Groundbreaking Initiative Aims to Tackle Unique Challenges
The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center has launched an innovative platform to empower Black women entrepreneurs in the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) sector.
The groundbreaking “Level Up” tool aims to address the unique obstacles faced by this underrepresented group, providing tailored resources and support to help them scale and sustain their ventures.
Personalized Resources for Strategic Growth
“We’ve gathered in-depth case studies and explored the detailed growth of more than 200 women-led companies, to offer – for the first time – a tool that offers scaffolding for CPG entrepreneurs to set goals and receive ongoing training tailored to their developing businesses,” said Nicola Corzine, Executive Director and CEO of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center.
The Level Up tool offers a comprehensive suite of personalized resources designed to accelerate the growth of women-owned CPG businesses.
These include industry-specific expert learning, strategic goal setting, tailored growth plans, and benchmarking against industry peers.
Overcoming Systemic Barriers to Success
“We’re proud to support the Level Up tool through a grant from Walmart through the Walmart.org Center for Racial Equity. These resources will help entrepreneurs understand what steps have been proven to propel women-owned businesses forward and help their communities thrive,” shared Monique Carswell, director of the Walmart.org Center for Racial Equity.
The initiative was born out of research conducted by the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center and Penn State University in 2022, which revealed the unique challenges faced by Black women-owned businesses in areas such as network access, capital acquisition, and fair pay practices.
Tailored Support for Sustainable Growth
“The core goal of the Level Up tool is to enhance the sustainability and resilience of entrepreneurs building CPG companies, with a special focus on Black women entrepreneurs,” stated the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center.
By providing a customized roadmap for decision-making aligned with their definitions of success, the tool empowers Black women entrepreneurs to make strategic choices, optimize resources, and accelerate revenue and financial growth.
A Catalyst for Change and Inclusion
The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center’s Level Up platform represents a significant step towards fostering diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
By addressing the systemic barriers faced by Black women in the CPG sector, this initiative aims to be a catalyst for change, empowering a often overlooked but rapidly growing segment of business owners to thrive and contribute to the economic vitality of their communities.
