About Us

Supported by the Northern California Small Business Development Centers, the Inclusivity Project (IP) serves primarily black and/or African American businesses.

The Inclusivity Project is open to all business types and stages. We offer free business development classes and exclusive events to help members realize their business potential.

About IP

Nuts & Bolts

Nuts & Bolts


We’re a Community of Dreamers, Doers, and Founders

The Inclusivity Project combines education, mentorship, and peer-to-peer connection, to help existing and aspiring entrepreneurs build a comprehensive business plan and help them prepare for the long road of business ownership.

Our Vision

The vision of the Inclusivity Project is to create meaningful change within Northern California’s black business community by being a strategic conduit to provide leadership, mentorship, and financial resources—while creating meaningful community engagement and stakeholder thinking.

Success Pillars


The Inclusivity Project combines SBDC’s core business advising and network resources to focus on five pillars of success to advance entrepreneurial empowerment and create new economic opportunities for the black community.

Inclusivity


IP is open to all industry sectors, home-based businesses and online businesses. Members are motivated changemakers, trailblazers and pioneers in their fields.

Commitment


We’re commited to invest our time, team, talent, and resources into each business that participates in this project.

Collaboration


We engage our vast network to share resources, best practices, ideas, and more in order to achieve accelerated results for IP members. 

Community


IP members are invited to attend virtual and in-person events for peer-to-peer engagement.

Celebration


We love to share member success stories and embrace all momentum, big and small.

Community


The Inclusivity Project isn’t for everyone—running a successful business is hard work—but, if you have the dream and determination, we invite you to connect with us.

Our members are motivated changemakers, trailblazers and pioneers who are willing and ready to take action. IP members are humble, fearless and have ferocious drive to overcome barriers to realize business ownership.

Community Membership Criteria:

  • The Inclusivity Project is for black and African American founders and entrepreneurs
  • You must be located within the state of California
  • Ideally, businesses should already have paying clients.
  • You should already have a product or service well-defined.
  • Ideally, members will have a well-constructed business plan and are either ready for financing or have secured financing
  • Not in business yet? No problem. IP works will all businesses at all stages

Designed to meet entrepreneurs where they are at in their entrepreneurial journey, our services include:

On-Demand Learning

We offer a wide range of no-cost, pre-recorded webinar-style business training designed to help you succeed.

Entrepreneurial Workshops

Our workshops and business trainings provide a sound foundation on the Fundamentals of Business Ownership.

Mentorship

Our team of expert business advisors can help your business with free and confidential business consulting. Since IP is connected to the SBDC, members enjoy no-cost, confidential business consulting.

Trusted Support

SBDC has been around for 40 years, and we’re not going anywhere. We’re here for you, and we’re rooting for your success.

Opportunity & Connection

We are connected. Our network spans nearly every industry with government and private entities and a business community supporting growth. We also organize pitch competitions and competitive fund generation techniques for entrepreneurs.

Join Us

If you’re a dreamer, a doer, a builder, a founder, or you are working toward your first startup — the Inclusivity Project may be a good fit for you.

JOIN IP

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