Startup USA Guide
Part B · Startup-relevant scheme

T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined (SBA THRIVE)

Small Business Administration

Other Growth / Scaling

SBA THRIVE (successor to the Emerging Leaders initiative launched in 2008-09) is an executive-level training series pairing established small-business owners with professional coaches and mentors to build a concrete growth plan.

Type of support
Other
Best suited for
Growth
Headline amount
N/A — free training, not funding
How much
Free

Objectives

Accelerate the growth of high-potential small businesses, particularly in historically underserved communities, by developing owners' strategic and leadership capacity rather than handing out capital.

Who can apply?

  • Business must have at least $250,000 in annual revenue.
  • Must have been operating for at least 3 years.
  • Must have at least one employee besides the owner.

What do you get?

  • In-person and self-paced instruction, mentoring, and classroom time over roughly 6 months, at no cost.
  • Participants produce a 3-year strategic growth action plan with concrete benchmarks.
  • Access to a peer cohort, local business leaders, and the local financial community.

How to apply

Apply through SBA's THRIVE program page or a local SBA district office running a cohort in your area.

Go to official portal