123 Main Street, New York, NY 10001
NorthSTAR illuminates pathways and eliminates barriers to entrepreneurship as a viable means for people to reach social and economic upward mobility for themselves, their families, and their communities.
In 2022, RevHubOC, a California Social Purpose Corporation, along with its partners, established the NorthSTAR (Systems To Access Resources) OC Collaborative to build the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Orange County. This ecosystem is designed to illuminate pathways and eliminate barriers to entrepreneurship for under-represented and under-resourced communities.
Seed funding for the initiative came from an $8.5 million grant through the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), championed by Senator Josh Newman (CA-29th District). Programming began in January 2023, which includes workshops, webinars, Neighborhood Hub centers, trainings, individual mentoring, counseling and navigation, incubation, acceleration, early-stage non-dilutive capital for under-resourced entrepreneurs, proof-of-concept funding, hackathons, competitions, and access to investment capital.
The NorthSTAR Collaborative brings together comprehensive resources which provide people what they need to explore and develop new business ideas.
As a key driver of its social purpose–to identify genius entrepreneurs solving our world’s most pressing social and environmental problems–RevHub has dedicated its resources and evidence-based systems to align top regional economic development organizations along a shared vision. This role as lead convener of the “entrepreneurialism-as-a-social-solution” movement has quickly earned RevHub the respect and attention of influential regional and national decision-makers, and has generated increased demand for expansion of the program to other major metropolitan communities.
At NorthSTAR, we believe in the transformative power of entrepreneurship to unlock human potential. Through our program, we provide aspiring individuals with the essential pillars of Belief, Access, and Knowledge, enabling them to achieve upward social and economic advancement.
amplify success stories
We actively foster a belief that anyone can create a business which creates positive change, builds wealth, and ultimately shapes communities for the better.
eliminate barriers
We eliminate barriers by providing equal access to resources, networks, and opportunities. NorthSTAR ensures that aspiring entrepreneurs from all backgrounds, genders, and socioeconomic statuses have a level playing field to launch and scale their businesses. We connect them with mentors, investors, and support networks, opening doors that may have been previously closed. There is no wrong door.
illuminate pathways
We equip individuals with comprehensive entrepreneurial knowledge and skills. Through our robust training programs and practical workshops, we provide the necessary tools, business acumen, and insights to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape. We believe that knowledge is a catalyst for success, and we empower our participants with the know-how to turn their ideas into thriving businesses.
This “no wrong door” approach fuels the upward social and economic advancement of individuals, empowering them to craft their own success stories. In turn, this contributes to a virtuous cycle of economic growth and personal freedom for under-represented and under-served communities.
NorthSTAR was founded through collaboration. We work hand-in-hand with a network of community partners, or existing organizations in Orange County that provide vital services and support to individuals and communities in need. Together, we form a strong and unified force, amplifying our impact and addressing the underlying causes of social challenges.
RevHub, our lead convener, is the driving force behind NorthSTAR's mission. As the central hub, facilitating collaboration and coordination among our community partners, they leverage the expertise, resources, and networks of our partners to foster entrepreneurialism and create pathways to opportunity for all.
OneOC’s mission is to accelerate nonprofit success. As NorthSTAR's fiscal sponsor, OneOC assists in the administrative, legal, and financial operations of the collaborative.