Elizabeth Gore, a 47-year-old entrepreneur, has carved a significant path in supporting small businesses across the United States. Growing up in Texas, Gore envisioned a future on her family's cattle farm after earning a bachelor's degree in animal sciences from Texas A&M University. However, her career trajectory took an unexpected turn as she developed a passion for entrepreneurship. Today, she is the co-founder of Hello Alice, a tech platform dedicated to assisting entrepreneurs with capital access, business planning tools, and mentorship.
Gore's professional journey includes nine years at the United Nations Foundation, where she contributed to initiatives like Girl Up. Her work there was just the beginning of her commitment to championing small business owners. During her tenure as an entrepreneur in residence at Dell, she supported emerging companies through the Dell Women's Entrepreneur Network. This role highlighted the challenges faced by small business owners in the U.S., especially among women, people of color, and veterans.
"I was shocked at how hard it was [to start your own business] in the U.S." – Elizabeth Gore
Recognizing these obstacles as potential opportunities for change, Gore joined forces with Carolyn Rodz to launch Hello Alice in 2017. The platform has since raised $28 million through multiple funding rounds, aiding 1.5 million small business owners and contributing $52 million in grants.
"for women, people of color, our veterans," – Elizabeth Gore
Hello Alice's success is driven by innovative tools like its business health score, which is licensed to banks and fintech companies. This tool assesses the health of businesses and provides insights that help entrepreneurs thrive. In addition, Hello Alice sends tailored email alerts about new grants and funding programs based on users' business profiles.
"We are really passionate about showing that they are literally the beating heart of this country." – Elizabeth Gore
The company also plans to integrate artificial intelligence into its platform to offer real-time personalized recommendations and predictive analytics. This technological advancement aims to enhance user experience by analyzing business data and anticipating challenges entrepreneurs might face.
"as less of a problem and more as this big opportunity," – Carolyn Rodz
Gore's commitment extends beyond technology; it is rooted in the belief that empowering small business owners can have a profound impact on society.
"if they were able to make their own income, they could pay for family health care and their kids could go to school." – Elizabeth Gore
Her dedication ensures that female entrepreneurs have access to necessary technological resources.
"that our female customers had the technology they needed to scale," – Elizabeth Gore
Despite her diverse career, Gore's enthusiasm for small businesses remains unwavering.
"I really had a fever, which I still do, about small business," – Elizabeth Gore