Celebrating Innovation in Small Businesses
At ICIC, innovation is at the core of everything we do—from groundbreaking research to empowering small businesses with the tools they need to grow and thrive. That’s why we’ve designated 2025 as the Year of Innovation! ICIC was founded on an innovative idea: that small businesses in under-resourced communities can drive economic transformation by creating jobs, generating wealth, and strengthening local economies. For the past 30 years, we’ve turned insights into action, delivering research-driven programs that fuel growth, resilience, and opportunity.
This year, we have launched several innovation-focused initiatives, including the Intuit More with AI Tour and the Manufacturing Accelerator Program: High-Growth Strategies for Manufacturers. We are also celebrating the 20-year milestone of our flagship program, ICCC, which has exemplified creativity and ingenuity since its inception. Additionally, we have multiple groundbreaking research projects scheduled for publication this year, the first of which—”AI in Business: How Small Business Owners Are Learning, Using, and Navigating Challenges with AI Tools“—is available now.
As we embark on the journey of exploring innovation in all its forms, we are most eager to showcase the incredible achievements of our program participants, alumni, and partners—the true changemakers shaping inclusive economic prosperity. We invite you to join us in this celebration. Let’s come together to showcase the vital role that innovation plays in all industries and sectors. Use the form below to share your definition of innovation, how it has contributed to your business’s success, and how it has positively impacted others. Innovation has brought us to this point, and it will guide us toward a more inclusive future!
Spotlight on Innovators
Kenya and Kevin Jones of Jones Software Corporation earned the inaugural Intuit Innovation Award for their AI-powered learning solutions. With guidance from ICIC’s ICCC program, they strengthened growth strategies and forged key partnerships, scaling their impact. Their award-winning work, including contributions to the Microsoft Copilot launch, shows how vision and persistence create real impact. Read More.
Cyvatar empowers small and midsize businesses with AI-driven cybersecurity solutions. From threat prevention to compliance and insurance support, CEO Corey White explains how innovation keeps clients secure without costly teams through an affordable, all-in-one subscription model.View the Video.
Rosa Santana leads the Santana Group, a family of companies that create jobs across the U.S. and Mexico. As a member of ICIC’s Board of Directors and an advisor to our new Manufacturing Accelerator Program (MAP), Rosa is helping other small manufacturers grow with confidence. Manufacturing changed her life, and now she’s helping make that transformation possible for others. Read More.
More Innovator Blog Highlights More Innovator Video Highlights
As part of our Year of Innovation, ICIC launched Investing in Innovation, a bold campaign to invest in proven programs that break barriers and spark lasting impact. Small businesses in under-resourced communities are driving innovation every day—solving local problems, creating quality jobs, and building generational wealth. But without equitable access to capital, education, and networks, their growth is too often stifled.
We invite program alumni, partners, and change agents to join us and invest in the future of innovation, the future of small business, and the future of our economy.