Intuit Inc., the global financial technology platform behind TurboTax, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, has announced the national expansion of its Intuit IDEAS (Invest, Develop, Empower, Accelerate, and Scale) accelerator program. This initiative, in partnership with the National Urban League, is now accepting applications from small businesses across nine U.S. cities and a nationwide cohort exclusively for veterans and military spouse entrepreneurs.
The IDEAS program, which has already demonstrated success in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Philadelphia, provides participants with access to Intuit's AI-driven products and services, alongside business and executive coaching from the National Urban League and Zella Life. Participants in the program's first year reported an average revenue increase of 23% and saved 16.5 hours monthly, showcasing the program's potential to significantly impact small business growth and efficiency.
David Graham, Senior Vice President of Customer Success at Intuit, emphasized the program's alignment with Intuit's mission to empower small business owners with the necessary tools and support to thrive. The expansion aims to support an additional 250 small business owners in cities including Charlotte, Chicago, and New York City, alongside a dedicated cohort for military veterans and spouses.
Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, highlighted the program's role in addressing common challenges faced by small businesses, such as limited access to capital and support. By combining Intuit's technological resources with the National Urban League's extensive experience in coaching small business owners, the IDEAS program offers a comprehensive support system for entrepreneurs.
Participants benefit from complimentary access to Intuit's financial technology platform, including TurboTax and QuickBooks, supported by platform experts. Additionally, they receive business and executive coaching, a technology grant for hardware needs, and a cash grant upon completing the 12-month program to further fuel their business growth.
The program's impact is exemplified by the success story of Emilio Daniel Vasquez, CEO and founder of Coffee Cart Boys, who credits Intuit IDEAS with transforming his entrepreneurial journey. The application for the Intuit IDEAS program is currently open, with a deadline of July 21, 2025, for interested business owners in the designated cities and veteran or military spouse entrepreneurs nationwide.
