How Next Street is fixing a fragmented support system for U.S. small businesses

For many small business owners, simply figuring out where to turn for funding, coaching, and trusted guidance can feel like a job in itself.

Capital providers, technical assistance programs, coaching networks, and public resources often operate separately rather than together, leaving entrepreneurs to navigate a disconnected support system on their own. Small business owners are frequently forced to bounce between organizations, applications, and intake processes just to find the right help — making it difficult to know where to start or who to trust.

That’s the challenge Next Street is working to solve.

Next Street works with public sector agencies and leaders, corporations, philanthropies, and business support organizations to help small businesses more easily access capital, advising, procurement opportunities, and other growth resources. With support from Mastercard Strive USA, the organization has launched resource hubs and digital platforms designed to make small business support easier to navigate and better connected across providers.

We sat down with Charisse Conanan Johnson, CEO of Next Street, to talk about the challenges small businesses face navigating support systems, why coordination matters as much as technology, and where she sees the biggest opportunities for business owners in today’s economy.

What was this work designed to change?

Next Street set out to address a fragmented, hard-to-navigate support system where small businesses often spend more time navigating resources than benefiting from them. Entrepreneurs often had to sort through disconnected organizations and programs without a clear sense of where to turn, who to trust, or which resources were most relevant to their needs.

At the same time, there was limited data helping providers, funders, and support organizations understand what was working, where gaps existed, and how to better support small businesses more effectively.

Why does this change matter for small businesses?

Ultimately, this work is about making entrepreneurs’ lives easier. Tasks that once took weeks, like finding and connecting with the right advisor, can now happen in minutes. Instead of spending valuable time navigating disconnected systems, business owners can stay focused on running and growing their businesses.

Just as importantly, entrepreneurs have greater confidence that the resources they are being connected to are trusted, relevant, and designed to help them succeed.

What shifted as a result?

In markets where Next Street’s solutions have been implemented, small businesses now have a single “front door” to access capital, coaching, and other growth resources.

At the same time, the support systems surrounding those businesses have become more connected, with stronger referrals, coordination, and data-sharing across providers. That data is also helping governments, corporations, and philanthropies better understand where support is working and where additional investment is needed. One insight from our platform: businesses that connect with a financial advisor are six times more likely to secure funding.

What is the difference between serving Main Street and supplier businesses?

Main Street businesses are traditionally thought of as “mom and pop” businesses rooted in a specific place and serving individual customers, whereas supplier businesses sell goods and services to larger institutions with local, national, or global reach.

While both groups benefit from easier access to resources and support, supplier businesses often require more specialized support around finding and winning contracts, securing financing that allows them to scale, and navigating complex procurement systems.

Next Street’s platform and partner network are designed to support both Main Street and supplier businesses, while also tailoring support to the different needs, growth stages, and opportunities each business faces.

What did you learn that others in the field should pay attention to?

One of the biggest lessons is that technology alone isn’t enough. You can build a strong platform, but if the organizations surrounding small businesses are not aligned, entrepreneurs will still experience the system as fragmented. Real impact requires coordination across partners, shared goals, strong relationship management, and ongoing investment in helping business owners actually find and use available support.

We also found that both quantitative and qualitative data are essential for understanding what’s working and continuously improving the experience for small businesses.

Where do you think the biggest opportunity is to support business owners in today’s economic landscape?

One of the biggest opportunities is helping small businesses access and compete in emerging sectors shaping the U.S. economy, from infrastructure and semiconductors to financial services and AI-driven industries. These sectors present significant growth opportunities, but many small businesses need targeted support to build capacity, adopt new technologies, secure contracts, and position themselves for long-term growth in an increasingly uncertain economic environment.

What is the next phase of this work?

Building on the foundation created through this work, we’ve launched small business resource hubs in New York City, Los Angeles, and Michigan. We’re now expanding our tech-enabled solutions into additional markets, including New York and Arizona, where we plan to launch Supplier Success Accelerators to support businesses at different stages of growth.

We’re also developing new platform features, including diagnostic tools and more personalized pathways that connect entrepreneurs to the right mix of learning, advising, and capital based on where they are in their growth journey.

As we look ahead, continued collaboration across the public, private, and philanthropic sectors remains central to scaling impact for small businesses.