Transforming communities through inclusive entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) helps underrepresented entrepreneurs start and grow businesses, accelerating economic and social impact across the United States.
Transforming lives and communities
500+
businesses started by EforAll alumni
720
local jobs created
70%
EforAll businesses still active at three years
$25M
revenue generated by supported businesses in 2019
Fostering small business success
Small businesses are central to the health of the US economy. However, many people wanting to start a business and attain financial independence lack the know-how, networks, and/or seed capital to do so. Here's what EforAll offers:
- Free one-year accelerator program is open to any aspiring small business or non-profit
- Equitable access to opportunities for budding entrepreneurs
- Helps individuals pursue their dream--regardless of race, color, national origin, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and educational background
- Programs offered in both English and in Spanish based on the needs of the community being served
- Practical business training, access to dedicated mentors, and ongoing access to an extended professional network
- Quarterly pitch contests to enable entrepreneurs to present their ideas for feedback
“One of the best ways to help close the opportunity inequality gap and create employment in cities that are economically challenged is to change from the inside. And it turns out that in every community, there are would-be entrepreneurs. EforAll was founded to support these entrepreneurs on their journey.”
Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande, President and Chairman of Sparta Group LLC & Founding Sponsor of EforAll
Digitizing to build efficiency
Cisco funding is supporting EforAll’s efforts to digitize their systems and capacity-building services for entrepreneurs. These efforts have:
- Facilitated progress toward replication, scale, and improved efficacy of programs
- Enabled staff to save time, decrease errors, and derive better insights into their business operations
- Prepared EforAll to scale their services in a cost-effective manner
EforAll staff interact with the digitized system daily, which is now their operational backbone--enabling efficient data-driven business insights and decisionmaking.
Facilitating inclusive opportunity and success
74%
businesses owned by women
58%
businesses owned by people of color
46%
businesses owned by immigrants
39%
previously unemployed
Help revitalize communities nationwide
EforAll is committed to creating robust and self-sustaining entrepreneurial ecosystems in communities nationwide by helping under-served individuals start and sustain businesses.
Meet our community partners
Cisco and the Cisco Foundation partner with innovative nonprofits to deliver transformative, tech-driven solutions for economic empowerment, education, and crisis response, which includes shelter, water, food, and disaster relief.