About Ventures

Ventures empowers individuals with limited resources and unlimited potential
to improve their lives through small business ownership.

 

Our Mission

Ventures is a Seattle-based nonprofit that empowers aspiring entrepreneurs with limited resources and unlimited potential. We provide access to business training, capital, coaching, and hands-on learning opportunities for entrepreneurs. We serve those in our community for whom traditional business development services are out of reach, with a focus on women, people of color, immigrants, and individuals with low income. Our ultimate goal is to support individuals to increase their income potential, achieve long-term financial stability, provide for their families, and enrich their communities through small business ownership. 

Trainings Provided

Dollars Loaned

Businesses Launched

Lives Changed

Ventures’ Services Include

Business Courses & Workshops

Ventures provides courses in both English and Spanish on business basicsmarketingoperationssalesfinancial management, and packaged food. We also host a monthly legal clinic and a variety of workshops on topics such as digital marketing, wholesaling, and understanding credit.

Coaching

Coaching helps our entrepreneurs identify and overcome barriers to business success. Our coaches are teachers, mentors, counselors, and business consultants. Coaches work side by side with business-owners as they create marketing, sales, and financial plans but they do more than help with business plans and goal setting – they are cheerleaders. Ventures’ Business Coaches are great listeners, ask open-ended questions, motivate, and meet our entrepreneurs where they’re at.

Incubation & Access to Markets

We strive to give our entrepreneurs increasing access to markets and incubation opportunities. Ventures currently has a retail store and incubator in Pike Place Market, the Ventures Marketplace, where our business owners can test and refine their products, an online Business Directory that allows entrepreneurs to increase their online presence, as well as booths at gift shows and pop-up markets. We also provide access to affordable commercial kitchen space for our food businesses.

Capital

Ventures provides access to capital through our loans and savings programs. Currently, we offer collateral-free peer loans, traditional business loans, and credit-building loans. We pair these loans with financial management and literacy courses and workshops.

Who We Help

Our Entrepreneurs

Ventures’ ultimate goal is to empower our entrepreneurs to increase their incomes and achieve long-term financial stability. Our typical client supports a family of two on approximately $24,000 per year when they enter our program. At Ventures, a single mom of two can become a CEO of her own microenterprise, a disabled veteran can launch his dream business, or an ambitious immigrant can achieve the American Dream.

  • Women 72% 72%
  • People of Color 66% 66%
  • Immigrants 33% 33%
  • Latino/a 30% 30%

Our Vision

We envision a nation in which all individuals who seek to succeed as small business owners have access to the tools and resources they need to increase their incomes and achieve financial stability. We aim to make Ventures a national leader in microenterprise development by offering effective programming, sustainable operations, and innovative growth strategies to create an always-increasing impact on our community.

Our Story

Ventures was founded in 1995 by Peter Rose after he visited a Grameen Bank program in Bangladesh. Since then, we have adapted the Grameen model to the Puget Sound region and created innovative training programs and financial services tailored to the needs of low-income entrepreneurs. We have continually adapted our approach to incorporate industry best practices and meet the changing needs of our business owners.

Invest in Ventures Today!

VOLUNTEER

Share your talents and business experience

GIVE

Donate to build businesses and change lives

PARTNER

Collaborate with us to increase your impact

Learn More About Our Programs

Nuestro 25 Aniversario

Nuestro 25 Aniversario

Esta época del año en Ventures es usualmente acogedora, festiva y de conexion. Nuestra oficina está decorada con oropel y adornos, y con golosinas caseras para compartir. Nuestro equipo se reúne con clientes, donadores, voluntarias/os y socias/os de negocios locales...

Nuestro 25 Aniversario

25 Year Anniversary

This time of year at Ventures is cozy, festive and connected. Our office is decorated with tinsel and bows, and fully stocked with homemade goodies to share. Our team is meeting with clients, donors, volunteers and partners at local businesses to let them know how...