The Lonely Entrepreneur

The Lonely Entrepreneur, Inc. (TLE) is a 501(c)(3) corporation formed in 2018 and based in New York City.

TLE’s Mission is to empower 1 million entrepreneurs worldwide and to help individuals of all races, creeds, and geographies (and especially underserved communities) with access to the entrepreneurial knowledge, skills and tools they need to start or grow a business, build a better life and realize their potential.

It has extended its mission with the launch of its Black Entrepreneur Initiative with the goal of empowering 100,000 Black entrepreneurs and its Hispanic Entrepreneur Initiative with a similar goal of empowering 100,000 Hispanic entrepreneurs with free access to the knowledge, tools and support they need to start or grow a business.

We do this with by providing them with free access to our platform - the Learning Community - which is a one stop shop for the knowledge, tools and support entrepreneurs need (the “Learning Community”). This is made possible through the generous contributions of corporations, philanthropies, governments and individuals.

TLE empowers individuals with the knowledge, tools and support to start or grow a business. We do this by giving them free access to The Lonely Entrepreneur Learning Community. Because the Learning Community provides an individual what they need to start or grow a business, it can be applied to meet multiple objectives:

Our Funder's Priorities: the specific demographic, location, industry, stage or focus of our funding partner.

Black Entrepreneur Initiative: this initiative seeks to empower 100,000 current and aspiring Black entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools and ongoing support they need. It combines the core elements of the Learning Community with additional rich content addressing the issues and opportunities facing the Black Community. Learn more here: https://youtu.be/lXGGY9ddtLM

Hispanic Entrepreneur Initiative: this initiative seeks to empower 100,000 current and aspiring Hispanic entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools and ongoing support they need. It combines the core elements of the Learning Community with additional rich content addressing the issues and opportunities facing the Hispanic Community. Learn more here: https://youtu.be/7C9TfXy8ThI

Geography-Based Initiatives: we can apply the program to the specific geography of our funding partner. In these programs, we take the core Learning Community and add "local" content to provide the community with the solution it needs.

The Learning Community is a proven program that has been implemented throughout the world for thousands of entrepreneurs. It is supported by a distinguished set of board members, advisors and partners.

For more information, please visit https://lonelyentrepreneur.org.

The Lonely Entrepreneur has created the Learning Community - a one-stop shop for much of the knowledge, tools and ongoing support an individual needs to start or grow a business. It includes the elements necessary to empower current and aspiring entrepreneurs:

- Knowledge: 1000 learning modules that cover both the business and personal issues entrepreneurs face

- Tools: 100s of templates (e.g., business plans, legal agreements) and reviews of the top vendors and solution providers they need (e.g., accounting software)

- Ongoing Support and Community: through two channels - an online community and weekly group coaching - where they can get their daily questions answered

- Funding Sources: various funding sources available for entrepreneurs

- Vendors: vendor reviews, discounts and a list of “vetted vendors” (including some free resources)

- Procurement/Revenue Opportunities: opportunities made available by governments and private companies to service their organizations

- Access: 24/7 access from any desktop or mobile device – a key element during COVID

Having the Learning Community at every step of the journey significantly increases an individual's chance of success. Here is a video to learn more: https://youtu.be/b-jV03qLVxc

TLE has the flexibility to provide the Learning Community to the individuals you would like to support. This can be any of the following:

· Geography: individuals in designated zip codes
· Demographic: selection based on race, gender, age or other demographic criteria
· Type: segments such as military, urban, mothers or other segments
· Group: a specific group you currently support or work with
· Industry: a specific industry

The Learning Community is a proven program that has been implemented throughout the world for thousands of entrepreneurs. TLE and the Learning Community have served over 102,000 entrepreneurs in 192 countries throughout the world. Most importantly, its impact has been felt by current and aspiring entrepreneurs – and especially entrepreneurs in our underserved communities.

Please see our Impact Report.

TLE has been consistently recognized as a market leader.

• TLE has earned the Guidestar Platinum Designation again in 2023 - for the 4th year in a row.

• In 2022, TLE's Program with ESPN and the NBA was voted the Best Diversity Program of the Year by Andscape.

• In 2021, TLE was named a "Great Non- Profit" by Great Non-Profits and earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Guidestar, the world’s largest database of nonprofit organizations.

• In 2020, in the wake of the George Floyd tragedy, TLE launched its Black Entrepreneur Initiative with the goal to empower 100,000 current and aspiring Black entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools and support they need to start or grow a business. The program has already helped 19,000 Black entrepreneurs. Here is a video on the initiative.

• In 2020, in midst of COVID-19, TLE launched its “Entrepreneur Survival Guide” - a program designed to give entrepreneurs the tools and action steps they need to survive (and even thrive! in) this harrowing economic climate. This survival guide (which was built with much of the know-how developed by founder Michael Dermer in his journey through the 2008 financial crisis) was provided free to over 11,000 entrepreneurs throughout the world. Visit https://lonelyentrepreneur.com/survival-guide/.

• In 2020, TLE won the "Force for Change Award" recognizing organizations for leading innovations in the area of entrepreneurship

• In 2019, TLE was recently recognized as a market leader by the RW Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

TLE has had the privilege of working with esteemed organizations including UPS, Molson Coors, Microsoft, ESPN, the New York Stock Exchange, National Urban League, US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, National ACE, National Urban League, AARP, One Columbus, Bank of America, PNC Bank, the Milwaukee Bucks, Black Chamber of Commerce, Ally Bank, Lakewood Church, Richard Petty Motorsports, Urban Leadership Fund, the NFL Players Association, the Charlotte Hornets, Cerner, Sherman Phoenix, West Side United, American University, Wells Fargo, African American Chamber of Commerce, Urban Upbound, Winston & Strawn, Wayne State University, Ice Miller, Sterling National Bank, Dell, Oracle, Staples, World Woman Foundation, City Current, Cambridge Innovation Center, NYU, Future Founders, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, Future Business Leaders of America, Rutgers Center for Urban Entrepreneurship & Economic Development, World Chicago, Bucknell University, and many others.