Breaking Barriers,

growing Businesses

Driving Social Impact and Business Innovation

Build Innovation Capacity
Get Business Support

San Antonio nonprofit

Venture Development Organization

Emerge and Rise helps established San Antonio businesses scale. We work with small and medium-sized enterprises and high-equity businesses that are past the startup phase and ready for what's next: growth, modernization, or expansion into new markets.

We provide hands-on, personalized support to help you adopt digital tools, strengthen your operations, access procurement and capital opportunities, and build long-term sustainability. Think of us as a growth partner that walks with you, not a one-time workshop.

Ready to take the next step?

A clear glass award with a globe design at the top, inscribed with "Emerge and Rise," "SME Expansion," "Facilitator of the Year," and "2025 Go Global Awards, International Trade Council".
Two women standing in a room with wood-paneled walls and a fireplace, holding an award or certificate. One woman is wearing a patterned dress, and the other is dressed in black. There is a large portrait of a man hanging on the wall behind them, and floral arrangements near the portrait.

SME Expansion Facilitator of the Year - 2025 Go Global Awards, International Trade Council

Who do we support

At Emerge and Rise™, we work with business owners who are already operating but didn't start with the usual access, connections, or funding. We meet them where they are and help them move forward with clarity.

  • Business owners preparing to hire, scale, or raise capital

  • Women-led companies driving innovation across industries

  • First-generation business owners and international companies building in San Antonio

  • Veterans and transitioning service members ready to lead in business

  • Entrepreneurs navigating digital tools, funding, or new markets

Young man working in a kitchen or bakery, wearing a black T-shirt with the words 'COPS & ROBBERS SMASH COWBOYS & INDIANS', surrounded by baking ingredients and tools on the countertop.
Inside a modern salon or spa, a young woman with long brown hair wearing a red sweater is smiling while interacting with a customer. The customer, with curly red hair, is holding a tablet showing images, possibly making a selection. The background features a brightly lit space with large windows, wooden beams, and various salon stations with chairs and mirrors.
Female soldier in camouflage uniform sitting on porch in front of purple door with green window shutters.

How we work with businesses

Hands-on support for businesses past the startup phase

We work with small and mid-sized businesses ready for what comes next: growth, modernization, or new markets. Our work is shaped around the operations of each business we serve, not packaged programs delivered to a broad audience. These are the ways to engage with us.

Services Initiatives Community Connections Areas of Work Member Site

Holistic Entrepreneurship

  • Financial Literacy Emerge and Rise

    Financial Literacy

    We build financial skills into everything we do. Business owners and their teams learn budgeting, investing, and financial planning through hands-on workshops designed for real-world decision-making.

  • Digital Literacy Emerge and Rise

    Digital Literacy

    We help businesses and their teams get comfortable with digital tools, from social media marketing and AI to e-commerce, so they can operate and grow in an increasingly digital world.

  • Mental Health Wellness Emerge and Rise

    Founder Wellness

    We prioritize mental wellness through workshops on resilience, stress management, and work-life balance. We help entrepreneurs move past the self-reliance trap and learn to build strong teams and lead sustainably.

  • A man in an apron looking at his phone inside a plant shop or greenhouse with various potted plants and flowers on black shelves.

    Sustainability

    We help small businesses integrate environmental practices into their operations with practices that balance profitability, climate impact, and social good for long-term success.

Shared Resources

Our Focus Areas

  • Providing necessary tools and knowledge for innovation and financial management, digital skills, and overall business acumen. Promoting new ideas and business models through our programs.

  • Facilitating connections between entrepreneurs, mentors, and community leaders to strengthen the business ecosystem. Ensuring that a wide range of perspectives and ideas are heard and integrated.

  • Offering targeted education and resources in financial and digital literacy, essential for building sustainable businesses and achieving economic independence and generational wealth.

  • Encouraging innovative thinking and adaptation through our tailored Corporate Small Business Programs, aimed at fostering a culture of innovation within larger organizational structures and the broader community.

Women Forward Art Gallery Emerge and Rise
DeAnna Brown Emerge and Rise

“I found something truly special, beyond just my art business, I found a like-minded community.”

— DeAnna Brown

Volunteer
Mentor

AFFILIATIONS

  • A stylized graphic of a hand holding a gear, with a gradient background of red, orange, yellow, blue, and black.

    San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SAHCC)

  • Logo for the World Affairs Council of San Antonio, featuring a globe with continents and latitude/longitude lines, and the text "A Foreign Policy Forum" across the center.

    World Affairs Council of San Antonio

  • Logo of the San Antonio Council for International Visitors, featuring a globe surrounded by five colored stars and the organization's name.

    San Antonio Council for International Visitors

  • NALCAB member logo with green circular emblem and bold green and black text on a white background.

    National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB)

  • Google logo with the text 'Grow with Google'.

    Grow with Google Impact Partner

  • Logo of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance with large red letters 'N' 'D' and 'A', a red raised hand with a Wi-Fi signal above it, and the words 'NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE' in teal.

    NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE

  • Logo of the Global Cyber Alliance featuring a stylized globe with rings and a circular line, and the organization’s name in bold capital letters.

    GLOBAL CYBER ALLIANCE

  • ProLitery logo with stylized open book icon in blue and navy, and the words "ProLitery" in navy blue text.

    PRO LITERACY

  • Nten logo in blue lowercase letters on a white background.

    NTEN (Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network)

  • Blue text reading 'NC3' on a white background.

    National Coalition for Community Capital

Partner With Us

Blog posts, News, and Media Press

News
Social Security's Trust Fund Is Running Out Faster Than Expected
Social Security's Trust Fund Is Running Out Faster Than Expected

The 2026 Social Security Trustees Report confirms the program's main retirement trust fund will run out in late 2032, triggering an automatic 22% cut to benefits if Congress doesn't act. For the average retiree, that's roughly $479 less per month. For small business owners and self-employed entrepreneurs, the ripple effects go further: workforce planning, payroll tax exposure, and retirement projections all get harder when a program 73% of retirees depend on becomes less predictable. Here's what the numbers actually say.

Read more →
New SBA Trade Loans Signal Growth Shift
New SBA Trade Loans Signal Growth Shift

The SBA’s updated International Trade Loan program expands access to capital for small businesses beyond exports. With a focus on domestic production and supply chain resilience, this shift opens new opportunities for businesses ready to grow strategically.

Read more →
SBA Raises Loan Limits to $10M
SBA Raises Loan Limits to $10M

The SBA has doubled the cumulative 7(a) and 504 loan limit to $10 million, opening new opportunities for businesses ready to scale. This article breaks down what changed, why it matters, and how companies can use this expanded access to grow strategically.

Read more →
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Close-up of green leafy plant in a white pot, with a blurred laptop screen showing a virtual meeting in the background.
A diverse group of seven young women sitting on graffiti-covered outdoor staircase, smiling and laughing together.

Empower Dreams: Join Us in Building Business Futures

Every donation fuels the journey of aspiring entrepreneurs in our community. Your support enables Emerge and Rise to provide essential resources, mentorship, and training to those who need it most. Together, we can transform potential into success. Invest in a brighter future today—every contribution makes a difference!

Make a Donation Today

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