Questions About Next Street, Answered

1. What is Next Street?

For over 20 years, Next Street has helped organizations unlock the full potential of small businesses. We partner with corporations, governments, and philanthropic organizations to build scalable systems that connect small businesses to capital, markets, and support—driving measurable growth and economic impact.

2. What does Next Street do?

We design and deliver solutions that strengthen small business and supplier ecosystems. Our work combines data-driven strategy, digital platforms, and execution to help organizations engage small businesses at scale, improve performance, and achieve measurable outcomes.

3. Who does Next Street work with?

We work with a wide range of clients, including large corporations, government agencies, and philanthropic organizations. Within those organizations, we support teams across procurement, supply chain, growth and marketing, government affairs, and social impact.

4. How is Next Street different from traditional consulting firms? (optional)

Unlike traditional consultants, we don’t just provide recommendations, we build and implement systems that drive real outcomes. Our approach combines strategy, technology, and execution to ensure programs scale and deliver measurable results over time.

5. What solutions does Next Street offer?

Our core solutions include Ecosystem Assessment & Strategies, the Supplier Readiness Diagnostic Tool, the Small Business Resource Platform, and the Supplier Success Accelerator. Together, these solutions help organizations understand their ecosystems, activate engagement, and build high-performing small business and supplier pipelines.

6. What is an ecosystem assessment?

An ecosystem assessment is a data-driven analysis of your small business or supplier landscape. It identifies gaps in access, readiness, and performance, helping you understand where to focus and how to build a strategy that drives growth, efficiency, and impact.

7. What is the Small Business Resource Platform?

The Small Business Resource Platform is a centralized digital solution that connects small businesses to funding, advisory services, and growth opportunities. It enables organizations to engage businesses at scale, streamline program delivery, and track participation and outcomes.

8. What is the Supplier Diagnostic Tool?

The Supplier Diagnostic Tool is a standardized assessment that evaluates a supplier’s readiness to meet procurement and operational requirements. Next Street’s tool helps organizations identify capability gaps, assess risk, and determine which suppliers are “ready now” or “near ready.” It also provides suppliers with a scorecard and actionable steps to improve performance and compete for opportunities more effectively.

9. What is the Supplier Success Accelerator?

The Supplier Success Accelerator is a structured program that helps suppliers build the capabilities needed to meet procurement requirements. It focuses on improving readiness, performance, and contract conversion so suppliers can successfully compete for and deliver on opportunities.

10. How do Next Street’s solutions work together?

Our solutions are designed to operate as a system. We start by identifying gaps and opportunities through an ecosystem assessment, activate engagement through the platform, and build supplier or business readiness through targeted development programs—ensuring strategy translates into measurable results.

11. What results can clients expect?

Clients typically see improved engagement with small businesses, stronger supplier pipelines, increased access to capital and opportunities, and measurable improvements in program performance. Our solutions are designed to deliver both business outcomes and economic impact.

12. How do you measure success and impact?

We track metrics such as participation rates, capital deployed, supplier readiness, contract conversion, and business growth. We also help clients measure broader outcomes like job creation, economic mobility, and performance improvements across their ecosystems.

13. Can you help demonstrate ROI?

Yes. We work with clients to define success metrics upfront and provide reporting that connects program outcomes to business and impact goals. This includes tracking efficiency gains, performance improvements, and measurable economic outcomes.

14. What does it look like to work with Next Street?

We begin by understanding your goals and current challenges, then design a tailored approach that may include strategy, platform deployment, and program implementation. We work closely with your team and partners to ensure solutions are executed effectively and scaled over time.

15. How long does implementation take?

Timelines vary depending on the solution and scope. Strategy engagements can take a few weeks to a few months, while platform and program implementations can be launched in phases to deliver value quickly and scale over time.

16. How do I get started with Next Street?

Getting started is simple. Reach out to our team to schedule a consultation. We’ll discuss your goals, assess your current ecosystem, and recommend the best approach to help you achieve measurable growth and impact.