Our Newest Effort

AEO is embarking on a new initiative, Transforming Small Business Support Programs sponsored by Capital One. Our objective is to further develop our highly successful Business Health Assessment tool to help business support organizations across the country deliver highly informed and personalized support services for microentrepreneurs.

We need your help! Scroll down to see how your organization can help shape the future for microbusinesses. This initiative runs from March – August 2024. Selected organizations will receive a stipend of $5,000 to help cover the investment of staff time to participate in the initiative. Click below and sign your business up today!

APPLY NOW

Join Us

We are actively seeking small business support organizations to join our design team, where your frontline insights will be invaluable in crafting and refining a robust assessment tool.

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Shape the Future

Your insights will directly contribute to the enhancement of a valuable tool that strengthens small business service provision across the US and empowers underserved microentrepreneurs.

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Collaborate with Peers

Connect with and learn from fellow business support organizations who share your dedication to commitment to strengthening microbusinesses.

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Provide Opportunity for Entrepreneurs

Provide direct access to the benefits of the BHA to a select group of your entrepreneurs.

Transforming Small Business Support

Over the past two years, AEO has been testing our Business Health Assessment (BHA) as a visionary tool that delves deeply into every aspect of the business to identify critical strengths and weaknesses and provide a personalized business analysis on the best growth strategy. The early feedback we’ve received from AEO Members and microentrepreneurs has been overwhelmingly positive, confirming the BHA’s potential as a game-changer for our industry.

We are excited to kick off the next phase of this work as we seek to further enhance the value of the BHA and its potential to transform how AEO Members and microentrepreneurs collaborate to navigate the complex business landscape.

Program Details and Requirements

This initiative runs from March-August 2024, and participation requirements for organizations include:

  • Must have an active AEO membership (can be activated or renewed upon selection to participate)
  • Must be non-profit organization demonstrating programs or initiatives that offer coaching, technical assistance, or training to microentrepreneurs
  • Have the ability to commit a dedicated staff member to lead the work for the duration of the initiative
  • Maintain active participation in monthly meetings from April through August
  • Demonstrated capacity to recruit a minimum of 30 microentrepreneurs to engage in user testing of the Business Health Assessment

Selected organizations will receive a stipend of $5,000 to help cover the investment of staff time to participate in the initiative. Think you are a good fit?

APPLY TODAY

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Brendan Landry, Innovation Portfolio Manager at [email protected].  

More About the Business Health Assessment (BHA)

Currently in the prototype stage, the Business Health Assessment (BHA) is a survey tool that collects information from an entrepreneur across key business areas and provides real-time analysis to recommend prioritized actions they can take to address critical needs and opportunities within the business. The BHA is designed to provide a roadmap for the entrepreneur and a quick snapshot to support Business Support Organizations (BSOs) and ensure they are providing the best and most timely support plan.