Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Fellows

We are meeting a critical need: connecting historically underrepresented college students with small business owners to provide real-world experience for students and necessary talent for businesses. Building capacity, driving change, powering the future.

Two business woman in a casual conversation.

Opportunity

Small businesses have long expressed the critical need for talent: workers with the fundamental skills to fuel their growth.

Historically underrepresented college students, in local communities across the country, are at the ready to meet that need.

Two business woman starting an interview shaking hands.

Objective

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Fellows creates the unique opportunity for small businesses to address workforce needs with an underutilized talent pipeline.

On-the-job professional experience and networking opportunities will expand career pathways for college students.

Pilot Cities

  1. Baltimore, Maryland

    Baltimore harbor and skyline at night

  2. Cleveland, Ohio

    Cleveland skyline at twilight

  3. Dallas, Texas

    Dallas skyline in the middle of a sunny day

  4. New York City

    New York skyline with Empire State building as the focus on a sunny summer day
Map showing locations of Fellows programs - Dallas, Cleveland, Baltimore, and New York

In partnership with

  1. Community College of Baltimore County
  2. Morgan State University
  3. Dallas College
  4. LaGuardia Community College
  5. Cuyahoga Community College
  6. John Hopkins University
Two small business owners smiling in front of product display in store.

The Participants

10,000 Small Businesses Alumni

Business woman working on a computer

49% of all alumni said they had difficulty meeting staffing needs for essential roles

Business owner in the window of a food truck

50% of all alumni said the most common obstacles to hiring were either finding applicants with the right skills or unpredictable cash flow

Fellows Projects Across Industries

Top industries where students are completing internship projects

  1. Marketing & Sales
  2. Creative Production
  3. Project Management
  4. Trade Compliance
  5. Finance and Accounting
  6. Inventory Management
  7. Web Development
  8. Studio Landscape Design

Fall 2022 10,000 Small Businesses Fellows

Two students looking at information on a desktop computer

56% of Fall 2022 10KSB Fellows are first-generation college students

Two young business women having a casual conversation

38% of Fall 2022 10KSB Fellows have no prior work experience in their chosen field of interest

Women around a boardroom table having a discussion.
  1. 42% Black/African-American
  2. 19% White
  3. 14% Asian
  4. 25% Mixed/Other/Unknown

Impact

81% of business owners said the internship created value for their company, estimated to be double the cost of paying the Fellow over the three-month internship

87% of Fellows stated that the internship was a meaningful work experience and helped them gain new skills and knowledge that would contribute to their future goals

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What They're Saying

“This was a game-changer for our business without a doubt.” — Jessie Baginski, CEO of Leadership Lake County, Cleveland
“The program opened my eyes to a different talent pipeline.” — Stephanie Franklin, President & CEO of Franklin Law Group, Baltimore
“It was really exciting to have fresh eyes and a fresh brain to help us [describe our work and] understand how we could do it better.” — Jaime Echt, The Crafter’s Workshop, New York
“[Fellows] broadened my knowledge base and helped me critically think about my career that I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise without this experience.” — Rodney Horton Jr, Fellow, Baltimore
“[The program allowed me] to make a connection between school and what it means in the real world... [This was my] first stepping stone into the working world [which is something] that many college students aren’t getting.” — Stuart Ross, Fellow, New York
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Updates

For more information, including eligibility criteria and how to apply:

Learn More

Any questions? Contact hello@10ksbfellows.com