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Elizabeth Gore, aged 47, has dedicated her professional journey to supporting entrepreneurs. “I’ve always had a deep passion for small businesses,” she shares, a sentiment that continues to drive her work.
Hailing from Texas, Gore obtained her degree in animal sciences from Texas A&M University, initially envisioning a future on her family’s cattle farm. However, an internship with a senator on Capitol Hill shifted her trajectory, leading to nearly a decade at the United Nations Foundation, where she contributed to initiatives such as Girl Up. It was during this period that she became acutely aware of the importance of small business owners in global economies.
In 2017, after her tenure at the UN Foundation and a role assisting entrepreneurs at Dell, she co-founded Hello Alice, a technology platform designed to support entrepreneurs in securing “access to capital like grants, loans, and credit,” in addition to offering vital business planning tools and mentorship.
To date, Hello Alice has impacted the lives of 1.5 million small business owners and facilitated the distribution of $52 million in grants, as stated by Gore. Here’s an overview of her journey and the insights she’s gathered along the way.
Understanding the Significance of Small Business Owners
While at the UN Foundation, Gore began to recognize the significant impact that small loans could have on entrepreneurs, particularly women in developing countries. She reflected, “The idea was to empower them to earn their own income, which would enable them to provide for healthcare and education for their families.”
As an entrepreneur in residence at Dell, she worked to ensure that women entrepreneurs had the technology necessary to thrive through the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network. This experience underscored the critical role small businesses play in the U.S. economy, identified as the largest job creators. Yet, it also highlighted significant challenges faced by entrepreneurs, particularly among women, people of color, and veterans, who often lack the resources necessary to launch their enterprises. For instance, reports indicate that female founders received just 2% of venture capital funding in 2024, according to Pitchbook.
Transforming Challenges into Opportunities
Gore’s journey to founding Hello Alice began when she met Carolyn Rodz, her future co-founder, at various industry events. Rodz, who also had a background in finance and entrepreneurship, viewed the obstacles small businesses faced as opportunities for growth.
In 2014, while attending a conference, they began to outline their vision for a tech platform aimed at supporting American small businesses. By 2017, they launched Hello Alice, a venture designed to be self-sustaining, according to Gore.
The platform has since secured $28 million across various funding rounds. One of their primary revenue sources is a business health score tool, which they launched in April 2023, and that is now licensed to banks and fintech companies.
Hello Alice operates on a free sign-up model, where entrepreneurs receive a customized dashboard filled with grant opportunities, educational resources, and networking channels. The platform proactively notifies users about relevant grants, funding avenues, and other pivotal resources based on their specific business profiles.
Looking ahead, the company anticipates incorporating artificial intelligence to enhance its platform. This would allow for real-time business data analysis, offering personalized recommendations and predictive insights into potential challenges.
Beyond equipping entrepreneurs with essential tools, Hello Alice also serves as an advocate for small business owners, pushing for legislative changes that benefit their community. “We are committed to demonstrating that small businesses are indeed the heartbeat of our economy,” Gore asserts.
Source
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