Pro Bono Business Expert Volunteer— Small Businesses Need Us

Somewhere right now, a small business owner is working late. They're building something real. They're talented, they're driven — and they're doing it largely alone, without access to the strategic relationships and knowledge that most entrepreneurs with capital take for granted.

That gap is exactly what we exist to close. And we need you to help us close it.

Small Businesses Need Us is a program of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 and dedicated to fostering a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. Our mission: empower champions, mobilize allies, and activate investors to use their relationships and resources to open more doors for more entrepreneurs.

We believe that access and opportunity are directly correlated to the strength of relationship connectivity. You — your knowledge, your experience, your expertise — are relationship capital. And for the entrepreneurs we serve, you may be the most valuable resource they've never had access to.

This isn't transactional volunteerism. It's transformative.

What is a Small Business Hackathon?

During these two-hour virtual events, each volunteer expert works in a small group with business owners to deliver focused expertise on one specific deliverable. We provide templates, tools, and a brief orientation before every session — so you walk in prepared and walk out knowing you made a real difference.

Participants walk away with a deeper understanding of the challenges entrepreneurs face, a renewed sense of purpose in their work, and a lasting connection to a mission bigger than themselves.

The 10 Hackathon Deliverable Areas:

Sign up for the topic where your expertise lives:

1. Competitive Analysis
2. Pricing Strategy
3. Social Media Strategy
4. SEO
5. Financial Projections
6. Marketing Plan
7. Customer Personas
8. Deck Building
9. Pitch Practice
10. SWOT Analysis