You may need heard of the $10,000 grants supplied by Verizon’s Small Enterprise Digital Prepared grant program. The monetary grants are probably the most well-liked options of the Verizon program, which provides small companies the instruments and sources they should thrive in in the present day’s digital financial system. Now, Verizon is attempting one thing new with the grant program by concentrating on 4 particular communities.
Along with the free programs, teaching classes and mentoring provided by means of the Verizon Small Enterprise Digital Prepared program, Verizon is launching a primary spherical of group grant funding in 2024 in 4 metropolitan areas: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and Phoenix. Because the grant program expands in 2024, Verizon, in partnership with LISC, will award over $1.25 million in funding to small companies.
If you’re situated in a type of 4 communities, first you’ll want to register for this system. Then, discover extra particulars on this system by clicking on the FAQ pages in your group right here: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami or Phoenix.
If you’re not in these cities, be at liberty to register for Digital Prepared now and keep tuned about additional funding from Verizon. That is additionally time to take a look at the various different points this system presents to small companies and entrepreneurs, from digital abilities coaching to customized studying plans.
This system is free to hitch. Register right here to get began.
To be taught extra about Digital Prepared, StartupNation spoke with Brianna Ellison, director of group engagement for Verizon. Ellison elaborates on the work Verizon is doing to assist entrepreneurs and on the advantages of the Small Enterprise Digital Prepared program, together with:
- Entry to free digital abilities coaching and sources
- Monetary help to assist digital transformation initiatives
- Alternatives to community with different small enterprise homeowners and consultants
- Entry to assist from Verizon and its companions
As Ellison explains, Verizon is actively partnering with Michigan small companies to assist them succeed within the digital financial system, together with:
- Verizon has partnered with Grand Valley State College’s Veterans Entrepreneurship Lab to supply grants and assist to veteran entrepreneurs.
- Verizon has partnered with the Metro Detroit Black Enterprise Alliance’s Capital Join Program to assist Black-owned companies entry funding and sources.
Beneath is the total Q&A with Ellison, which StartupNation performed in September 2022.
- What work is Verizon doing within the Detroit/Michigan group to assist small companies?
Verizon has actively partnered with Michigan small companies. We’re members of quite a few chambers of commerce and associations from throughout the state that work with small companies (such because the Detroit Regional Chamber, Grand Rapids Chamber, Dearborn Chamber, The Proper Place, MI Chamber, Automation Alley, Metro Detroit Black Enterprise Alliance, MI Enterprise Incubator Assoc.). Verizon participates in quite a lot of thought management occasions with these organizations to share experience and sources with their membership.
In 2021, we prolonged a grant to Grand Valley State College’s Veterans Entrepreneurship Lab. Veterans and/or navy spouses work on their enterprise launch over a three-month interval. MVE-Lab equips members to establish their goal clients, community with others, and discover the sources they should launch profitably and efficiently. It concludes with a Pitch Showcase awarding a minimum of $25,000 in prize cash. Friends embrace different veteran entrepreneurs, mentors, and consultants like attorneys and advertising and marketing specialists, together with the chief of Verizon’s veteran worker useful resource group who shared details about Verizon assist for small enterprise homeowners alongside along with his personal private expertise as an entrepreneur.
In 2021, we additionally established a partnership between Verizon’s Professional Bono Program and the Metro Detroit Black Enterprise Alliance’s Capital Join Program. This program is making ready and connecting Metro Detroit Black-owned companies to varied funding sources to make sure their sustained success. If any of those companies want additional authorized help or one-on-one assist, the Verizon Professional Bono Program crew has agreed to work straight with these companies to establish extra authorized companies.
Lastly, in September, Verizon launched Small Enterprise Digital Prepared. This on-line curriculum is designed to provide small companies the customized instruments to reach in the present day’s digital world. This system consists of studying modules, skilled teaching, peer networking and a market of instruments and options. The free on-line useful resource is out there to any small enterprise throughout Michigan (and nationwide) and can be utilized by Verizon companions such because the Black Enterprise Alliance’s Capital Join Program.
- What do you imply by “Digital Prepared” and why is digital readiness necessary for small enterprise homeowners in the present day?
Digital readiness is about ensuring companies have all of the instruments and sources they should thrive in in the present day’s financial system. The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed unexpected challenges on entrepreneurs and additional accelerated a shift to digital methods of working. Greater than 75% of small companies pivoted their operations because of the disaster and greater than 50% of SMBs say their on-line interactions with clients have elevated. To remain aggressive within the new financial atmosphere, small companies should be agile and adapt to shifting client preferences.
Small enterprise entrepreneurs perceive the significance of using digital instruments of their day-to-day operations, however discover it difficult to implement significant digital transformation. In response to knowledge revealed from Morning Seek the advice of and Verizon of their September 2020 report, “greater than two in 5 determination makers say it’s seemingly that their enterprise will broaden by means of digital applied sciences and rely extra closely on communications.” On the identical time, greater than two-thirds of respondents acknowledged that including or transitioning to digital/on-line operations has been difficult for his or her enterprise to handle. How can we bridge this hole? Entrepreneurs want quick access—wherever they’re—to customized studying and training sources in an effort to efficiently implement digital methods into their companies and have the boldness to reach the post-pandemic future.
- Why is the Verizon Small Enterprise Digital Prepared program useful resource for enterprise homeowners in metro Detroit and Michigan?
House to varied analysis organizations and anchor establishments, together with a vibrant and multicultural entrepreneurial ecosystem, Detroit’s wealthy roots embody the hardworking and progressive ethos of its various small enterprise homeowners. Detroit has roughly 50k small companies owned by entrepreneurs of colour and the town is dedicated to making sure residents are gaining equal entry to instructional and financial alternatives of the rising high-growth financial system. In response to a 2021 Detroit Ecosystem Evaluation, Detroit has 23% of all startup corporations in Michigan and has all the essential sources to launch and develop companies which might be digital prepared. As Verizon seeks to attach BIPOC enterprise homeowners throughout the nation with this beneficial useful resource and create extra equitable pathways for entrepreneurs to thrive within the digital financial system, we view the small enterprise homeowners within the larger metro Detroit space—and Michigan—as a important consumer base within the effort.
Verizon’s Small Enterprise Digital Prepared program was constructed by (largely BIPOC) small companies for small companies. Jamiel Robinson, the chief director of Michigan-based enterprise growth group, Grand Rapids Space Black Companies (GRABB), was a outstanding voice within the Small Enterprise Advisory Committee that helped form this system and its choices. Numerous subject material consultants drive our content material, interactive video modules, and training occasions. In brief, entrepreneurs in metro Detroit can be geared up with digital methods and related learnings—by means of curated curriculum subjects, teaching occasions, and group teams—to use to their companies!
- What steerage are the small enterprise homeowners you’re employed with in search of?
We all know typically that small enterprise homeowners are occupied with studying extra about financing, digital advertising and marketing, and operational effectivity. Our customers have instructed us they’ve acquired great worth from the academic sources and in connecting straight with consultants–by means of each one-on-one mentoring and group teaching occasions. Fifty-eight p.c of customers on the platform are occupied with connecting with a finance skilled and 64% of customers on the platform are occupied with connecting with a advertising and marketing skilled. The most well-liked subject areas are accessing capital, digital advertising and marketing, and enhancing on-line presence. Enterprise homeowners would additionally favor to be part of a group the place they’ll be taught from each other, as 52% of customers need to join with friends with related pursuits.
- How can Verizon assist with group networking on a private degree, not a digital one?
Verizon Small Enterprise Digital Prepared is constructed to be a beneficial instrument to the BDOs, Small Enterprise Growth Facilities, CDFIs and different organizations which might be on the bottom serving to small companies on daily basis. We’re partnering intently with these kind of organizations and dealing with them to combine our sources into their choices. Small Enterprise Digital Prepared’s group part additionally lets companies join with different companies and sources by metropolis in order that they’ll connect with assist of their native space!
On the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Verizon started the grassroots work of internet hosting digital group dialogues centered on small companies in communities from throughout the state. The aim of those dialogues is to listen to concerning the nice work small enterprise homeowners and small enterprise growth organizations are at present engaged in, the present and ongoing challenges small enterprise homeowners are going through, and to debate how Verizon will be supportive shifting ahead. Attendees have included small enterprise homeowners, small enterprise assist organizations and chambers of commerce.
Now greater than ever, we at Verizon will proceed to construct on the extremely beneficial relationships with the communities we serve. These dialogues are solely the start of what we hope can be long-term partnerships the place we will proceed the dialog and discover future alternatives to be supportive.
- What abilities do you deliver to the group as a liaison between Verizon and small enterprise homeowners?
As an area liaison between Verizon and small enterprise homeowners, I work to construct bridges of reference to my friends, inside enterprise companions and exterior stakeholders to champion insurance policies that enrich lives and allow a digital future that serves all Michigan communities. I’m able to leverage relationships inside Verizon and with enterprise assist group companions to kind coalitions to deal with the challenges small companies face, amplify successes and greatest practices, and disseminate details about Verizon instruments and sources. Reflexively, I meet with companies to take heed to their wants and drive the best way during which we deposit goodwill in our native communities and innovate to construct the networks that transfer the world ahead for everybody.
Q&A initially revealed in September 2022.
Verizon Small Enterprise Digital Prepared: A free useful resource for studying primary enterprise abilities, grants, the most recent digital expertise and extra.