Program Update
Inner City Capital Connections
ICIC’s signature program, Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC), was launched in 2005 with a founding grant from Bank of America to assist established small and midsize businesses in under-resourced communities with accessing growth capital. The program has continuously evolved, providing business owners with timely and actionable information, connections, and coaching. Through in-person and virtual seminars, digital learning modules, and individual coaching, our self-paced 40-hour “mini-MBA” allows entrepreneurs to customize a curriculum to fit their business’s specific needs.
The 2024 program included 12 cohorts across the United States and Canada. The program continues to expand its offerings with specialized cohorts like the virtual Latinx cohort, conducted entirely in Spanish, and the supplier diversity-focused pilot cohort sponsored by Amazon and Arctaris Impact Investors for diverse-owned and small businesses in Connecticut.
ICCC also works closely with ICIC’s Alumni Network to provide opportunities for continuing education and networking to every business that has taken advantage of our program.
More about ICCC’s impact in 2024 »
ICCC’s Why
ICCC was established to connect business owners with the most challenging and vital resource: growth capital. Doing so supports communities by helping small and midsize businesses thrive, which creates income and wealth for owners and generates jobs and opportunities for local employees. People come to business ownership through diverse paths, and ICCC adapts to meet them where they are, making the next steps in their journey a little easier.
Impact Snapshot: ICCC
All ICCC Alumni
29K
Jobs created
174%
Average revenue growth
$2.6B
Capital raised
7.2K
Businesses trained
Summary of 2024 Participants
631
Businesses trained
8 yrs
Average age of businesses
11%
Percentage of participants from past years
7
Average full-time employees
58%
Woman-owned
87%
BIPOC-owned
$619K
Average revenues
Alumni Spotlight
“In the early stages of my journey, ICCC gave me knowledge and access to a community of entrepreneurs facing similar challenges. It’s lonely as an entrepreneur, so having a support network is invaluable. Today, my personal ‘why’ is inspiring entrepreneurs to be the change they want to see in the world. I believe entrepreneurs are the key to creating the heart-centered, human-centered way of working that we all deserve. My goal is to show that good people can win—and win better by being good. I want to be the courage to act for future entrepreneurs.”
Jack Smith, CEO
Fortuna Business Management Consulting
McClellan, California
Inner City Capital Connections (2018 & 2020)
“This program has been fundamental in the growth of my company. Three things I really want you to walk away with from [the program]. The first is networking. You have an amazing cohort of folks that are there to help you grow and scale. The second thing is the events, both virtual and in-person at the National Conference. You cannot miss these opportunities. The last and probably the most insightful piece is all their classes and digital assets that they provide to you through training.”
Sergio Espinoza, Founder
Manka – FoodService Consulting & Design
Lynn, Massachusetts
Inner City Capital Connections (2019, 2020, 2024)