Big Heroes of Small BusinessChristine Lagorio-Chafkin A New Campaign to Help Ukraine Startups, With a Silicon Valley-Style LaunchThe small companies that keep Ukraine's economy buoyant are teaming up to keep money flowing in.
Inc. LifeMelissa Angell Meet the Entrepreneur Who Left Silicon Valley to Create a Makeshift Supply Chain in UkraineAndrey Liscovich knew he had to return to his native Ukraine to help the war effort. In many ways, he says, this isn't too different from what he does in the States as an entrepreneur.
Owner's ManualJeff Haden Can NFTs Create Economic Opportunities for Artists? Rocket Factory May Provide the Perfect BlueprintRenowned sculptor Tom Sachs hopes his Rocket Factory will help the broader art community make a living doing what they love.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessRebecca Deczynski This Romanian-Born Founder Knows What It's Like to Fear Russia. That's Why She's Helping UkrainiansGrowing up in Romania, Chili Piper co-founder and CXO Alina Vandenberghe long feared Russian aggression. When Russia invaded Ukraine, she felt compelled to help. Here's how.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessLindsay Blakely How This Entrepreneur Launched a Scrappy Mission to Get Aid to His Ukrainian HometownRoman Malantchouk immigrated to the U.S. as a child in the '90s. Now, the successful founder has raised $65,000 in desperately needed money and supplies for the people of Chervonohrad.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessRebecca Deczynski This Founder Moved Swiftly to Bring Ukrainian Staffers to SafetyThe majority of the San Francisco-based app WLCM's employees live in Ukraine. Here's how the CEO responded to Russian invasion.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessRebecca Deczynski How Companies Are Aiding the Ukrainian Relief Efforts, From Supporting Refugees to Funding the Armed ForcesAmid the crowing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, companies are stepping up to donate to relief efforts. Here's how some are helping out.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessChristine Lagorio-Chafkin Adopting Two Boys From Ukraine Inspired Her Idea for a Business--and an Even More Ambitious VentureIt wasn't just a business. She simultaneously launched a nonprofit to help children in need around the world.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessRebecca Deczynski When the Situation in Ukraine Turned Dire, This VC Sprang Into Action to Support RefugeesBoston-based venture capitalist Semyon Dukach and his Ukrainian wife, Natasha, rushed to the Romania-Ukraine border to give refugees badly needed cash and then bootstrapped a charitable fund. Here's how to donate.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessHannah Hall How Radio Flyer Redesigned Its Iconic Wagons for an Unlikely Setting: HospitalsThe classic red Radio Flyer wagon had already been in use in hospitals for more than 20 years. But this year, the company will launch a patented, upgraded version specifically designed for ferrying sick kids.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessNick Hawkins Small-Business Owner Offers to Send Free Copies of Banned Holocaust Comic 'Maus' to StudentsHow one small business owner is fighting book censorship
Big Heroes of Small BusinessGabrielle Bienasz How an $8,300 Used Car Inspired This Woman to Give More People a Chance to Own a HomeFlock's Lisa Wise runs a grant program for first-time homeowners who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessRebecca Deczynski How a Day of Apple-Picking Led to a $2 Billion Startup on a Mission to Feed the HungryIn 2020, grocery delivery service Misfits Market saw a dramatic increase in demand. Here's how it's managed its rapid growth while still doing good.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessEntrepreneurs' Organization 4 Action Steps to Unleash the Full Potential Of Your Company's Higher PurposePosition your company to do well by doing good by focusing on the triple bottom line of people, planet and prosperity.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessGabrielle Bienasz Before Starting His Law Firm, He Narrowly Avoided Prison. Now He's Giving Back by Helping an Incarcerated EntrepreneurAfter his Boston law firm made the Inc. 5000, Keegan Caldwell started receiving requests from inmates for pro-bono patent work. One man's story really stuck out.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessRebecca Deczynski For This 30-Minute Covid-19 PCR Test Maker, Success Is All About Time and PlaceVisby Medical's portable PCR machine can detect Covid-19 in just 30 minutes.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessRebecca Deczynski This Food-Delivery Startup Is Helping Home Cooks Become Entrepreneurs Shef, a food-delivery startup founded in 2019, is dedicated to helping refugees, immigrants, and other home cooks earn a "meaningful income." Here's how it's navigating tricky legislative waters.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessVictor W. Hwang 2021's Best Retail Therapy Rx: Help Your Local Small Businesses RecoverActually, it's not just the thought that counts. Your actions matter. Choose your neighbor, not Amazon.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessBrit Morse This Eco-Friendly Startup Missed Its Covid Moment, but Is Still Cleaning Up the Disinfectant BusinessThis founder felt she had the perfect cleaning solution, but disrupting an industry hasn't been easy.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessTom Foster She Left College to Start a Billion-Dollar Company. Now, She's Building a School for Female FoundersAustin founder and 'Shark Tank' investor Kendra Scott is ready for her second act: a unique new university program that aims to train the next generation of women entrepreneurs.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessGabrielle Bienasz How This Restaurant Owner Brought a Taste of Louisiana to Lincoln, Nebraska--and Gives Back While Doing it When Steven Murphy's business was on the verge of closing, the Nebraska community he's generously served stepped up to return the favor.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessGabrielle Bienasz How 3 Dog Trainers Teamed Up to Get Veterans Free Service Dogs Service dogs can help veterans in myriad ways, but training is expensive. How a small group came together for a civilian mission.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessBrooke Henderson Meet the Entrepreneur Who Created Tulsa's Black Wall StreetMore than a century ago, O.W. Gurley went out of his way to create economic prosperity for the Black community in Tulsa. His legacy has encouraged others to do the same. This is his story.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessMatt Haber How This Serial Entrepreneur Is Transforming the Way Corporations Support CharitiesIn creating Givewith, Paul Polizzotto turned corporate philanthropy upside down--by making nonprofits party to everyday business transactions.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessSophie Downes Warby Parker Co-Founder Dave Gilboa: How Businesses Can Help Protect DemocracyAt the Inc. 5000 Vision Conference, Gilboa talked about how the eyeglasses company is pushing for greater inclusion and civic engagement.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessTim Crino This Startup Is Rethinking How to Do Car Repairs--and How to Give Them Away for FreeRepairSmith wants to make car repair as simple as hailing an Uber. And as the company builds out its fleet, it's sending mechanics to nonprofits who need the service the most.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessLeigh Buchanan This Wounded Green Beret Got Help in His Recovery. He's Using His Startup to Say ThanksAfter losing his leg in a firefight, John Wayne Walding became an entrepreneur. Now he's selling water so other veterans can enjoy full lives.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessMatt Haber How Companies Big and Small Are Joining Forces With One Goal in Mind: Fighting CovidA consortium of businesses are doing their part to manufacture, source, and distribute lifesaving equipment during the pandemic.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessGabrielle Bienasz Wildfires Destroyed the Food Truck They Used to Feed the Hungry. The Community Is Helping Bring It BackThe founders of Daddy Ramen donated meals on a regular basis. Now without their food truck, they're getting a much-needed assist from their supporters.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessGabrielle Bienasz Rackspace Co-Founder Is Bankrolling a Push to Get Everyone a Covid-19 TestThe Texas billionaire is seeking to persuade officials and fellow entreprenuers to get involved--starting with weekly testing for a school district outside of San Antonio, Texas.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessGabrielle Bienasz This CEO Wants to Make Towns More Beautiful--One Pickleball Court at a TimeTalking Rain Beverage Company CEO Chris Hall is spending the pandemic upgrading small town America's recreations facilities--because everyone needs a good park right about now.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessKevin J. Ryan Surviving Disaster Gave This Founder a New Lease on Life. He's Making the Most of It by Giving BackToast Distillers founder DJ Louis has been helping people in crisis for years. The pandemic is just the latest example.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessTeneshia Carr Her Childhood Was Steeped in Black Activism. As an Entrepreneur, She Seeks to Support Women of ColorWilma Mae Basta seeks to make change through DRK Beauty, her digital community for women of color. Her new initiative organizes clinicians to donate their time for those most in need.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessMatt Haber Black-Owned Breweries Are Few and Far Between. These Founders Are Helping Change ThatCrowns & Hops grew out of a simple idea: 'Black People Love Beer.' Now the company is supporting other diverse brewers with $100,000 in grants.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessTim Crino This Company Is Paying for Unemployed Americans to Train as Health Care WorkersAnkur Jain's latest win-win scheme puts out-of-work Americans on the path to a career in health care.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessGraham Winfrey How Amazon and Michael B. Jordan Are Driving Profits to Small Businesses Across the U.S.Amazon Studios and Jordan's Outlier Society have been hosting free movie screenings for communities around the U.S.--and benefiting minority-owned businesses.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessLeigh Buchanan This Biotech Business Won't Let Cost Get in the Way of a Covid CureSynthetic gene manufacturer ATUM turned down venture capital. That's why it's free to do whatever it takes to fight Covid-19.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessLeigh Buchanan A Veteran Entrepreneur Spends the Pandemic Helping Out NewbiesJaime Schmidt worried about startup founders struggling to gain traction in this crazy time. So she's giving them money, mentors, and her own hard-earned wisdom.
Cash FlowCameron Albert-Deitch 8 Ways to Help Close America's Race-Based Opportunity GapThe U.S. Chamber of Commerce's new agenda for business owners and policymakers aims to help level the playing field for Black entrepreneurs.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessEmily Canal These Undergrads Swapped Summer Fun for Pandemic-Inspired StartupsWith businesses across the U.S. grappling with the pandemic, college students lent a helping hand with their creativity, gumption, and excess toilet paper.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessMatt Haber Direct-to-Consumer Brands Team Up to Give BackRothy's, ThirdLove, Framebridge, and other companies are partnering to make masks, raise funds, and experiment on new projects during the pandemic.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessEntrepreneurs' Organization How a Business Accelerator Scholarship Is Fostering Minority EntrepreneurshipCollaborative programs are helping develop a more equitable and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Charlotte, North Carolina, region. Could your region be next?
Big Heroes of Small BusinessTim Crino This Scrubs Company Gave Hospitals the Critical Gear They Needed When Covid-19 Hit the U.S.Heather Hasson and Trina Spear believe their mission is to serve those who serve others.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessLeigh Buchanan How This Medical Research Services Company Is Making House Calls Safe in a PandemicSanguine Biosciences faces the tough task of persuading its medical technicians to draw blood from former Covid-19 patients in their homes.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessLeigh Buchanan This Startup Is Taking On Amazon to Help Independent BookstoresDigital sales and affiliate payouts from the nonprofit platform Bookshop are helping some small booksellers survive during the pandemic.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessEmily Canal This Shoe Business Used Its 'Shark Tank' Boost to Fight CovidWith sales surging, the founders of footwear brand Muvez decided to donate to the World Health Organization and nearby hospitals.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessGabrielle Bienasz When Her Business Dried Up, This Restaurateur Kept the Locals Fed Kyleena Falzone took to Facebook Live to help her employees and other residents of her Colorado resort town.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessEmily Canal What Business Owners Should Know About the 15 Percent PledgeBrother Vellies founder Aurora James, who started the nonprofit initiative, explains the best methods for connecting with retailers.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessMatt Haber How a Direct-to-Consumer Shirt Brand Is Giving BackKnown as the 'lumberjacks of fashion,' the founders of JCRT are supporting Covid-19 relief, Black Lives Matter, and Pride, one plaid shirt at a time.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessLeigh Buchanan This Small Furniture Business Is Saving Lives in the ERMatthew Moore is an artist, farmer, and a furniture maker. Now he's producing intubation boxes while pivoting his business for a remote-working world.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessGabrielle Bienasz She Founded a Black Bookstore in a White Neighborhood. Then George Floyd Was KilledJeannine Cook opened Harriett's Bookshop, named for Harriet Tubman, in Philadelphia's Fishtown neighborhood. Four months later, she's handing out books for free, and business is booming.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessKevin J. Ryan Succession Made Her a CEO, Tragedy Made Her a LeaderLifeway CEO Julie Smolyansky spent her whole life preparing for a crisis. Here's how she responded when it finally came.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessTim Crino As Florida Reopens, This Founder Is Helping Other Businesses Attract CustomersBart Jordan, founder and president of Dorado Graphix, is giving other Jacksonville businesses free signs to draw foot traffic.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessEmily Canal While Waiting to Reopen, This Minneapolis Entrepreneur Is Helping Her Community HealBeauty salon owner Melissa Taylor has turned her focus in recent days to charitable works.
Big Heroes of Small BusinessGabrielle Bienasz This CEO Gave Up His Salary to Avoid LayoffsWhen the pandemic hit, Todd Graves moved quickly to keep Raising Cane's from going under.