Verizon’s $10,000 small enterprise grants are again. Purpose sufficient to be a part of this system and begin the appliance course of.
However the true worth of Verizon Small Enterprise Digital Prepared lies in the instruments and sources this system gives small companies to allow them to thrive in right now’s digital financial system.
First, the grants. Making use of is free and straightforward:
- In case you have not but joined this system (additionally free and straightforward), you are able to do that right here.
- After you’ve joined Digital Prepared, full any two of the various free programs or occasions this system affords.
- Apply for the grants themselves between now and June 6, 2024.
Verizon will notify all candidates whether or not they’ve been chosen to obtain funding.
Whereas the monetary grants are some of the common options of the Verizon program, the free programs, teaching periods and mentoring supplied by Digital Prepared can be found to anybody who has joined this system.
Register right here to get began.
To study extra about Digital Prepared, StartupNation spoke with Brianna Ellison, director of neighborhood 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 help digital transformation initiatives
- Alternatives to community with different small enterprise homeowners and specialists
- Entry to help 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 offer grants and help 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 carried out in September 2022.
- What work is Verizon doing within the Detroit/Michigan neighborhood 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 plenty 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 army spouses work on their enterprise launch over a three-month interval. MVE-Lab equips members to determine their goal clients, community with others, and discover the sources they should launch profitably and efficiently. It concludes with a Pitch Showcase awarding at the very least $25,000 in prize cash. Visitors embrace different veteran entrepreneurs, mentors, and specialists like attorneys and advertising and marketing specialists, together with the chief of Verizon’s veteran worker useful resource group who shared details about Verizon help for small enterprise homeowners alongside together 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 numerous funding sources to make sure their sustained success. If any of those companies want additional authorized help or one-on-one help, the Verizon Professional Bono Program crew has agreed to work instantly with these companies to determine further authorized providers.
Lastly, in September, Verizon launched Small Enterprise Digital Prepared. This on-line curriculum is designed to provide small companies the customized instruments to reach right now’s digital world. This system contains studying modules, professional teaching, peer networking and a market of instruments and options. The free on-line useful resource is offered to any small enterprise throughout Michigan (and nationwide) and will probably 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 right now?
Digital readiness is about ensuring companies have all of the instruments and sources they should thrive in right now’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 surroundings, small companies should be agile and adapt to shifting shopper 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. Based on knowledge printed 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 increase by digital applied sciences and rely extra closely on communications.” On the similar 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 deal with. How will we bridge this hole? Entrepreneurs want quick access—wherever they’re—to customized studying and training sources as a way to efficiently implement digital methods into their companies and have the arrogance 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 numerous analysis organizations and anchor establishments, together with a vibrant and multicultural entrepreneurial ecosystem, Detroit’s wealthy roots embody the hardworking and modern ethos of its numerous small enterprise homeowners. Detroit has roughly 50k small companies owned by entrepreneurs of colour and town is dedicated to making sure residents are gaining equal entry to academic and financial alternatives of the rising high-growth financial system. Based on a 2021 Detroit Ecosystem Evaluation, Detroit has 23% of all startup firms in Michigan and has the entire mandatory sources to launch and develop companies which can be digital prepared. As Verizon seeks to attach BIPOC enterprise homeowners throughout the nation with this useful useful resource and create extra equitable pathways for entrepreneurs to thrive within the digital financial system, we view the small enterprise homeowners within the better metro Detroit space—and Michigan—as a essential consumer base within the effort.
Verizon’s Small Enterprise Digital Prepared program was constructed by (principally 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 distinguished voice within the Small Enterprise Advisory Committee that helped form this system and its choices. Numerous material specialists drive our content material, interactive video modules, and training occasions. Briefly, entrepreneurs in metro Detroit will probably be geared up with digital methods and related learnings—by curated curriculum subjects, teaching occasions, and neighborhood teams—to use to their companies!
- What steerage are the small enterprise homeowners you’re employed with searching for?
We all know usually that small enterprise homeowners are interested by studying extra about financing, digital advertising and marketing, and operational effectivity. Our customers have informed us they’ve obtained super worth from the tutorial sources and in connecting instantly with specialists–by each one-on-one mentoring and group teaching occasions. Fifty-eight p.c of customers on the platform are interested by connecting with a finance professional and 64% of customers on the platform are interested by connecting with a advertising and marketing professional. The most well-liked subject areas are accessing capital, digital advertising and marketing, and bettering on-line presence. Enterprise homeowners would additionally favor to be part of a neighborhood the place they will study from each other, as 52% of customers need to join with friends with related pursuits.
- How can Verizon assist with neighborhood networking on a private degree, not a digital one?
Verizon Small Enterprise Digital Prepared is constructed to be a useful software to the BDOs, Small Enterprise Growth Facilities, CDFIs and different organizations which can be on the bottom serving to small companies on daily basis. We’re partnering intently with a lot of these organizations and dealing with them to combine our sources into their choices. Small Enterprise Digital Prepared’s neighborhood part additionally lets companies join with different companies and sources by metropolis in order that they will hook up with help of their native space!
On the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Verizon started the grassroots work of internet hosting digital neighborhood dialogues centered on small companies in communities from throughout the state. The aim of those dialogues is to listen to in regards to the nice work small enterprise homeowners and small enterprise growth organizations are presently engaged in, the present and ongoing challenges small enterprise homeowners are going through, and to debate how Verizon could be supportive transferring ahead. Attendees have included small enterprise homeowners, small enterprise help organizations and chambers of commerce.
Now greater than ever, we at Verizon will proceed to construct on the extremely useful relationships with the communities we serve. These dialogues are solely the start of what we hope will probably be long-term partnerships the place we will proceed the dialog and discover future alternatives to be supportive.
- What abilities do you convey to the neighborhood 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 help group companions to type coalitions to deal with the challenges small companies face, amplify successes and finest 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 by which we deposit goodwill in our native communities and innovate to construct the networks that transfer the world ahead for everybody.
Q&A initially printed in September 2022.
Verizon Small Enterprise Digital Prepared: Be a part of for Free and Construct Your Expertise
