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Find A Business Mentor:
Get Pro Bono Services for Your NYC Small Business

Apply Now

Find A Business Mentor:
Get Pro Bono Services for Your NYC Small Business

Apply Now
NYPACE entrepreneur advising

Eligibility Criteria

We provide pro bono advice during our eight-week Flagship entrepreneur advising program. The eight-week program is open to someone who is:

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Serving or residing in under-resourced community

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Located in NYC (5 boroughs, Long Island, or Westchester County)
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Has ready access to a computer, steady internet, and is responsive to emails
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Operating your business for at least 2 years
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Operating with at least $75K in annual sales and not more than $5M
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Willing to provide, and if needed, create, documentation of business financial history
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Looking for support in the areas of either finance, business strategy, or operations
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A minority- or woman-owned business (preferred not required)
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Excited to commit 2-4 hours per week for the full eight-week program
See ChecklistClose Checklist

Upcoming Opportunities & Deadlines

Events Time
Events Name
Mondays
6:00pm-7:00pm
Biweekly Info Sessions
Join our free virtual info sessions, hosted by Rasheeda Frazier, to learn everything you need to know about our Flagship cohort program.
February 25, 2026
10:00am-11:30am

Apply by 1/20

Winter Cohort Launch
Our winter cohort launches in early 2026. This online launch event brings together 10+ community entrepreneurs in the restaurant, maker and services industries with professionals from 30+ of the top firms in NYC.

Tips for a Successful Application

The best way to fill out your application is to review the questions beforehand, prepare your answers, and then start your online application. The application must be completed on a computer or tablet, it is not optimized on mobile. If you walk away from the application, be sure to save it so you don’t lose your work. Click here for the application questions

The application asks you to narrow your business challenges down to one that you will work on with the team. This is difficult because entrepreneurs deal with numerous, interconnected challenges. During the interview stage, we can help you prioritize and select the challenge most suited to our advisors. We call this scoping the project. But it’s important to consider your priorities in advance. Changing the project scope after signing off on the written scope we provide is the number one reason we see projects fail.

Know what to expect. Are you ready to “open your books” to strangers? Will you be able to stay in close contact with your pro bono advisors over the course of the project and make this program a priority for the full eight weeks? Register for an info session to learn more here.

Prepare the following documents for your application: 1) Profit and loss statement from previous year (if you don’t have one, create a summary version using this template [Excel option]); 2) Current balance sheet (if you don’t have one, create a summary balance sheet using this template [Excel option]); and 3) Current budget.

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The best way to fill out your application is to review the questions beforehand, prepare your answers, and then start your online application. The application must be completed on a computer or tablet, it is not optimized on mobile. If you walk away from the application, be sure to save it so you don’t lose your work. Click here for the application questions

checkmark icon

The application asks you to narrow your business challenges down to one that you will work on with the team. This is difficult because entrepreneurs deal with numerous, interconnected challenges. During the interview stage we can help you prioritize and select the challenge most suited to our advisors. We call this scoping the project. But it’s important to consider your priorities in advance. Changing the project scope after  signing off on the written scope we provide is the number one reason we see projects fail.

checkmark icon
Know what to expect. Are you ready to “open your books” to strangers? Will you be able to stay in close contact with your pro bono advisors over the course of the project and make this program a priority for the full eight weeks? Register for an info session to learn more here.
checkmark icon

Prepare the following documents for your application: 1) Profit and loss statement from previous year (if you don’t have one, create a summary version using this template [Google Sheets] [Excel option]); 2) Current balance sheet (if you don’t have one, create a summary balance sheet using this template [Google Sheets] [Excel option]); and 3) Current budget.

“The best thing about the program is the support you get from NYPACE and your advisor team in a no-judgment zone.”

Yesenia Reyes

AAA Housewares, 2022 NYPACE entrepreneur


“My team reviewed my cash flow and gave insights into what the banks/ investors are looking for, including a concrete business plan and accurate financial projections. This has helped me refine those two aspects of my business so I can apply for business financing.”

Alfredo Cernuda

Sir Hemp Co., 2022 NYPACE entrepreneur

“NYPACE’s focus on our key deliverable of a pricing and go-to-market strategy has lifted a significant burden off of our shoulders. The caliber of talent that worked on the project was top-notch.”

Ibrahim Jackson

Ubiquitous Preferred Services Inc, 2023 NYPACE entrepreneur

“By the end of the project I’d already started to consider apparel that I need to discontinue, and I started planning on how to increase the price or stock for my best sellers.”

Tabatha Williams

Hall Pass LLC, 2023 NYPACE entrepreneur

“The best thing about the program was having the weekly accountability/brainstorm sessions.”

Cheyenne Bostock

Cheyenne Bostock Coaching LLC, 2023 NYPACE entrepreneur

“I have been undercharging for projects and taking on the bulk of work to help meet client budgets. I now have a very clear breakdown of costs and team members needed to perform a job and walk away with a good profit margin.”

LaToya Smith

Brass City Media, 2022 NYPACE entrepreneur

How to apply

Fill Out Your Application

To apply to our 8-week Flagship entrepreneur advising program, first review the eligibility criteria. To best prepare for the online application, read the tips for success below. Set aside about 45 minutes to provide thoughtful answers.

Attend Your Virtual Interview

Attend Your Virtual Interview

Entrepreneurs invited to the interview will meet with an NYPACE team member to determine whether they are a fit to receive our resources through the Flagship program. You’ll be asked about you and your small business. Be as honest as possible about what’s working, what’s not, and your needs, so we can best match you to our expert advisors.

Congratulations! You’re In

Congratulations! You’re In

If your application is accepted, you’ll be assigned to the cohort you applied to. Make sure to keep an eye on your inbox for notifications of required activities before your cohort start date.

Fill Out Online Application

To apply to our 8-week Flagship entrepreneur advising program, first review the eligibility criteria. To best prepare for the online application, read the tips for success below. Set aside about 45 minutes to provide thoughtful answers.

Attend an Orientation or Information Session

Attend an Orientation or Information Session

Have a virtual meeting with an NYPACE staffer who can answer your questions and put a face to the name (we get a lot of applicants!).

Get Matched

Get Matched

Several weeks prior to the next cohort start date, you’ll receive an email giving you access to view potential projects you could volunteer on. Receiving this email doesn’t guarantee placement, so respond promptly to increase your odds of being placed.

Apply Now

“The best thing about the program is the support you get from NYPACE and your advisor team in a no-judgment zone.”

Yesenia Reyes

AAA Housewares, 2022 NYPACE entrepreneur

“My team reviewed my cash flow and gave insights into what the banks/investors are looking for, including a concrete business plan and accurate financial projections. This has helped me refine those two aspects of my business so I can apply for business financing.”

Alfredo Cernuda

Sir Hemp Co, 2022 NYPACE entrepreneur

“By the end of the project, I’d already started to consider apparel that I needed to discontinue, and I started planning on how to increase the price or stock for my best sellers.”

Tabatha Williams

Hall Pass LLC, 2023 NYPACE entrepreneur

“The best thing about the program was having the weekly accountability/brainstorm sessions.”

Cheyenne Bostock

Cheyenne Bostock Coaching LLC, 2023 NYPACE entrepreneur

“I realized it was time to review how we price our projects. The new strategy I worked on with my team guarantees the successful completion of each project while also helping us attain our desired profit margin.”

LaToya Smith

Brass City Media, 2022 NYPACE entrepreneur

Resources for Entrepreneurs

Sign up for the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Platform to get access to free workshops and grant opportunities.

Visit the U.S. Small Business Administration Learning Center for self-paced courses to help manage your business.

Get assistance to become MWBE certified in New York at the New York Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
For assistance with government contracting in New York or nationally, connect with Apex Accelerators.
Already a seasoned founder? Consider membership in an identity- or location-specific chapter of the Chambers of Commerce, which can help advocate for your business interests at the local and state level. Learn about their work here.
Still in the startup stage? Consider working with one of our partners, Start Small, Think Big.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you meet most of the following requirements, you should register for our next info session!
  • Serving or residing in under-resourced community
  • Located in NYC (5 boroughs, Long Island, or Westchester County) 
  • Has ready access to a computer, steady internet, and is responsive to emails 
  • Operating your business for at least 2 years 
  • Operating with at least $75K in annual sales and not more than $5M
  • Willing to provide, and if needed, create, documentation of business financial history  
  • Looking for support in the areas of either finance, business strategy, or operations
  • A minority- or woman-owned business (preferred, not required)
  • Excited to commit 2-4 hours per week for the full eight-week program

The program lasts for eight weeks, beginning with a virtual cohort launch and concluding with a virtual program celebration in week nine. During the eight weeks, you’ll be asked to participate in three periodic group check-in calls with your cohort of entrepreneurs. 

The rest depends on your goals and the scope of your project with your pro bono advisors. Most entrepreneurs spend about 2-4 hours per week working on their projects.

This program is free. You’re required to commit to giving your advisor team your availability, time and attention so they have what they need to help you reach your goals. This means replying to emails, calls, texts, etc. and being transparent about your business. In most cases, your business will receive pro bono services over the course of eight weeks valued at approximately $15,000.

At the end of the eight-week program, we’ll ask you to submit a survey to assess your experience so we can improve our program. We will also check in with a survey at 180 days and 365 days post-project to assess the impact of our support on your small business and see if you need any additional assistance.

After the Flagship entrepreneur advising program, if you complete the surveys, we may feature your small business in our media and promotions. We love spreading the word about our community entrepreneurs! When we’re featured in the news or other media events, we typically bring one of our entrepreneurs along for the ride.

We also hold periodic networking events and happy hours where you can meet other NYPACE entrepreneurs and make helpful professional contacts. 

Our entrepreneurs are also our preferred vendors. For example, the in-person program for our gala in 2023 and 2022 was planned and run by Epiphany Blue (an NYPACE alum), our website was built by 3:5 Creatives (an NYPACE alum) and delicious mochi cookies at a networking event were provided by The Boiis Co. (an NYPACE alum). 

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