About Count Me In

Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence is the leading national not-for-profit provider of resources, business education and community support for women entrepreneurs seeking to grow micro businesses to million dollar enterprises. Through pioneering multi-platform programs, Count Me In unleashes the full capacity of women’s entrepreneurial spirit and the striking power of women’s economic potential. This is not just another economic development program. Count Me In is fueling a mindset and a movement that promises to change the landscape of the U.S. marketplace and benefit all Americans and their families.

Founded in 1999, Count Me In was the first online micro-lender. Today, Count Me In is fueling a major initiative, Make Mine a Million $ Business™ to inspire one million women entrepreneurs to reach a million $ in revenue. The economic impact of accelerating women’s business success will generate a least four million new jobs and $700 billion in economic activity. The magnitude of the opportunity, especially in the face of economic recession, is unprecedented. Leading the charge and making this vision a reality is Founder and President, Nell Merlino, the creative force behind Take Our Daughters to Work Day.

At every rung, from micro to millions, women business owners face systemic economic and social challenges to grow profitable, sustainable enterprises. According to the 2002 Census, women-owned businesses were almost 50% of privately held companies and start-ups, yet the vast majority of women entrepreneurs reported under $50,000 in revenue and only 2.6%, or 242,000, report more than $1 million in revenue. This is in contrast to the 6% of men-owned firms that have reached the million $ milestone.

Based on our years of work with this community, Count Me In knows that women entrepreneurs grow exponentially when given access to the right tools, coaching and community. Count Me In created the Make Mine a Million $ Business program to challenge women entrepreneurs to reach $1 million in revenue and provide the resources they need to get there. Through live events across the country and a wealth of online resources, Count Me In accelerates women’s business growth with coaching, marketing, technology assistance and a suite of business-building products.

Today, Count Me In’s community of 70,000 highly motivated and commercially active women entrepreneurs together employ more than 200,000 people, making it equivalent to #20 on the Fortune 500 list. Count Me In has been recognized in more than 300 local and national media outlets in 2008 alone, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today and The Today Show, a testament to its commitment to growing and inspiring women in communities across the country.

Count Me In is sponsored by a number of global companies who are dedicated to the success of women entrepreneurs. Our national sponsors include Founding Sponsor American Express OPENSM, FedEx and Dell. These companies provide financing, equipment, discounts, and expertise to Count Me In and our community.