Getting Started in Entrepreneurship: Business Support Organizations

A program series and network platform designed for women business owners to engage, inform and inspire, as well as connect professionally to women’s groups and organization throughout the Charlotte region.

An organization dedicated to providing guidance to women-owned businesses and advising and assisting them from start to growth. Their experts provide services like one-on-one business counseling, feedback for business plans, networking opportunities, seminars, classes, and more. It is a partnership program between the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development Inc. (NCIMED).

NABO-Charlotte is a professional organization specifically designed to fuel the success of the 90,000 women-owned businesses in the greater Charlotte area. The organization has helped women across the country move forward in their businesses by sharing resources, providing education, and giving a single voice to define economic and public policy.

The Charlotte LGBT Chamber of Commerce (CLGBTCC) provides its members with transformational networking and educational opportunities that increase the financial, intellectual, and social capital of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender business community.

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Innovate Charlotte is governed by leaders in the region's business, government, and entrepreneurial community. Our mission is to connect entrepreneurial initiatives, activities, and strategic relationships to cultivate a better ecosystem for the benefit of all Charlotteans.

A statewide nonprofit and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides small business loans and financial training to startups and existing businesses in North Carolina. Since 1990, their mission has been to foster economic development in underserved communities by providing capital, business services and policy research to support small businesses.

Our Mentors are experienced entrepreneurs, corporate managers, and executives in diverse industries and specialties. They volunteer their experience and knowledge to help small business professionals start, develop, and grow business. This includes free and confidential mentoring, low-cost or no-cost business training, numerous templates and tools.

The purpose of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte (LACCC) is to offer a sustainable bilingual platform that engages, empowers and supports Latino and non-Latino businesses, entrepreneurs and professionals. This platform includes programs, events and services that are focused on networking, mentoring, retooling, training, leadership development, supplier diversity and acculturation opportunities.

Prospera is an economic development, non-profit organization specialized in providing bilingual (English/Spanish) assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs trying to establish or expand their business.

Black Tech Charlotte Charlotte’s is a tech hub for entrepreneurs and technologists of color, serving as a one-stop shop for career development, startup resources, and connecting with the top recruiters in Charlotte’s tech community.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce was founded in 2004. Since its inception it has been the hub of black business in the Queen City.

Aspire Community Capital is committed to helping businesses in under-resourced communities take full advantage of the promise of the American Dream. The American Dream is mine and yours, and we must remain relentless in our desire to craft our destiny within it.

City Startup Labs (CSL) has developed entrepreneurial talent and capacity among African American millennials (Black Adults 18-34 yrs.) since 2014, as a hybrid accelerator/incubator, through its Center of Excellence for Entrepreneurial Competency, Innovation, and Leadership (CoE). CSL has currently focused its mission on reimaging returning citizens (formerly incarcerated) as a new class of entrepreneurs and innovators.

The Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce exists to foster cooperation and interaction within the Asian communities and between the community at large in Charlotte and the Carolinas for the betterment of commerce, culture and communication.