Check out the inspiring stories of entrepreneurs who participated in the Intuit IDEAS program and are making a difference in their communities.
Bridging the digital divide in communities that often get overlooked
Candace Walker, the CEO and founder of Los Angeles-based Generation Connect, is a shining example of the impact of Intuit IDEAS.
Inspired by her widowed mother and teenage children, Candace founded Generation Connect, a social impact startup that helps teens and seasoned adults work together to help bridge the digital divide. Candace identified key challenges for her business, including attracting both teens and seasoned adults to the program, and securing operational funding.
Generation Connect’s inclusion in the Intuit IDEAS program empowered Candace to rework her company’s financial management and reporting, driving lasting positive changes. Networking with experts in the cohort gave her opportunities for collaboration and learning from her peers.
Above all else, Candace is committed to the impact that Generation Connect has on its communities. Her business is addressing the aging of America by providing resources in neighborhoods that may be overlooked. While revenue helps cover expenses, Candace is most excited about the impact her business creates through its products and services. She believes a company can achieve both—financial sustainability and meaningful impact.
Combining social impact and scaling a business
As a previous user of QuickBooks, she understood the product on a basic level, but was able to work one-on-one with an Intuit QuickBooks Live expert, who offered tailored support, so she could discover features that work for her business and save more time and money. She encourages all entrepreneurs to take advantage of programs like IDEAS so they too can unlock their potential.
Candace Walker’s journey with Intuit IDEAS is a testament to the power of community and collaboration in achieving social impact and success. She has channeled her personal experience into a venture that addresses the needs of both the aging population and teenagers.
Candace’s story demonstrates that, despite the challenges of gender, age, and race, passion and entrepreneurship can combine to create meaningful change in the world. To learn more about how you can benefit from helping bridge the digital divide and connect different generations, check out Generation Connect.
About Intuit IDEAS
IDEAS stands for Invest, Develop, Empower, Accelerate and Scale.
Intuit IDEAS is a program empowering small business owners in cities across the United States to help improve entrepreneurs with their functioning, efficiency, earnings, and capital readiness.
Through Intuit IDEAS, small business owners receive free access to Intuit’s AI-driven expert platform and products, including QuickBooks, Mailchimp, and TurboTax. In addition to support from Intuit’s expert network, Intuit IDEAS participants also receive business counseling, executive coaching, and a grant to help them grow their businesses. Small business owners are boosting their revenue by an average of 23% and saving 16.5 hours monthly, enabling them to focus on growing their businesses and make a bigger impact in their communities.