SBA T.H.R.I.V.E.

T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined is an executive-level training series designed to develop strong leaders and accelerate the growth of high-potential small businesses across the United States.

T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined provides entrepreneurship education and training for executives of small, poised-for-growth companies. This intensive executive entrepreneurship series offers opportunities for small business owners to work with professional coaches and mentors, gain skills needed to grow, and develop connections with peers, local leaders, and the financial community.

Since its inception as E-200 in 2008, SBA’s Emerging Leaders has trained more than 8,000 small business owners, creating over 11,000 jobs, generating nearly $1 billion in new financing, and securing over $4 billion in government contracts.

T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined continues the success of SBA’s executive-level training to small businesses and has expanded its reach to include many additional locations to assist high-potential growing entrepreneurs nationwide.

What Sets SBA T.H.R.I.V.E. Apart

Community-Based Approach

Engaging with your peers in person is a big part of what makes SBA T.H.R.I.V.E. unique. You collaborate and exchange ideas with a community of small business owners. You learn from each other’s experiences.

Cohort Coaching Sessions
In-Person CEO Conversation Groups

Real-World Learning

Real-world learning provides a hands-on, experiential approach to education, allowing you to gain insights and knowledge directly from individuals facing similar challenges in the real world. By hearing firsthand accounts of small business owners' challenges and how they overcome them, you can gain practical and valuable knowledge that you can apply to your business.

Eight-module online curriculum taught by subject matter experts
Customized learning tracks for small businesses’ unique needs
Three-year strategic growth plan

Supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration

The SBA’s Office of Entrepreneurial Development is committed to transforming our learning ecosystem to be timelier, more relevant, and to meet small businesses where they are right now. We embody this approach with T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined.

A certificate of completion and award issued by the Office of Entrepreneurial Development.

How It Works

T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined provides CEOs and small business executives with practical skills, business coaching, and actionable training that participants can immediately implement in their company.

As a T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined participant, you will have access to an online learning platform that hosts the training curriculum, an online discussion forum, and breakout community groups.

Participants are required to complete 8 core curriculum modules, show up and participate during biweekly coaching/CEO Group sessions, and work through their customized Growth Plan throughout the course of the program.

T.H.R.I.V.E. Curriculum includes:

Subject Matter Expert-led online training (8 modules)
CEO Conversations
In-person group and one-on-one coaching sessions
Virtual office hours
Peer-to-peer networking opportunities
3-year Strategic Growth Plan
Additional training and bonus support

Here's What You'll Learn

Module 1 – Being an Effective Leader

Being a strategic and effective leader is what growing entrepreneurs strive to become. In Module 1, entrepreneurs will learn how to identify and embrace a CEO mindset, manage time more efficiently, deliver high-caliber performance, and think strategically about their business. Learners will also learn how the influence of current events shapes their business and how to tap into cultural awareness to expand their perspective.

Module 2 – Business Planning and Development

Module 2 introduces the Strategic Growth Plan and demonstrates how participants will use it to create their own business growth roadmaps throughout their learning experience. This module provides a foundational glimpse into the participant's business goals and purpose, as well as into ways in which they can strategically grow and plan for their business using proven and practical formulas. Learners will be challenged through strategic thinking and planning, and how to leverage their existing business data in decision making. This module also covers disaster preparedness strategies such as how to sustain business growth during a pandemic.

Module 3 – Business Finance and Raising Capital

Understanding how finance applies to business is essential to entrepreneurship. This module will give participants a deeper understanding of financials and the business’s financial state, dissecting and understanding financial statements, managing cash flow, knowing when and how to outsource bookkeeping and overall account management, and the process of raising capital.

Module 4 – HR, Hiring, and Company Culture

In this module, participants will learn from HR experts about the importance of overall human capital, operations management and software, team building and management that focuses on recruiting and retention, and payroll. Participants will also dive into the importance of company culture, diversity, equity, and inclusion and how to make strategic adjustments within the business ecosystem.

Module 5 – Marketing and Building Brand Awareness

Participants will learn the foundations of marketing, from the 4 Ps to the differences between marketing and branding and traditional versus digital marketing. This module covers aspects of public relations, advertising, and how to conduct and apply market research properly. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of marketing avenues and how to utilize marketing platforms and systems.

Module 6 – Driving Sales

In this module, participants will build knowledge of selling, from understanding the difference between inbound and outbound sales to creating buyer personas, implementing effective selling strategies, utilizing software, prioritizing customer success, conducting competitive analysis, and applying necessary data. Participants will also focus on their elevator pitch and how to sell to investors.

Module 7 – Digital Marketing and Social Media Strategies

In this module, participants will understand the inner workings of digital marketing and how to develop comprehensive social media strategies, learn the differences between organic and paid social media, and how to leverage the two, influencer marketing, and online reviews. Participants will acknowledge the state of their reputation and how to manage it successfully while also learning the metaverse and how it affects businesses.

Module 8 – Legal Compliance, Intellectual Property, and Contracts

Participants will gain knowledge of intellectual property, trademarks, and contracts. This module will cover legal compliance and how to abide by state and national laws, rules, and regulations.

Eligibility and Requirements

Do I Qualify to Participate?

T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined advanced training series is open to small business owners and executives that:

Have annual revenues of at least $250,000
Have been in business for at least three years
Have at least one employee, other than self
Can commit to completing the full program, including trainings, submitting assignments, participating during sessions, and reaching out for help
Are coachable, ready to be challenged and supported, and willing put in the necessary work to accelerate growth

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of businesses participate in the program?

There are no restrictions on the types of businesses that can participate. Participating companies include all industries including manufacturers, retail/wholesalers, contractors, professional services, and food services to name a few.

How can training help my business?

The training will stimulate and support the expansion of your business through strategies designed to help access new avenues of capital. It offers practical tools to pursue new paths for business development. It surrounds you with a network of government resources, and local business leaders prepared to invest time and energy in your business.

What are the overall benefits of participation?

The program allows participants to work with a network of experienced subject matter experts in core business topics. In addition, the new format promotes an ecosystem of business connections among business peers, government leaders, and the financial community. As a result, T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined helps build sustainable businesses that promote economic development within their communities. Additionally, entrepreneurs produce a three-year strategic growth action plan with benchmarks and performance targets to access the support and resources necessary to move forward.

Is participation free?

Yes! There is no direct financial cost upfront, but participants must invest their time and commitment to complete all training sessions over the six months. SBA and our local partners cover all other costs.

What are the participation requirements and logistics?

Participants are required to attend and participate in sessions, complete core training modules, and work through their individual growth plan throughout the course of the program. Detailed programming logistics will be provided to accepted applicants.

Is there a waitlist if I am not selected into the program?

No, there is not a waitlist. However, if you are not selected, you may sign up to be notified when application opens for the next year's program.

How long is the program?

This is a six-month-long program.

What happens if I have to leave the program?

If you have to leave the program, you will not graduate and you will have to re-apply again for the next available year.

Apply to T.H.R.I.V.E. and join the ranks of 8,000+ graduates who have accelerated their business growth with this free program.

Apply Today