Business education and coaching for immigrant, minority, women, and under-resourced entrepreneurs.
Serving Hartford for over 10+ Years
Hundreds of entrepreneurs served
Workshop & Coaching
Our Mission
International Hartford exists to help immigrant, minority, women, and under-resourced entrepreneurs overcome systemic barriers and build sustainable, revenue-generating businesses that strengthen families and communities.
Our Impact
For more than a decade, we’ve built a reputation for personalized, culturally responsive support and a consistent presence in Hartford’s multicultural neighborhoods. The organization helped hundreds of entrepreneurs move from idea to operation, including:
Angry Papa’s Fresh Foods
Burmese entrepreneurs supported through the city permitting process to open a culturally specific grocery and food market.
Dental America
A bilingual dental practice on Park Street, coached through city building requirements to open and serve under-insured families.
Shev’s Quality Wear
An Indian-owned formal wear store that received city grant assistance facilitated by IH to modernize the storefront and expand inventory.
Yolanda’s Products
A Latino-owned sofrito manufacturing company for whom IH developed the business plan and secured both a state loan and grant.
Williams Realty &
Professional Services
A West Indian couple supported by IH to write their business plan and secure a startup loan for a realty and property management venture.
My Sensor Cane
A Puerto Rican inventor whose adaptive technology prototype for visually impaired individuals was produced through an IH-brokered partnership with MakeHartford.
Thank you to the following sponsors
News & Events
More to Come
Our Services
Access to Capital
Commercial banks don’t lend to start-ups, but non-profit lenders do. We direct you to friendly lenders as well as help you succeed with your loan application.
Financial counseling
Getting the green light for a loan requires good financial record-keeping, a decent credit score, and being up to date on taxes. International Hartford helps clear up blemishes
Legal organization
Any business venture means risk, but you don’t want a wrong move to get you in hot water. Legal protections can safeguard personal assets
Help writing business plans
A business plan has you think through everything you need for your startup or expansion to prosper. They’re also required for most forms of financing. International Hartford works with you to write yours.
Help with market research
How do you know consumers will buy what you plan to sell? Market research gives you answers, and how to handle your competition. International Hartford guides this analysis.
Registration in business classes
Learn how to manage your business, apply financial accounting methods, and market it to consumers. We enroll you in the right short classes, usually free, to learn these skills.