SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- While the pandemic
has been a challenging time for small businesses, it's also opened
up an entirely new pathway to success through ecommerce. In the
lead up to the holiday season, and with demand for ecommerce at an
all-time high, eBay is announcing a new grants program today to
help small businesses stay up and running
online.
The Up & Running Grants are focused on ensuring today's
small businesses are here tomorrow by committing more than
$500,000 in funding and education
resources for existing business sellers to secure viability beyond
2020. The grants program builds on eBay's long-standing commitment
to small businesses and expands the company's Up & Running
initiative by offering 50 business sellers a $10,000 grant package.
"Small businesses are the backbone of eBay, as well as the
engine of jobs, progress, and prosperity for communities across the
U.S. The launch of eBay's Up & Running Grants program comes at
a time when small businesses need investment and empowerment most,"
said Jordan Sweetnam, GM and SVP
eBay North America. "In such a
challenging year, it was important for this program to provide a
financial bridge and long-term support - so small businesses can
keep their doors open today and lay the groundwork for future
success."
Up & Running Seller Grants Program
Through the Up
& Running Grants program, 50 eBay small business sellers will
each receive a grant package composed of $8,000 cash and $2,000 worth of eBay credits. In addition,
recipients will also enjoy premium access to Seller School and
direct training and coaching from expert sellers and eBay Growth
Advisors. The program will help ensure sellers have the funding,
education and resources to help grow their online business.
eBay is partnering with business accelerator Hello Alice to
launch the grants program application and to provide access to
mentorship and resources to all sellers who apply, whether they are
ultimately chosen for a grant or not. Through Hello Alice,
applicants will be enrolled in an online community of similar
businesses for peer-to-peer networking and will also have access to
their COVID-19 Business Center.
"Small business is the backbone of our economy. We are
thrilled to partner with eBay on their Up & Running Grants
program to ensure founders succeed scaling their business online,"
said Elizabeth Gore, Co-Founder and
President of Hello Alice. "This has been a stressful year for many
small business owners, and there is very little capital available
to help owners through challenges this winter. Therefore this
program's funding and resources are a critical part of SMBs success
in 2021 and beyond."
Apply for an Up & Running Grant
From Monday, Nov. 23, through Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, eBay small business
sellers are encouraged to apply for Up & Running Grants via an
online application. Business sellers will be asked to share details
of their small business and how they plan to use the grant to
accelerate their growth. eBay is looking to identify sellers who
represent a diverse range of backgrounds, bring their unique
experiences and inventory to the marketplace, and are committed to
their communities and the eBay ecosystem. To apply or learn more
about eligibility requirements, sellers can visit
ebay.helloalice.com.
About Up & Running
In 2020, born out of the
pandemic and an extension of the acclaimed Retail Revival program,
eBay launched its Up & Running small business accelerator
initiative. eBay pledged up to $100
million to help small businesses get and grow their
businesses online, providing fee discounts, special guidance and
resources to run their business on eBay. To learn more visit
ebay.com/upandrunning.
About eBay Seller School
eBay Seller School is a new
virtual learning platform offering on-demand lessons, videos, and
more to help every eBay seller thrive in our marketplace. Seller
School offers both beginner-level and more advanced courses to help
all sellers accelerate and scale their eBay business, regardless of
their time and experience on the platform. Seller School is
available anytime, from anywhere, and is 100% free. More
information is available at ebay.com/smallbusiness.
About Hello Alice
Hello Alice is a free, multichannel
platform that helps businesses launch and grow. With a community of
more than 250,000 business owners in all 50 states and across the
globe, Hello Alice is building the largest network of owners in the
country while tracking data and trends to increase the success rate
for entrepreneurs. Our partners include enterprise business
services, government agencies, and institutions looking to serve
small- and medium business owners to ensure increased revenues and
promote scale. Founded by Carolyn
Rodz and Elizabeth Gore, we
believe in business for all by providing access to all owners,
including women, people of color, veterans, and everyone with an
entrepreneurial spirit. To learn more, visit
www.helloalice.com.
For more information and applications, visit
ebay.helloalice.com. Download the media kit here.
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SOURCE eBay Inc.