RSG National Mission

The mission of the Ready Set Go(RSG) Foundation is to promote social awareness while providing underserved women, youth, and veteran entrepreneurs with the tools to Educate, Empower, and Execute business ownership. 

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Established in 2014, we are a designated 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in accordance with the Internal Revenue Service. RSG Foundation provides a five-week training program with mentors and insights from successful leaders who are running their businesses. Over the past 10 years, we have served over 2,000 veterans, women, and underserved residents and provided more than $1 million in financial scholarships to start-ups.

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how we do it

The Ready Set Go Foundation is dedicated to empowering communities by providing business, economic development, and health awareness programs. Through generous in-kind contributions, sponsorships, and partnerships from educational,  corporations,  professional individuals, and nonprofit organizations, our programs are accessible to all at little or no cost. Our commitment to community needs underscores our mission to foster positive growth and development for all!  Join us in making a difference.

 

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Our GoaL

Ready Set Go (RSG) aims to support social awareness, women, veterans, and underserved populations seeking assistance to start and succeed as an entrepreneur. We create partnerships to enhance individual knowledge and expansion of businesses to national and global territories

 

Entrepreneurship is a proven pathway to build income, independence, and financial freedom for themselves, their families, and their communities. Small to mid-size business becomes job creator for their local economy. Creating roughly two-thirds of new jobs annually. Minorities, Veterans, Women only earn 30% of revenues even though they own 50% of small businesses. 

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Ready Set Go wants to change this by providing 5-week Entrepreneurial Training & Workshops, Executive Business Coaching, Networking, and resources for access to Capital.

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​Our case in az

The Ready Set Go Foundation seeks to serve underserved entrepreneurs, particularly in regions with a noticeable disparity between entrepreneurial aspirations and the supporting infrastructure. Arizona is a case in point, with specific challenges that necessitate intervention.

 

**1. Minority Demographics vs. Entrepreneurship:** Almost half of Arizona's population identifies as a minority, with a significant 48% (Lendio, 2023). However, this significant representation needs to translate proportionately to business ownership. Minority-owned businesses in Arizona stand at just 15.6% (Lendio, 2023), indicating a vast pool of untapped potential. There is a clear gap here, suggesting the presence of barriers or a lack of necessary support for potential minority entrepreneurs.

 

**2. Stellar Job Growth but Challenges Remain:** The state has seen a remarkable 158% job growth at minority-owned businesses (Lendio, 2023). This showcases the inherent potential of minority businesses in driving the state's economic well-being. However, a decline of 21% in Community Advantage loan approvals (Lendio, 2023) highlights financial challenges they may face, possibly stunting their potential.

 

**3. Startups and Financial Disparities:** Minority-owned startups represent 18.2% of the total, hinting at an entrepreneurial spirit among Arizona's minority communities (Lendio, 2023). However, financial disparities persist. The state's provision for CRA small business loans per capita stands at a meager $275 (Lendio, 2023), considerably lower than the national average. This lack of funding can stymie the growth of these startups, hindering their transition into mature, sustainable businesses.

 

**4. Socio-Economic Indicators:** Arizona's Gini index, a measure of income inequality, is 0.4629, ranking 19th (Lendio, 2023). Moreover, the Black-white unemployment rate ratio is a troubling 1.6 (Lendio, 2023), signifying racial disparities in employment opportunities.

 

Given these statistics, Arizona's minority entrepreneurs face a paradox: a thriving entrepreneurial spirit juxtaposed with financial and systemic challenges. The Ready Set Go Foundation's commitment to serving veterans, youth, women, and the broader underserved demographic can offer the resources, mentorship, and capital necessary to bridge these gaps. By doing so, the foundation will not only empower individual entrepreneurs but also contribute to the socio-economic betterment of the state of Arizona.

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Our case

(entrepreneurs)

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Ready Set Go Foundation is uniquely positioned to support underserved entrepreneurs, particularly in the sectors of veterans, youth, and women, while also addressing the often-overlooked aspect of mental health. 

 

**Veterans: The sacrifices made by veterans extend beyond their service time. Upon reintegration, many grapple with the dual challenge of establishing civilian careers while managing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental health concerns. As highlighted by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), about 10% of small businesses are veteran-owned[^1^]. Yet, the journey from service to entrepreneurship is often marked by barriers like limited access to capital, restricted civilian networks, and untreated mental health issues. The Ready Set Go Foundation provides an environment conducive to business growth, mental healing, empowerment, and community.

 

**Youth: The vigor of youth is often met with the harsh realities of entrepreneurial challenges and the stresses they bring. The Kauffman Foundation reports that only 4% of millennials are venturing into new businesses[^2^]. In addition to the traditional business challenges they face, the pressures of societal expectations and the comparative success seen on social media platforms can exert immense psychological strain. By facilitating entrepreneurial mentorship and mental health support, Ready Set Go creates a holistic environment for young minds to flourish.

 

**Women: Women entrepreneurs, despite owning nearly 40% of U.S. businesses, confront a range of hurdles, from lower loan approvals to the mental toll of breaking through traditionally male-dominated sectors[^3^]. The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) underscores the vast contribution of women-led businesses at almost $1.8 trillion to the U.S. economy[^3^]. With gender-specific challenges, such as balancing work-life pressures and facing gender biases, mental well-being becomes paramount. The Ready Set Go Foundation ensures women are equipped with business tools and mental health resources tailored to their unique experiences.

 

Incorporating mental health support with entrepreneurial training is not just a novel approach but a necessary one. The Ready Set Go Foundation recognizes that the success of a business is intricately linked with the well-being of its founder. Investing in entrepreneurship and mental health, the foundation paves the way for a holistic, sustainable, and inclusive economic and social future.

 

[^1^]: [U.S. Small Business Administration. (2020). Veteran-Owned Businesses and Their Owners](https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/advocacy/2020-Small-Business-Economic-Profile-Veteran-Owned-Businesses.pdf)

[^2^]: [Kauffman Foundation. (2016). The Changing Face of Entrepreneurship](https://www.kauffman.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/kauffman_index_startup_activity_national_trends_2016.pdf)

[^3^]: [National Association of Women Business Owners. (2020). Women Business Owner Statistics](https://www.nawbo.org/resources/women-business-owner-statistics)