WSMA as a capacity-building intermediary that channels SBA-aligned programming and resources down to small businesses via a distributed partner model.
• Kiva: International nonprofit crowdfunding microlending platform focused on underserved entrepreneurs. Comparable to WSMA in the microenterprise/microfinance mission space, particularly in connecting capital to entrepreneurs who lack traditional financing access.

Regional players

• Coastal Enterprises Inc (CEI): Maine-based CDFI providing loans, business advising, and rural economic development support. Comparable to WSMA in microenterprise and rural small business focus, but operates as a direct lender in a single state/region rather than as a grant intermediary.
• Pacific Community Ventures: California-based nonprofit focused on small business growth and job creation in underserved communities. Comparable to WSMA in mission and small business support focus, but operates regionally in California rather than as a statewide association.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/WAmicrobiz
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHwHsXhI-xWcLNXjMAlPTwA
• Facebookfacebook.com/WA-State-Microenterprise-Association-WSMA-106546278389027
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/washington-state-microenterprise-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/wamicrobiz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 WASHINGTON STATE MICROENTERPRISE ASSOCIATION