Tools for your Business Growth
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Explore our curated selection of essential resources, carefully chosen to support your business journey. This page features an array of valuable links, each representing tools and partnerships that can propel your growth. Whether you're looking for industry insights, operational tools, or networking opportunities, you'll find the assets here to help your business thrive.
Partner Resources
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KIVA
What does Kiva U.S. offer small businesses?
Risk-tolerant, crowd-backed microloans for entrepreneurs that are:
- 0% Interest
- $1,000-$15,000
- 12-36 month terms
- Up to 6 months grace period for agricultural loans
- Supported by the patient capital of an average of 120 crowd-lenders per loan
- Inclusive design to serve excluded populations
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Newity Market
Newity created an easier way to access capital and solve small business challenges. Get the capital your business needs to succeed.
SBA 7(a) loans up to $350,000
If you’re looking to grow your business, an SBA loan may be just what you need.
- Lower Interest Rates
- 10-Year Loan Term
- No Personal Collateral
- Higher Approval Rates
- No Down Payment
- Multiple Allowable Uses
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HR, Payroll and Compliance Solutions
Payroll for 1-49 Employees
Payroll done in just a few clicks, with taxes done for you.
- Payroll processing in four easy steps
- Taxes calculated and paid on your behalf
- Federal, state, and local compliance support
As you need, add other ADP services, like recruiting, insurance1, retirement, and timekeeping and more.
MORE DISCOUNTS VIA MEMBERSHIP
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MOBI BY SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY
FREE BUSINESS COURSE CERTIFICATES
MOBI expands free entrepreneurship education accessibility with audio and video curriculum, launching MOBI On Demand and the new Small Business Essentials course.
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Venture Planner AI
BUSINESS PLAN WRITER/PLANNER
Transform your business vision into a structured plan using our cutting-edge platform. Just answer the questions, and we'll do the rest. It's quick, easy, and professional.
40% OFF Discount for Our Members
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Center for Business Empowerment
Let us be your source for information and inspiration, whether you’re launching a new business or running an established one. Our how-tos, insights and resources can help you prosper and grow.
Empowerment Hub
financial literacy resources
Master budgeting, investing, and planning with our Financial Literacy tools and resources, designed to help you make informed financial decisions for long-term success.
Digital Literacy Resources
Enhance your tech skills with our Digital Literacy resources, offering resources and guides on digital marketing, cybersecurity, and essential business tools.
Mental Health Wellbeing Resouces
Prioritize your mental health with our resources on mindfulness, stress management, and support networks to maintain a balanced and resilient mindset.
Tool Box
Small Business Grants for Women & Non-binary Entrepreneurs
The Ladies Who Launch FREE grants database can help you explore funding opportunities for your U.S.-based small business!
BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS
The Business Model Canvas is a strategic management and entrepreneurial tool. It allows you to describe, design, challenge, invent, and pivot your business model.
VERIZON SMALL BUSINESS DIGITAL READY
Small businesses. Big opportunities. Find free courses, mentorship, networking, and grants created just for small businesses.
Funding, Resources, and Grants
Hello Alice’s mission is to ensure every entrepreneur in the New Majority has what they need to launch and grow their own small business adventure.
SWOT ANALYSIS CANVAS
SWOT (aka Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) is an analysis that can be done on a project, department, organization, or entire sector, no matter the size. It is a way of better understanding what you’re doing well, what you need to address for success, and when and how external partners may help.
San Antonio Digital Presence program
A comprehensive digital presence program tailored specifically for you, the small business owner. Their easy-to-use questionnaire and online resources help you learn and take the right steps to succeed in the digital world. Plus, you might qualify for a free digital presence package to support your growth.
business loans, business credit, resources
Nav Prime powers your path to funding. Increase business credit scores up to 50% in the first 3 months, see your business credit-building impact, or secure new funding.
BUYER’S PERSONA TEMPLATE
HubSpot’s persona generator empowers you to make a difference in how you design campaigns. Supercharge your segments based on the marketing data you already know. Create a buyer persona template that emphasizes what makes your target market unique.
mentorcam for startups (paid experts)
Get advice from the world’s BEST mentors. Book 1:1 calls with founders and leaders of the world’s best startups and brands. Mentorcam’s network of elite founders and business professionals is available to your demand.
local san antonio resources
SCTRC Agency
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concessionaire Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Certifications: Offered by the South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (SCTRCA), these certifications help eligible businesses participate in public and government contracting, especially in transportation-related industries.
sbdc
UTSA Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offers a range of no-cost, online training modules available 24/7, covering various business topics to help enhance your business acumen. They also provide confidential business advising services at no charge.
Alamo Colleges District interns
The ACD partners with private-sector employers to provide eligible work-study students with opportunities to work in a real-world environment in positions that align with the student’s field of study. Through the Private-Sector Work-Study (PWS) Program, eligible students work with partnering employers while 100% of the student’s wages ($15.33 hourly) are paid by federal financial aid and institutional funding.
From Our Library
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"Venture Meets Mission: Aligning People, Purpose, and Profit to Innovate and Transform Society" by by Arun Gupta, Gerard George, Thomas Fewer
Presents a roadmap for building mission-driven ventures—combining financial gains with meaningful social or environmental impact.
Helps founders who want to fuse purpose with profit, and includes examples of government and institutional collaboration
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"Mastering the Data Paradox: Key to Winning in the AI Age" by Nitin Seth
Teaches how businesses—especially smaller ones—can harness the power of data without getting overwhelmed.
Ideal for owners who want to use analytics to improve decision-making without needing a full-fledged data team.
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"No One Is Self‑Made: Build Your Village to Flourish in Business and Life" by Lakeysha Hallmon
Emphasizes that success is rarely a solo journey and demonstrates how leveraging networks drives sustainable growth.
Perfect for business owners building from the ground up in San Antonio’s vibrant community.
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"ESG Mindset: Business Resilience and Sustainable Growth" by Matthew Sekol
Great for small businesses aiming to build ESG into everyday decisions—not just reporting.
Packed with real-world examples and actionable frameworks to help your venture grow responsibly and resiliently.
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"The Family Business Book: A roadmap for entrepreneurial families to prosper across generations" by Alfredo De Massis and Emanuela Rondi
Covers succession planning, governance, and social impact—perfect if your venture involves family or if you want systemic clarity.
A resource to ensure value and legacy across generations while driving strategic growth.
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"The Art of Uncertainty: How to Navigate Chance, Ignorance, Risk and Luck" by David Spiegelhalter
A practical and witty guide to making smarter decisions in a world full of unknowns, randomness, and risk. Ideal for entrepreneurs who want to understand probability, avoid common decision-making traps, and confidently navigate the gray areas of business, life, and strategy.
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!