About Ventures
Ventures strengthens well-being and economic mobility through business education, incubation and capital for individuals from underrepresented communities.
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 basics, marketing, operations, sales, financial 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%
- People of Color 66%
- Immigrants 33%
- Latino/a 30%
Our Vision
We envision entrepreneurship is available for all.
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.
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Learn More About Our Programs
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...
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...
Prepare for Tax Season
Learn more about tax reform and prepare for filing 2019 taxes.