At Goodie Nation, we’ve long said that innovation doesn’t belong solely to tech startups. It lives in the hands of founders who blend organic teas, craft eco-luxury goods, elevate cultural fashion, and reinvent parenting tools. It’s brick-and-mortar entrepreneurs shaping the heartbeat of their cities. It’s community builders, culture keepers, and bold creatives solving today’s problems—no matter the industry. And this Small Business Month, we’re honored to celebrate them.

In partnership with Lenovo and Intel, we’re thrilled to announce the 2025 Lenovo Evolve Small Cohort, a powerful lineup of ten small business startups from across North America—spanning consumer packaged goods (CPG) to brick-and-mortar service providers. Each will receive $25,000 in grant funding, a $10,000 technology package, and a full year of professional development from our team at Goodie Nation. This includes coaching, storytelling support, and—for the first time ever—AI upskilling designed to future-proof their growth.

These founders are not just running businesses. They’re running towards something bigger: a world where they have access to the same resources, networks, and capital that tech startup founders enjoy every day.

Imagine That.

Imagine a world where CPG founders receive tailored coaching that helps them navigate retail partnerships and logistics—just like SaaS founders get pitch decks and product roadmaps.

Imagine brick-and-mortar entrepreneurs with access to capital that’s typically reserved for tech accelerators.

Imagine dynamic marketing campaigns that highlight local brands with global visions.

Imagine AI tools that work for barbers and bakers—not just coders.

That world is not a dream. It’s the work. And thanks to Lenovo’s unwavering commitment to small businesses through its Evolve Small initiative, we’re helping to make it a reality.

Now in its fourth year, the Lenovo Evolve Small program has delivered more than $3.6 million in grants and technology solutions across the U.S. and Canada. By partnering with us here at Goodie Nation, the program ensures that this support goes beyond the check—because small businesses deserve long-term, intentional support designed for scale.

This year’s cohort is bold, brilliant, and boundary-breaking. They include:

These founders come from a diversity of industries—and that’s exactly the point.

Innovation looks different in every community.

As we celebrate Small Business Month, we urge the broader ecosystem to look beyond the conventional. Support doesn’t start and end in Silicon Valley. It starts at the tea shop, the barbershop, the mom-and-pop store on your block. And it continues with real investments—financial, technological, and human.

This is what it means to Imagine That.

To learn more about the Lenovo Evolve Small program and meet the full 2025 cohort, visit Lenovo’s Evolve Small site or stay tuned as we share their journeys throughout the year.

This is innovation done right.