Causes

Community & economic development Education Housing & homelessness

Posted by

Juliana C.

Founder & CEO

Our mission

Mission: Street Entrepreneurs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that ignites the power of problem-solvers using their dynamic enterprises to create positive change. We are building a grit-based economy that gives people control of their destiny by providing entrepreneurs access to knowledge, connections, and capital.

Vision: One day every person with grit and hustle will have access to the education, and resources needed to take agency over their circumstance and solve the problems impacting their lives, their communities, and our world.

Volunteer Value Statement: If we had all the money in the world, we would still engage volunteers. Volunteers are a key growth strategy for our organization. In 2018, we worked with 200+ volunteers to teach 32 workshops, mentor 400 people, run day-to-day operations, and open new chapters. Without them, there would be no Street Entrepreneurs. Our volunteers donate 15,492 hours of services, that's $301,200 of in-kind support.

What we do

We seek raw hustle, heart, and drive everywhere, including places often overlooked: the streets, community and immigrant centers, unemployment fairs, and underinvested neighborhoods. Then, we listen to founders needs and accommodate to their lives. Our program is a grassroots solution to systemic barriers getting in the way an entrepreneur's success:

Barrier one: education. We provide hands-on and practical workshops where participants experience and test their knowledge - getting feedback from peers every step of the way. They are taught by people who know the subject matter in the context of start-ups and small businesses. We cover eight topics essential to business development:

(1) Ideation - Design Thinking (identifying growth goals for a business)
(2) Leadership and Emotional Intelligence (developing and enhancing leadership skills)
(3) Business Planning and Story Telling (refining and articulating a business growth opportunity)
(4) Marketing and Selling (understanding customers)
(5) Strategic Growth Through Operations (increasing operational efficiencies and improving profitability)
(6) Money and Metrics (basics of budgets, bookkeeping, and financial projections)
(7) Legal Structure, Registration, Licensing, and Paperwork.
(8) Access to Capital (crowdfunding and beyond)

Barrier two: lack of mentorship. Leveraging the social capital of our community, entrepreneurs trade knowledge and refine their skills through the Talent Exchange. When one entrepreneur trains another, they receive a Karma credit they can exchange with the overall community. Through this system, entrepreneurs also receive support from mentors and coaches. Coaches commit one hour or more to supporting an entrepreneur with skill development; whereas advisors commit to eight months of bi-monthly check-ins and are there to provide industry knowledge and connect the entrepreneur to their networks.

Barrier three: access capital. Our solution - leveraging new legislation and viral community amplification to tap into millions of unaccredited investors via Facebook Live. Street Pitch transforms the traditional pitch competition by mobilizing a collective of organizations to democratize who is involved, what they win, and how they are showcased. Street Pitch features a jam-packed line up of Street Entrepreneurs grittiest founders. The entrepreneurs pitch their companies to a panel of judges, angel investors, community supporters, and the audience. Through a nationwide network of over 40 partners, Street Pitch live stream to the world - allowing the audience votes with their money by directly investing in their favorite entrepreneur through crowdfunding campaigns, product purchases and in-kind.