Business and Society Institute Programs
Meaningful Change Purposeful Action
Our Programs
With 1-4 employees, microbusinesses may be individually small, but collectively create a big impact accounting for 7 million U.S. jobs and more than $350 billion in total payroll. When successful, microbusinesses generate income for entrepreneurs and their families while at the same time build neighborhood vitality.
Start:ME Accelerator Program
Start:ME is an intensive 3-month accelerator program that provides the most promising micro-entrepreneurs (those starting businesses with 1-4 employees) in traditionally underserved metro Atlanta communities business training, mentorship support, and early-stage financing needed to start and / or grow thriving businesses.
Start:ME works in Clarkston, the East Lake-Kirkwood, and Historic South Atlanta communities. The program conducts sessions weekly each spring (January through April) working with 15-18 promising micro-entrepreneurs in each community along with year-round alumni support activities. The program is delivered by the Goizueta Business School with lead community partners Friends of Refugees, East Lake Foundation, Focused Community Strategies (FCS), and Purpose Built Schools Atlanta.
Start:ME 2023 Impact Report
Microbusinesses, Macro Impact
Good Troublemakers Unite
IU-Kelley Takes Top Prize at JLCC23
2023 Specialty Coffee Transaction Guide
Creating New, Better, Transparent Benchmarks
Guide is FREE to download in English and Espanol.