Live Webinar + Q&A

California's Mesh Network: Building a Unified Ecosystem for Small Business Success

Join us live
Recorded on
,
at
,

In this insightful episode of "Breaking Down Barriers," host David Ponraj sits down with Director Tara Lynn Gray, DHA of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate to celebrate the successes of the innovative "mesh network" they've built to support the state’s small businesses. Director Gray shares her vision behind the network, which aims to meet businesses where they are and connect them to trusted resources. The episode also explores the critical importance of a unified data model for tracking success, ensuring accountability, and advocating for long-term funding to support California's 4.5 million small businesses.

In this webinar, you will learn:

Our Panel

Our Panel

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

David Ponraj
Chief Executive Officer
Economic Impact Catalyst

David leads EIC’s work to expand inclusive entrepreneurship through technology. He is a frequent speaker on inclusive economic development and hosts the Breaking Down Barriers podcast.

Tara Lynn Gray, DHA
Director
California Office of the Small Business Advocate

In this webinar, you will learn:

Why attend an EIC Webinar?

Our webinars are created for anyone invested in building stronger communities through entrepreneurship. We are a national leader in helping economic development organizations create inclusive, data-driven ecosystems that support small businesses through sustainable growth.

We work hard to ensure each webinar features insights, real-world case studies, and proven strategies used in over 100 markets to expand access to capital, improve resource coordination, and foster equitable economic development.

S
6
E
5
August 12, 2025

California's Mesh Network: Building a Unified Ecosystem for Small Business Success

In this insightful episode of "Breaking Down Barriers," host David Ponraj sits down with Director Tara Lynn Gray, DHA of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate to celebrate the successes of the innovative "mesh network" they've built to support the state’s small businesses. Director Gray shares her vision behind the network, which aims to meet businesses where they are and connect them to trusted resources. The episode also explores the critical importance of a unified data model for tracking success, ensuring accountability, and advocating for long-term funding to support California's 4.5 million small businesses.

Apple Podcasts icon with text: "Listen on Apple Podcasts"Spotify logo with text: "Listen on Spotify"

California's Mesh Network: Building a Unified Ecosystem for Small Business Success

Explores CA's innovative "mesh network" connecting over 4.5 million small businesses to trusted resources and support systems.

About this Resource

In this insightful episode of "Breaking Down Barriers," host David Ponraj sits down with Director Tara Lynn Gray, DHA of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate to celebrate the successes of the innovative "mesh network" they've built to support the state’s small businesses. Director Gray shares her vision behind the network, which aims to meet businesses where they are and connect them to trusted resources. The episode also explores the critical importance of a unified data model for tracking success, ensuring accountability, and advocating for long-term funding to support California's 4.5 million small businesses.