Most Americans see the COVID-19 crisis as a black swan event – similar to that of the 2008 Great Recession or even that of 9/11. Each eventually changed the way we thought and operated as a society – from our safety, to how we did business. Already, one of the biggest impacts with COVID-19 is that on small businesses. Nearly half of all Americans work for a small business, so the livelihood of someone you know has most likely already been affected. Some individuals have seen their hours cut, others have been furloughed, some have been completely laid off, small businesses have closed, and other businesses are facing uncertainty as revenues dropped while fixed costs like rent stay the same. These tragic events will likely continue to occur as more local and state governments impose shelter in place guidelines to help fight the spread of COVID-19. 

Since 2009, MicroVentures has operated with the mission of helping small businesses and entrepreneurs fund their futures, while opening up startup investing to everyone. COVID-19 has affected all of our communities and lifestyles. According to a recent survey conducted by Goldman Sachs, more than half of small business owners say that their businesses can only operate for zero to three months given current conditions, and 67% say that they are uncertain how to access or apply for emergency funding.

Last year, we formed MicroVentures Gives, a 501(c)(3) organization, in order to impact causes that were important to us and our community. Our goal is to raise $50,000 from our community and make meaningful grants to businesses across the United States that are suffering and need money now to continue to operate and support their employees.  

As we make grants, we will share the details with campaign supporters so you can see how your donation has made an impact.

We will be supporting small businesses from different industries – restaurants, coffee shops, gyms, tech startups, and more. We are accepting nominations for small businesses that you think need support during this time (details below). 

You can join our effort to assist small businesses during this unprecedented situation by donating to the COVID-19 Relief Fund through MicroVentures Gives, a 501(c)(3) organization.

MicroVentures Gives has no platform fees and your full donation may be tax deductible. 

MicroVentures will match dollar-for-dollar the first $25,000 donated.

In addition to donating, you can help by nominating a small business that needs support. To submit a business, visit our submission page for more details. We are looking for small businesses that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19, and if selected, we will support them with a charitable grant.

As we award grants to small businesses across the United States, we will provide updates on the specifics of each grant. Please check back soon for updates, and thank you for your support!