Intuit Inc., the global financial technology platform behind TurboTax, Credit Karma, 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 business owners across nine U.S. cities and a nationwide cohort exclusively for veterans and military spouse entrepreneurs.
The IDEAS program, which initially launched in Los Angeles before expanding to Atlanta and Philadelphia, has demonstrated significant success. Participants reported an average revenue increase of 23% and saved 16.5 hours monthly, thanks to the program's combination of Intuit's AI-driven products, services, and expert support, alongside business and executive coaching from the National Urban League and Zella Life.
David Graham, Senior Vice President of Customer Success at Intuit, highlighted the program's impact, stating, "We have seen firsthand how Intuit IDEAS has made a lasting impact on participants, their families and communities." The expansion aims to support an additional 250 small business owners in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, New Orleans, New York City, and San Diego, alongside a dedicated cohort for military veterans and spouses.
Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, emphasized the program's role in addressing the challenges small businesses face, such as limited funding and access to capital. "By combining Intuit’s products and services with the National Urban League’s 115 years of experience supporting and coaching small business owners, the possibilities for us together to make a real difference are endless," Morial said.
Participants in the Intuit IDEAS program gain complimentary access to Intuit's financial technology platform, including TurboTax, QuickBooks, Mailchimp, and Credit Karma, supported by platform experts. Additionally, they receive business coaching from the National Urban League and executive coaching from Zella Life, along with a technology grant for hardware needs and a cash grant upon completing the 12-month program.
Emilio Daniel Vasquez, CEO and founder of Coffee Cart Boys and an inaugural cohort member, shared his transformative experience with the program, stating, "Intuit IDEAS was more than just a program—it transformed my life." The program's application is now open, with a deadline of July 21, 2025, for interested business owners in the specified cities and veteran or military spouse entrepreneurs nationwide.
