about us
About us

We advance equity and inclusion in entrepreneurship by connecting small businesses with the resources and community they need to grow.

Mission

Start Small Think Big is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting small businesses by connecting entrepreneurs—especially those with limited access to capital and institutional support—with the professional resources and community they need to thrive. We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to start and grow a business, and we're here to help make that possible.

History

In 2010, our founder, Jenny DaSilva, decided to use her legal training to make it easier for others to forge their entrepreneurial journey. Launched in the Bronx, NY, Start Small Think Big was born with a small network of legal experts offering free services to local entrepreneurs.

Since then, we’ve expanded access to legal services, created a Finance program, refined our model, and developed a huge bi-coastal, national network of staff, partners, and volunteers. What started as a small local solution has become a nationwide force for inclusive entrepreneurship. 

Present day, we’ve provided millions of free services to tens of thousands of entrepreneurs, powered by a belief that entrepreneurs can thrive when equipped with the right support.

Vision

We believe there’s no single path to growth. For some entrepreneurs, it looks like opening a storefront. For others, it means staying small but earning more. And sometimes, it’s about reclaiming time, building community wealth, or hiring locally. Our future is about meeting these dreams with the resources, tools, and community to make them real.

Our work remains focused on increasing the growth of small business ownership and connecting small business owners with expert guidance—at no cost to them—so they can build a business on their own terms. As we look ahead, we’re focused on deepening and broadening our impact in collaboration with the entrepreneurs and organizations we partner with.  
 

What's next?

  • We aspire to increase the number of entrepreneurs served annually to 5,000+

  • Grow our volunteer network to 4,000+ active professionals in law, finance, and business strategy

  • Expand legal services to additional states through partnership with regional pro bono attorney networks

  • Grow our national digital platform to match entrepreneurs with expert volunteers based on need, language, and business stage

  • Partner with 1,000 corporations and community organizations nationwide to scale skill-based volunteering and local economic impact

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OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND LEARNING

 

Start Small Think Big centers underserved entrepreneurs, recognizing that talent is equally distributed but opportunity is not. We intentionally partner with organizations like Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati who share our commitment to equity, believing that sustainable change requires collective action from institutions willing to dedicate their expertise to leveling the playing field. Our ecosystem of partners reflects our values—ensuring every entrepreneur has access to the high-quality legal, strategic, and educational support they need to build thriving businesses.