Bpeace programs for business owners in North Carolina and Georgia that want to grow

Small businesses are the backbone of local economies, and yet too many underresourced entrepreneurs never reach their full potential. With a grant from the Nasdaq Foundation, Bpeace will expand its Breaking the $1M Barrier program in North Carolina and Georgia, regions where the economic impact of small businesses is immense, but systemic barriers continue to hold many back.

Why the $1M Milestone Matters

Few small businesses in the U.S. cross the $1 million revenue threshold within their first five years—and the rates are even lower for women, Black, Hispanic, and other underresourced founders. Crossing $1M is more than symbolic: it marks the inflection point where businesses can sustainably scale, access capital, create jobs, and generate generational wealth.

Bpeace’s Breaking the $1M Barrier program targets precisely this stage. The accelerator provides growth-ready businesses with:

• Investor- and procurement-readiness training to develop financial fluency, prepare investment packages, and build corporate procurement pitches that can open doors to large contracts.
• Mentorship from pro bono experts (“Skillanthropists”).
• Strategic workshops and peer learning designed to break through scaling bottlenecks.
• Investor and corporate connections through a culminating showcase linking entrepreneurs to funders and procurement teams.

Impact Goals with Nasdaq Foundation Support

With a grant from the Nasdaq Foundation, Bpeace will support underresourced small businesses in North Carolina and Georgia to accelerate growth, strengthen local supply chains, and create new jobs. Participating entrepreneurs will leave with investor- and procurement-ready materials, stronger financial and operational systems, and direct connections to growth-enabling partners.

Beyond these direct outcomes, the partnership is designed to create ripple effects: building sustainable businesses, changing perceptions about the scalability and investability of underresourced-owned firms, and strengthening entire regional ecosystems.

‍