Article · NYC311

Black Entrepreneurs NYC (BE NYC), an initiative of the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS), is a groundbreaking model for a major American city to help create equity of opportunity by advancing Black entrepreneurship.

The program targets Black entrepreneurs in the pre-startup and high-growth industries and aims to increase the number of new Black-owned businesses in high-growth industries.

You can learn about the BE NYC Mentors and BE NYC Experts: Consulting programs.

BE NYC mentors are entrepreneurs and industry leaders who have successfully pivoted their businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic, making them ideally suited to support storefront business owners in New York City.

Learn more about the BE NYC Mentors program.

BE NYC Experts: Consulting is part of the City’s broader commitment to close the racial wealth gap and support Black-owned businesses. Through this program, eligible businesses can receive 4 hours of free consulting and expert guidance from Ernst and Young LLP.

All one-on-one professional consulting sessions will take place virtually, either by video conference or telephone.

Topics will include:

Financial management, including:
- Budgeting
- Managing cash flow
- High level tax implications
Access to capital, including:
- Understanding different forms of financing
- Developing a pitch and business plan
- Methods for accessing capital
Understanding and engaging customers, including:
- Understanding value proposition
- Using value proposition to build your business
- Describing key components of a customer journey

To be eligible, businesses must:

Be a for-profit business currently operating within the five boroughs of New York City, and
Be a “small business” as defined by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA)

Eligible business owners can apply online. Participants will be accepted to the program on a rolling basis.

Learn more and apply for BE NYC Experts: Consulting program.

BE NYC

Mentorship Program

Consulting Program