Nearby helps launch and scale social enterprises that drive purpose and profit.
We believe in the power of social enterprises.
We believe in the power of social enterprises to transform communities most affected by systemic social and economic inequality. We work alongside social enterprises and impact leaders to turn big ideas into actionable, market-driven solutions that deliver both impact and financial sustainability.
We provide relevant tools, data-driven insights, and expert strategies to help organizations and leaders confidently move from vision to action.
We do this by:
Cultivating Ecosystems
We foster a deeper understanding of social enterprises and alternative business models through entrepreneurial education, training, and community engagement.
Designing Incubators
Our tailored cohort-based programs provide relevant content and resources to explore, ideate, and successfully launch and grow social enterprises.
Developing Social
Enterprises
We help founders navigate the critical steps to build and scale feasible, impactful ventures.
Providing Responsive Technical Assistance
We provide strategic support to increase impact and ensure long-term success.
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Capacity Building Support
Coaching
Cooperative Education and Business Development
Curriculum Development and Workshop Series Design
Entrepreneurial Education
Facilitation
Feasibility Analysis
Incubator Design and Delivery
Program Measurement and Evaluation
Strategic Planning
Workforce Development Program Design and Delivery
Nearby isn’t just our name, it’s how we work.
We believe the best work happens through genuine partnership, thoughtful curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to building innovative business models driving purpose and profit— which is why we don’t just consult; we cultivate lasting relationships.
We are a democratically run boutique firm with decades of collective experience spanning education, social enterprises, startups, nonprofits, and workforce development. Whether we are designing and implementing a cohort-style incubator program or providing individualized business development support services, we roll up our sleeves and work alongside you to make your next step possible.
We tackle our clients’ most pressing social and economic challenges with deep expertise and experience, pragmatic strategy, and a touch of joy and fun. Our approach to this work is:
Collaborative: We co-create solutions with stakeholders, ensuring all voices are heard and valued.
Lean and Agile: We adapt quickly to feedback and changing circumstances to continuously improve our process and solutions.
Human-Centered: We prioritize participants' needs and experiences, creating an environment where everyone feels safe, supported, and empowered.
Iterative and Outcomes-Driven: We focus on achieving tangible impact and continuously refining our methods based on feedback and outcomes.
Our clients trust us to deliver solutions that power them forward.
Hear what they have to say:
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From Abbie Flis, Capacity Building Manager at REDF
“Nearby partnered with REDF to build a 12-week Employment Social Enterprise (ESE) Incubator Program for community-based organizations in Santa Clara County committed to developing ESEs focused on employing and supporting people with justice system involvement and other barriers to employment.
The Nearby team was able to create a participant-centered design process, sort through REDF’s 25 years’ worth of content, and bring their own expertise to create and facilitate a best-in-class program.
They are relentlessly committed to centering the lives and experiences of those served by the organizations they work with. They create a structured approach to their work, stick to deadlines, and deliver high-quality finished products.”
Services provided by Nearby: Employment Social Enterprise Incubator Program Design and Delivery, Curriculum Development and Workshop Series Design, Facilitation
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From Monique Jackson, Founder & CEO at L&F Project Management
“Nearby collaborated with our enterprise to co-design and launch an intensive 10-week supportive employment program aimed at training and employing Black women as certified project managers.
Alex, Erika, and Nicole brought a strategic, methodical approach with a strong emphasis on human-centered design, making them a pleasure to work with. Their expertise helped us create a truly impactful and distinctive program, setting the stage for ongoing improvement and scalability!”
Services provided by Nearby: Workforce Development Program Design and Delivery, Curriculum Development and Workshop Series Design, Facilitation, Capacity Building Support
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From Lauren Taylor, Principal at REDF
“Nearby partnered with REDF, Center for Nonprofit Management, and the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity to co-create a Social Enterprise Incubator to serve 25 community-based organizations as part of the Los Angeles County Economic Mobility Initiative.
They excelled at working with a broad range of entrepreneurs—from experienced nonprofit professionals to emerging tech founders—addressing critical issues such as reentry, homelessness, and addiction. Nearby centered the expertise and lived experiences of the entrepreneurs while skillfully guiding them through the program.
I strongly recommend Nearby to any organization seeking a partner that can design impactful, participant-focused programs, foster collaboration across diverse stakeholders, and deliver results that exceed expectations.”
Services provided by Nearby: Social Enterprise Incubator Program Design and Delivery, Curriculum Development and Workshop Series Design, Facilitation, Coaching
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From Cohort Participants in the LA County EMI Social Enterprise Incubator
“When Los Angeles Habilitation House applied for and was selected to participate in the EMI Incubator Cohort, we arrived with so many questions inspired by our dreams and vision for the future of LAHH. It's like we had a random mix of ingredients, but we weren't quite sure what dish to make. With the warm welcome of Nicole, Alex, and Erika, we found a team who would help us take all of our inspirations and put them together into a beautiful bouquet. Erika, Nicole, and Alex listened to us, really listened, and then guided us, using analytic tools, to help us see how our ideas could come together into a purposeful employment social enterprise in culinary workforce development. Thank you, Nearby Team!” — Nancy & Guido
Services provided by Nearby: Social Enterprise Incubator Program Design and Delivery, Curriculum Development and Workshop Series Design, Facilitation, Coaching
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From Mary Sutton, Founder at Collective REMAKE
“We’ve collaborated with Nearby to develop and implement our Advanced Co-operative Education and Development (CEAD) programming, including an 8-part workshop series for systems-impacted entrepreneurs working to launch cooperatively-run businesses.
Nearby continues to help us scale up our functions, grow participant leadership, and realize our vision for a CEAD Center in South Los Angeles.
We are always glad to see Alex, Erika, and Nicole in a meeting. They bring positivity, innovation, organization, and much-needed skills to the table. I always look forward to an opportunity to work with Nearby and get the job done!”
Services provided by Nearby: Cooperative Education and Development, Curriculum Development and Workshop Series Design, Facilitation, Capacity Building Support, Strategic Planning, Entrepreneurial Education
Some numbers to back us up.
50+
Partnerships with leaders and organizations to launch or scale social enterprises
$1M
Our clients have garnered over $1M in funding or contracts to continue the growth of their social enterprises
+100
Net Promoter Score from Los Angeles Social Enterprise Incubator Participants
6x
Co-designed and facilitated social enterprise incubators
We are Nearby.
Let’s talk about how we can work together to tackle your next big idea.
Los Angeles, California | Seattle, Washington