Reaching 10,000 Strong – with Warren Buffett, Michael Bloomberg, Mary Barra, and David Solomon

Ten years ago, when Goldman Sachs launched 10,000 Small Businesses, we had a singular vision to help entrepreneurs grow and create jobs in their communities.

This year, we’ve lived up to our name, and have served 10,000 small business owners in communities across our country – and together, we are 10,000 Strong. Our Advisory Council members, including Warren Buffett, Michael Bloomberg, Mary Barra, and David Solomon joined us to recognize this milestone.

To date, we’ve reached entrepreneurs across all 50 states, Washington D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Alumni collectively account for over $14 billion in revenues and employ over 200,000 people – real economic forces in their communities. Our graduates have routinely outpaced national averages on revenue and job growth, with nearly 70% growing revenues and nearly 50% creating jobs just six months after graduation. As written in a case study by the Harvard Business School, the impact of the program is not just about the number of businesses served, but the local small business infrastructure that has been strengthened as a result.

But we did not achieve this alone – over the last decade, we’ve partnered with over 125 organizations across the entrepreneurial ecosystem to build and scale the program. Organizations like Babson College, ICIC, NUL, and our network of community colleges have locked arms with us since Day 1, and our collective impact will only continue.

This has been a challenging year for small businesses, but I firmly believe that the passion and perseverance of entrepreneurs will be the twin forces that build the road to recovery. And together, we are 10,000 Strong.