Ontario Sun - Intuit IDEAS Program Expands Nationally to Empower Small Businesses and Veteran Entrepreneurs

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 and will extend its reach to nine cities across the United States, including a dedicated nationwide cohort 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 guidance, 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 program’s expansion to Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, New Orleans, New York City, and San Diego aims to support an additional 250 small business owners, furthering Intuit’s mission to empower entrepreneurs with the tools and support they need to thrive.

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 to fuel further business growth.

The program has already transformed lives, as evidenced by Emilio Daniel Vasquez, CEO and founder of Coffee Cart Boys, who described Intuit IDEAS as more than just a program. ‘It empowered me to overcome impostor syndrome while providing the support and business coaching I needed to believe in myself and step into my potential as a CEO and entrepreneur,’ Vasquez shared.

The application for the Intuit IDEAS program is now open, with a deadline of July 21, 2025, for interested business owners in the nine program cities and veteran or military spouse entrepreneurs nationwide. This expansion represents a significant opportunity for small businesses to leverage Intuit’s resources and expertise to achieve unprecedented growth and success.