Association for Enterprise Opportunity

Innovation innovation at the organization is a facilitated process for engaging cohorts of diverse stakeholders and co-designing new solutions and platforms that drive transformational change. The innovation program uses the organization's core competencies to generate transformational change. Its goal is to build a more robust and inclusive marketplace for underserved microbusiness entrepreneurs. The organization brings a series of unique competencies to innovation: a systemic understanding, a capacity to collaborate and partner with a broad and diverse range of market actors - an entrepreneurial, resourceful approach.

Research and insights the organization's research provides timely information on the industry, including analyzing microbusinesses' economic impact and needs. Research produces new insights that can assist with resource allocation for funders, guide advocacy priorities, and offer industry service providers and lenders information that can deepen their impact. The organization's research utilizes data from a variety of sources to provide analyses to illustrate the microbusiness landscape. --- policy and advocacy policy and advocacy efforts focus on the needs of the microbusiness industry in the areas of training and technical assistance, access to markets, credit access, and asset development strategies. The organization advocates for federal programs and policies that invest in microbusinesses and underserved entrepreneurs.

Engagement communications policy the organization is leading several initiatives around the country to strengthen the organization's capacity and reach to underserved entrepreneurs. Aeo hosts an annual national conference to provide training and networking opportunities to its members and the industry. Aeo promotes networking and information sharing among its members via various communications vehicles, such as the aeo voice, the organization's website, and roundtable discussions.

Black innovation alliance black innovation alliance is a coalition of like-minded black-led and black-serving companies and organizations working to ensure black ownership is increasing through fair participation in the innovation economy.