Arizona's Largest Entrepreneurship Accelerator
Closing the Wealth Gap for Underserved Entrepreneurs.
TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH IMPACT AZ!
2025 Application Open
Arizona's Largest Entrepreneurship Accelerator
Closing the Wealth Gap for Underserved Entrepreneurs.
TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH IMPACT AZ!
2025 Application Open
Learn more About
OVERVIEW
Impact AZ 2025 is a statewide program designed to aid underserved businesses in preparing for contracting opportunities. We provide comprehensive technical assistance to strengthen the operating capacity and capital readiness to position them to attract larger contracts and growth opportunities.
- Program Kick offs July 8, 2025
- Attend weekly classes & Mentor Sessions
- 5 Hours per week minimum commitment
PROGRAM MODULES INCLUDE:
- Building Capacity for Contracts
- How to partner with Corporations
- Financial Planning & Management
- Income Generation
- Business Operations
- AND MUCH MORE!!
Classes are held every Tuesday from 5:00 - 7:00pm. There will also be monthly Saturday classes.
OUR PARTNERS INCLUDE:
THIS IS A COLLABORATION WITH FOUR KEY ACTION GROUPS
Corporations with Supplier Diversity Programs
Financial
Institutions
Government
Entities
Community Collaborators
IMPACT AZ 2025 mission fulfilled will be sustaining Arizona’s Minority Owned businesses and entrepreneurs by 2025
Diverse Companies Awarded Contracts with Corporations (Supplier Diversity)
Inspiring Individuals Through Exposure to Entrepreneurship
Developing New Start up Companies
Empowering Existing Businesses to Grow by 1-5 Employees
Creation of Job Opportunities
Too many underserved businesses are systematically cut off from the capital they need.
IMPACT AZ 2025 IS HELPING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM
We will break through disparities in funding and boost economic impact through public and private partnerships. Our Robust Incubator meets entrepreneurs where they are, from startup to scale-up, while preparing for Supplier Diversity opportunities.
Impact AZ Statewide Economic Impact
The Black Chamber of Arizona is proud to share the growing statewide impact of Impact AZ, Arizona’s largest supplier diversity readiness program.
A Legacy of Success
Entrepreneurs have graduated, with many scaling into employer firms.
The program boasts a 95% success rate, with graduates hitting key growth milestones post-completion.
By connecting diverse entrepreneurs with tangible growth opportunities, mentorship, and real-world procurement pipelines, Impact AZ is driving measurable business success and broader community impact.
Past National Success Highlights
No Need to Start from Scratch, Our Programs have supported over 8000 Entrepreneurs Across the Country and are still growing.
Millionaire Mastermind Academy is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate and support! We address the barriers to economic mobility for the underserved and excluded.
Yahly’s Wax & Wellness Spa-CEO Latonya Harris completed the Entrepreneur Accelerator Program and received $5000 in seed funding to launch her business. She has 1 full-time employee and 5 new entrepreneurs working in her spa as independent contractors.
Latonya Harris
CEO of Yahly’s Wax & Wellness Spa
Katrice & Kashira Thompson completed the Entrepreneur Accelerator Program and received $5000 in seed funding to launch their business. Currently, they are in negotiations with Target Supplier Diversity regarding procurement of their products. They have sold 1200+ units, 2 Full-Time-Employees, & a Manufacturing & Distribution with an overseas supplier.
Nurse Duo Katrice & Kashira Thompson
Co-CEO Mother & Daughter
D.E.E. Results-CEO’s Demetra Morgan, completed the Accelerator Program and has recently secured her first 5 figure multi-year contract, she has 2 employees and 2 contractors.
Demetra Morgan
CEO of D.E.E. Results
J.I.V.E. Juice-Founded by Tamala Austin, J.I.V.E. Juice is now available at Whole Foods 365. J.I.V.E Juice (Juice Is Very Essential) is the first juice company owned by an African American to be placed in Whole Foods. J.I.V.E. Juice is in 40 Whole Food Stores & 35 HEB Stores, has 10 employees and currently $1.5M in Annual Revenue.
Tamala Austin
Founder of J.I.V.E. Juice
Sponsorship opportunities are available
Investing in business owners in need of support is a key to unlocking continuing innovation, broadening regional economic development, especially in underserved communities, and an economic necessity for contributing to the small business backbone of the American economy.
One of the best marketing solutions your company can invest in is Impact AZ 2025. We've gained significant strides and have tangible success in the community and nationally. Sponsoring companies benefit from publicity and access to new business relationships.
Sponsorship opportunities are available upon request.
Contact us : info@blackchamberaz.com
CLASS OF 2024
CLASS OF 2023
Charting a Course for Success.
Grow your businesses through an action-focused process.
360 ASSESSMENT
Get a 360 degree view of your business
We’ll start with a visual checklist that gives you a complete 360° view of your business to identify key focus areas to move your business forward. Then, working with a team of trusted business advisers, you will develop a business growth plan to set actionable goals and measure your progress.
DOING BUSINESS WITH CORPORATIONS
Supplier Diversity Readiness
Corporations are looking to work with minority suppliers. More than $50 Billion have been committed to partner with Minority Small Business Owners. Take part in facilitated training led by corporations with supplier diversity goals. These business training sessions aim to get you certified and ready to build financial capacity and become an empowered firm by creating job opportunities through intense supplier diversity training. It's time to level the playing field.
NETWORKING
Grow your network and make it work for you
Networking programs will be scheduled over the course of the nine months and will include round table panel discussions, business exchange opportunities, social networking engagements, and small group collaboration sessions.
COACHING
Structured conversations about your business
Your coach will help you build a custom toolbox to help you take action. They will help hold you accountable and keep you on track.
WORK WITH EXPERTS
Access expertise to close gaps
We’ll help you identify the strengths and gaps you’ll encounter as you execute your business growth plan. Then we’ll help you build a “brain trust” of trusted experts and advisers invested in your success to help you close gaps.
GROWTH PLAN
The proving grounds
After 9 months, you’ll take the lead and test your new skills and network. The business growth plan you create will guide you. Our business coaches and your brain trust will be available during this period. You’ll take the lead, but we’ll stand with you to achieve your goals.
OUR TEAM
Dr. Velma Trayham
President & CEO
Black Chamber of Arizona
Shareé Hurts
Program Manager
Strategic Partnerships, APS
Ryan Garlington
West Market Client Experience Manager
Cox Communications
Kathryn Mattson
Staff Vice President Small Group Sales
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
Shamia Lodge
Director, Community Engagement
Aventiv Technologies
Dr. Sharon Smith
Vice President, Outreach
Arizona State University
IMPACT AZ 2025 Minority Business Accelerator
(6 month)
ACTION-FOCUSED PROCESS
- Physical space and support to assist business owners with resources to promote stability and growth.
- Business Development for Supplier Diversity opportunities, Access to public and private partnerships, training in accounting and finance, HR and legal services, capital strategy, marketing, and more.
- Mentorship and networking to expand entrepreneurial knowledge, connections, and opportunities.
- The incubator will help business owners and entrepreneurs acquire the skills and support they need to scale and succeed in Arizona.
Focused on Growing Existing Businesses and Forging a Path for Economic Growth.
KEY FINDINGS
What, in summation, is the state of Black entrepreneurs and business owners in Arizona?
Arizona's Black entrepreneurship ecosystem remains under-sized relative to the local Black population. Where 5% of Arizonans identify as Black or African American, Black-owned businesses represent just 1% of employer firms in Arizona.
Black and African Americans have lower rates of entrepreneurship than their peers and have for decades. This trend has persisted in Arizona and the U.S. for generations. Historically, the average entrepreneurship rate of Black and African Americans has been 0.23%. Compared to 0.39% of Hispanics and 0.30% of White and Asian Americans.
These businesses are highly concentrated in just a few sectors.
Arizona's Black-owned businesses are, on average, smaller and much younger than their competitors.
The average Black-owned business in Arizona employs 11 people and is less than 6 years old
In comparison, the average Arizona business employs 24 and is nearly 10 years old