How can removing barriers reveal bridges?

EY Entrepreneurs Access Network

Minority-owned companies contribute greatly to the US economy (4.7 million jobs) and capital market ($700b annual revenue). But many Black and Latino businesses do not reach their full potential due to coaching, connections, curriculum and capital barriers. EY Entrepreneurs Access Network (EAN) helps Black- and Latino-owned companies address the disparity gap for greater growth. Review the EAN annual report showcasing the impacts and successes of the inaugural EAN cohort.

Coaching

70%

Mentored businesses survive longer than five years ¹

Connections

8%

Black inherited wealth/connections compared to 26% non-minority²

Curriculum

21%

Latino US adults over 25 with a bachelor’s degree or higher³ compared to 45% non-minority

Capital

2.4%

Total US venture dollars raised for Black and Latino founders in 2020⁴

Featured thinking

How can this moment create sustained momentum for equity in entrepreneurship?

Lee Henderson 31 Oct 2022
Woman in a yellow suit smiling at a business conference

Coaching

Linking Black and Latino leaders to resources, networks and 1:1 coaching to help bridge the disparity gap

Photographic portrait of Carmen Perkins

EAN provided exceptional network, access, and practical tools/resources to advance our business.

Carmen Perkins | President
CIVITAS Commercial Real Estate Services LLC
Photographic portrait of Garrett Lash

The access to information, people, and business acumen was priceless.

Garrett Lash | CEO
PuffCuff LLC
Photographic portrait of Josie Lopez

Opportunities such as EY’s Entrepreneurs Access Network have helped me connect with the resources to take Advancio to the next level.

Josie Lopez | Managing Partner
Advancio

Connections and curriculum

Connecting EAN entrepreneurs to EY tools, services, events and expanded networks via a 12-month executive learning platform

Entrepreneurs Resource Library

EAN Spring Summit

Black and Hispanic/Latino leaders from across the country and cohorts gather for this annual, inspiring, business- and community-building event.

EY ecosystem and teaming

Connect with advisors to the ambitious who have more than three decades of commitment to entrepreneurs.

Executive curriculum

Accelerate your journey with the EY 7 Drivers of Growth, distilled from the insights of the world’s most ambitious CEOs and entrepreneurs.

Capital

Addressing the imbalance of traditional funding support to excluded, yet high-impacting, businesses

owned businesses fully approved for loans or lines of credit

If networking and funding barriers for Black and Latino entrepreneurs were equal to non-minority founders, all communities would benefit.

potential US jobs if minority ownership rate were equal to non-minority owners

Photographic portrait of Uchenna Okere

This program is amazing! Having access to multiple EY advisors that could help me shape my business model and plan for long-term success made a significant difference in my business growth. It was also motivating to be around companies and entrepreneurs I could relate to.

Uchenna Okere | Founder and CEO
RevitGods Inc.

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About the program

  • Benefits

    Those joining the Entrepreneurs Access Network community will:

    • Join an elite network of the country’s best entrepreneurs
    • Be part of a community of Black and Latino high-growth company leaders
    • Experience an educational platform designed for today’s busy executive
    • Be invited to webcasts featuring top business leaders and organizations
    • Be assigned an EY professional as an EAN Relationship Ambassador to help guide through the EAN 12-month growth journey

  • Eligibility requirements

    • Applicants must be a Black or Latino CEO or founder of any privately held company in the US.
    • Company must be more than two years old and 51% minority (Black/Latino) owned.
    • Multiple co-founders may apply as a group, if 51% ownership criteria is met.
    • Only for-profit businesses may apply.
    • For entrepreneurs who have sought outside investment, the founding entrepreneur may still apply if majority ownership stake is retained after deducting all outside investments.

  • Frequently asked questions

    How does one apply for the EAN program? 

    Applications for the 2024 cohort are now closed. Applications for the 2025 program year will open in June 2024.

    Why did EY teams create EAN? 

    Financial health makes minority-owned enterprises three times as likely to close versus non-minority owned businesses. During first few months of the 2020 pandemic, there was a decline in Black (41%) and Latino (32%) owned companies compared to non-minority (17%) entrepreneurs. If race, networks and funding barriers for Black and Latino entrepreneurs were equal to non-minority founders, all communities would benefit. EAN was created to address these obstacles.

    What are the benefits for entrepreneurs who participate? 

    EAN is an educational program (no fee) developed for Black and Latino entrepreneurs. For program participants, EAN aligns an EY executive to help provide access to resources, capital, network opportunities and other growth drivers for their company.

    What are the requirements and program demand for businesses? 

    Applicants must be a Black or Latino-owner or leader of a scalable company which has been in business for more than two years and is 51%+ Black or Latino-owned. 

    What does the EAN program involve? 

    EAN is designed to be a manageable 12-month program for the busy executive. The platform includes assessments, 1:1 coaching, curriculum customized based on needs, access to online tools, networking events and promotional exposure.

    How will EAN participants be selected and notified? 

    Nominations will be reviewed by an EAN selection committee. EAN will notify companies of their acceptance on a rolling basis beginning in November and December of 2023.

    How much does this program cost?

    The EY Entrepreneurs Access Network program does not have a financial cost to the participant. The participant is expected to participate in the full program lifecycle.

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EY Entrepreneurs’ resource library

Discover various tools, industry insights, webcasts and more via this online tool.

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Search the EY EAN digital directory

Meet the Black and Hispanic/Latino business leaders who are helping to impact our business and civic communities.

Meet the EAN community

EY’s commitment to anti-racism in the US

Systemic racism, discrimination and injustice is a human rights crisis. We vow to be a voice and force for change.

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EY Entrepreneur Of The Year®

A recognition of entrepreneurial excellence, the EOY program celebrates ambitious visionaries who lead successful, dynamic businesses.

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EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women is an executive program and community that unlocks the potential of women leaders.

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Entrepreneurs on leading into the future

Explore our collection of actionable guidance on talent, capital, navigating through uncertainty and more.

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