As Chief Program Officer at ICA, everyday I see how our coaching, capital, and network help local small businesses get prepared and resourced to grow and become more resilient.
Today, I’m writing to ask you to support these businesses by supporting ICA’s programs.
2020 has been a year like no other. Our program team supported over 70 companies through our Accelerator cohorts, office hours and alumni workshops - pivoting quickly to all-virtual in March, and adapting our advising to focus on our companies’ urgent and immediate needs. We infused “resilience” into every part of our work, updating and augmenting our programming to empower small businesses to manage through the pandemic and build back stronger.
As the pandemic laid bare the inequities in our financial system, we worked hard towards our vision of an economy that works for all. As you know, a majority of the companies we accelerate are operated by women and people of color; in 2019, 90% of our companies had management teams that were majority people of color and women. We are proud that 93% of employees at Accelerator companies have access to benefits like health care, dental, and vision.
We have a lot in store for 2021: a new program to serve early stage businesses with a focus on securing equity capital; two new cohorts of the ICA Accelerator; dedicated workshops; and even more relevant, online content and resources. Above all, in 2021 we will continue to respond directly to the needs of our entrepreneurs. We will build off of our successes, and move with the urgency our mission requires.
Can you help us get it done? If you are able, your contribution will help build resilient businesses. Together, we can rebuild the Bay Area’s small business economy and create an economy that works for all.
Thank you for your continued support.
