Program Update
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses
ICIC is the proud national outreach and selection partner of Goldman Sachs on their innovative and influential 10,000 Small Businesses initiative—a role ICIC has played since its launch in 2009.
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) is an investment to help small businesses grow and create jobs by providing them with greater access to business education, support services, and pathways to capital for growth-oriented entrepreneurs. Through the tuition-free program, participants gain practical skills across topics like financial statements, negotiations, marketing, and management, and receive the tools to develop an actionable growth plan for their business with the support of advisers and a network of like-minded entrepreneurs. The program’s curriculum was designed in partnership with Babson College, which administers the education program along with academic institutions across the country.
Since September 2023, 10,000 Small Businesses launched in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and West Virginia as part of the program’s rural expansion initiative. Goldman Sachs is focusing on reaching rural states and communities to ensure the program continues to support a diversified and representative group of small business owners.
10,000 Small Businesses’ Why
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is an investment in the growth of small businesses. It helps entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing access to education, capital, and support services.
Impact Snapshot: Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses
16K+
Graduates
$28B
In Revenue
307K+
Employees
96%
Program completion rate
85%
Of Alumni collaborate
65%
Of Alumni mentor others
Alumni Spotlight
“My ‘why’ is partnering with my clients to solve their design and branding problems. The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program is invaluable and had a direct impact on my ‘why.’ It solidified a lot of what I knew and gave me so much new knowledge that I feel like it was a game-changer. By going through the program, I became a better business owner and leader.”
Bernadette Capulong, CEO
BC Design Haus
Pasadena, California
10,000 Small Businesses Los Angeles (2019)
“We really took off after the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. At that time, we were trying to grow, but we kept hitting a wall. 10KSB gave us the tools we needed to scale. We went from a tiny little place to having 13,000 square feet, four trucks, offices in Miami Dade County and Jacksonville, and we are franchising the company. The program is invaluable, and that’s why I continue to refer it to other businesses all the time.
Ariel Pedrosa, Founder & President
Advanced Multi Sign Corp.
Hialeah, Florida
10,000 Small Businesses Miami (2016)