Women Making A Difference: Elizabeth Gore & Carolyn Rodz
- Hello Alice’s Relentless Pursuit for Equal Access to Capital
Elizabeth Gore has dedicated her career to supporting small business owners, so it makes sense that her path led her to co-found the financial technology platform Hello Alice with her business partner Carolyn Rodz. Hello Alice’s mission is straightforward: equitable access to capital for all entrepreneurs, regardless of background or resources.
The seeds of Hello Alice were planted back in 2015, during a conference both Gore and Rodz attended together. Essentially off the grid on a mountain, the women found themselves repeatedly discussing the persistent issue of equity in the small business community. Despite having similar trajectories and a shared educational background at Texas A&M University, the women were surprised their paths had never crossed until then—a moment that drove home for both the importance of networking.
“The inherent value of making connections was something that we knew could be a game-changer for the small business community,” Gore says.
It was through their brainstorming that the duo created Hello Alice, motivated by a drive to support business owners who traditionally have fewer opportunities to access capital. They recognized the opportunity to leverage technology to facilitate more effective connections. They drew inspiration from Alice in Wonderland, a tale of relentless pursuit and unexpected adventures, mirroring the entrepreneurial journey. As Gore puts it, the story is a fitting metaphor for the challenges small business owners face, with "cash flow" being the elusive white rabbit.
Explore more Women in Technology and learn about their inspiring entrepreneurial journeys.
Hello Alice offers a variety of resources aimed at creating equitable access to capital. Their platform includes credit, loans, grants, and business planning services. The Hello Alice Small Business Mastercard provides small business owners with tools and services such as expert advice, business insights, cashback, and a rewards program. Crucially, the card can also help business owners with limited or poor credit histories build their credit. Hello Alice also offers the AI-driven Business Health Score, which helps entrepreneurs understand their financial health and provides tailored recommendations to improve business performance.
“Hello Alice is at the forefront of educating small business owners on the importance of assessing their financial health and providing resources and recommendations to optimize operations,” says Gore.
Despite progress, barriers to accessing capital remain, particularly for women and minorities. Gore emphasizes the need for equal opportunities in entrepreneurship, noting studies that suggest a substantial economic boost if women and men participated equally as entrepreneurs. That’s why Hello Alice is continuing in its own relentless pursuit to expand its resources and support for small business owners.
"One of the greatest feelings I have had overseeing Hello Alice's growth has been the abundance of emails and kind messages we have received from small business owners across the country expressing their gratitude for the platform's resources and assistance,” says Gore.
Author - Mariam Ibrahim
Mariam Ibrahim is a writer, editor and communications professional currently based in Seoul. She currently serves as Managing Editor of Disruption.
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