Fresno’s entrepreneurial spirit is thriving, thanks to a network of organizations dedicated to supporting local businesses. Whether you’re launching a startup or expanding an existing venture, these resources offer invaluable assistance.
SCALE Fresno
SCALE Fresno focuses on helping small businesses start strong and scale confidently. They provide access to funding, capacity-building support, and community networking opportunities, especially for women, people of color, and first-time entrepreneurs.
Valley Community SBDC
Serving Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Tulare counties, the Valley Community Small Business Development Center offers one-on-one business advising, training workshops, and assistance with funding and capital. Their mission is to promote the development and success of small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs in the region.
Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation
The Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation aims to develop self-sufficiency for individuals through entrepreneurship and financial opportunities. They offer mentoring, funding assistance, and training programs to help start or grow businesses, contributing to economic advancement and wealth creation in the community.
Immigrants Rising Entrepreneurship Academy
Undocumented students in California can apply to the Immigrants Rising Entrepreneurship Academy, a free, online, self-paced training program designed to help launch their own businesses. Participants gain entrepreneurship training, one-on-one guidance, and the opportunity to pitch their business ideas for prizes.
MakeHerSpace
Operated by the Central Valley Women’s Entrepreneur Center, MakeHerSpace provides a creative outlet for women entrepreneurs to develop their business products. The facility offers training workshops and access to equipment like Cricut machines, screen printing tools, and sublimation for product creation and marketing.
On Ramps Economic Development Corporation
On Ramps EDC empowers the local community by investing in people, businesses, and infrastructure that transform neighborhoods into thriving ecosystems. They offer coaching, business tools, peer support, funding opportunities, and mentorship to help entrepreneurs design, develop, and deliver their impact models.
City of Fresno Economic Development Department
The City of Fresno’s Economic Development Department serves as a first-stop for startups, offering site selection assistance, incentive and program consultations, small business loans, and other financing referrals. They work in partnership with organizations across the community to implement the Mayor’s vision for making Fresno a more prosperous and inclusive city.
Center for Community Transformation
The Center for Community Transformation believes in using enterprise and business as tools for community transformation. They offer workshops, trainings, and entrepreneurship courses like the 7-week LaunchPad to guide entrepreneurs from idea to implementation, providing practical, hands-on learning and one-on-one coaching.
Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce
The Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce provides funding programs tailored to meet the unique needs of Black entrepreneurs in the Fresno metro area. Programs like EV-Werx, a membership-based carsharing service, and BTAC, which offers bonding, technical assistance, and contracting support, empower entrepreneurs to turn their business dreams into reality.
By leveraging these resources, Fresno’s entrepreneurs can access the support they need to succeed, contributing to the city’s economic growth and vitality.