The Entrepreneurial Development and Leadership Institute
(EDLI), inspired by Frederick Douglass prepares Black, Latino and Women entrepreneurs to succeed and prepares their businesses for funding through a personalized business assessment and targeted network of resources and support.
Why EDLI?
Addressing the Persistent Funding Gap for Underrepresented Entrepreneurs.
15%
The number of Women-owned businesses in the US is increasing steadily at 1,800 per day, but Women-owned businesses received only 15% of the $34 billion available in SBA loan funding in 2023.
20%
Black-owned and Latino-owned SBA loan funding increased almost 15% between 2022 and 2023 but these businesses combined received less than 20% of the total available in 2023.
80%
80% of the equity capital needs of Black and Latino entrepreneurs in Chicago go unmet compared to only 46% of White-Owned Businesses.
Ready to
Get Started?
JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet Started?
Interested in Joining Us on our mission to prepare Black, Latino and Women entrepreneurs to succeed and prepare their businesses for funding?
Business Serving Organizations
Entrepreneurial development organizations, Incubators, Accelerators, Community Business Development Programs
JOIN THE COMMUNITY“We have the drive. We simply need connections. . . to resources, to capital, to information, to markets, to each other.”
– Entrepreneur Focus Group Participant
