EforAll
Model & Strategy
EforAll (Entrepreneurship for All) is accelerating economic and social change in communities nationwide through inclusive entrepreneurship. EforAll has helped launch over 1,720 ventures, provided 2,277 local jobs, and generated more than $56 million in revenue in 2023 alone.
The Problem
Small businesses are critical to communities, but aspiring entrepreneurs who are underrepresented — including women, BIPOC individuals, immigrants, and the unemployed — face significant hurdles to success, such as a lack of capital, technical knowledge, and networks. These challenges result in many individuals with modest means having business ideas but lacking the confidence or tools to take action. Consequently, these ideas remain unrealized, preventing potential entrepreneurs from starting businesses that could build up their financial security and create jobs in their communities.
Across the U.S., communities face a critical challenge as the number of small businesses continues to decrease. Without new entrepreneurs, communities experience rising unemployment rates, increasing vacancies, and signs of neglect in their downtown areas. Research from the Kauffman Foundation confirms that communities without startups will see higher unemployment rates and lower average incomes, creating a downward economic spiral that affects everyone.
The Solution
EforAll operates in mid-sized, post-industrial gateway cities to empower individuals from all backgrounds to become job creators and revitalize their communities. By fostering grassroots entrepreneurship with a strong focus on inclusion, EforAll supports a diverse group of entrepreneurs: 76% are women, 74% are BIPOC, and 34% are immigrants. The program is designed to help entrepreneurs achieve short- and long-term financial security while eliminating their dependency on institutions and systems that often discriminate against marginalized groups, particularly people of color. EforAll addresses entrepreneurs’ needs through technical assistance, cash grants, and, most importantly, by building a substantial network of local volunteer mentors who provide guidance and facilitate connections with key partners. Additionally, EforAll’s programs are available in both English and Spanish.
Instead of franchising or disseminating playbooks to communities, EforAll has chosen an employee-driven expansion strategy. This model allows the organization to have small, efficient, and well-trained teams in the field and robust national support in all the essential areas of running a nonprofit, including finance, admin, HR, marketing, software engineering, curriculum development, and management. EforAll aims to support thousands of entrepreneurs across 50 communities within the next five years.
Prior to joining EforAll in early 2013, David spent 15 years working on six entrepreneurial ventures, in some cases as part of the initial team and in others as the founder or co-founder. Four of these companies achieved significant success: Viaweb was sold to Yahoo, Direct Hit was acquired by Ask Jeeves, TripAdvisor continues today as a standalone public company (NASDAQ: TRIP), and SoundBite Communications went public and then was acquired by Genesys. Prior to his time with Internet startups, David worked in the publishing industry for a variety of magazine and newspaper companies, including International Data Group, Time Magazine, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
IMPACT
EforAll has helped launch 1,721 businesses, creating 2,277 local jobs.
76% of EforAll graduating ventures are women-owned, and 74% are BIPOC owned.
70% of graduates are still active with their businesses three years after graduating.
EforAll is scaling their operations to make their program available to entrepreneurs nationwide by 2030.
