Economic Opportunity

Sixth Annual Up & Running Grants Recipients Announced at eBay Open

eBay News Team

This year’s recipients were awarded $500,000 in grants and resources to help small businesses scale their operations and impact.

Today at eBay Open, Dawn Block, VP and General Manager and Rebecca Michals, Director of Seller Engagement and Community, announced the recipients of the sixth annual Up & Running Grants program, awarding $500,000 in grants and resources to help 50 small businesses scale their operations and impact. The live announcement highlighted the creativity, passion, and resilience that define the eBay seller community.

In announcing the grantees, Dawn and Rebecca emphasized eBay’s commitment to championing entrepreneurs and helping them succeed at every stage, stating, “Up & Running was built on the simple yet powerful idea to empower our sellers and foster economic opportunity. We’re incredibly proud to see how these grants not only help businesses grow, but also uplift communities, families, and futures.”

The 2025 grant cohort reflects the breadth and diversity of eBay’s seller community, with recipients spanning more than 25 U.S. states and representing eBay’s wide range of product categories, from sneaker and auto parts sellers to record shops, toy stores, and antique dealers.

As part of the announcement, Dawn and Rebecca were joined onstage by Tanya Mahrous and Toby Tobias, co-founders of Second Life Thrift Store in Avondale Estates, GA. Their story exemplifies the transformative role eBay can play in helping sellers not only grow their businesses but also scale their missions.

After leaving a corporate career to start a nonprofit thrift store supporting animal rescue, Tanya and Toby built Second Life into a beloved Atlanta community hub. When the pandemic forced them to shut their doors, they pivoted to eBay, turning a local mission into a national movement. Their online storefront not only helped keep the organization afloat, but unlocked a new path to long-term sustainability by reaching buyers across the country. Every item sold in their eBay store helps fund life-saving animal care, honoring their late rescue dog Lucky and proving that small sellers can make a big impact.

Also at eBay Open were previous years’ grant recipients, including Yinka Ogunsunlade (2020), Alex Carrera (2021), Michelle Nguyen (2022), Kirsti Renwell (2023), and Jonathan Copeland (2024), who returned to celebrate this year’s grantees and share how the program has fueled their growth.

2025 Up & Running Grant Recipients

Following the onstage announcement, eBay unveiled the full list of 2025 Up & Running Grants recipients, which include: 

 

About the Up & Running Grants Program

Since its introduction in 2020, eBay’s annual Up & Running Grants program has received thousands of applications from entrepreneurs sharing details of their businesses ambitions and growth goals. Following a comprehensive review, 50 sellers are chosen annually to each receive $10,000 in cash, direct training, business accelerator courses, and mentorship from eBay as well as a stipend worth $500, which sellers can use to equip themselves with essential office technology from eBay Refurbished.

About eBay

eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) is a global commerce leader that connects people and builds communities to create economic opportunity for all. Our technology empowers millions of buyers and sellers in more than 190 markets around the world, providing everyone the opportunity to grow and thrive. Founded in 1995 in San Jose, California, eBay is one of the world's largest and most vibrant marketplaces for discovering great value and unique selection. In 2024, eBay enabled $75 billion of gross merchandise volume. For more information about the company and its global portfolio of online brands, visit www.ebayinc.com.

About Hello Alice

Hello Alice is a financial technology platform serving more than 1.5 million small business owners across all 50 states. We are committed to creating pathways for entrepreneurs to access the funding and resources they need to build sustainable businesses and strengthen their communities.

Hello Alice offers grants, education, tools, and curated opportunities. In partnership with enterprise service providers, ecosystem builders, affiliates, and government agencies, we equip our growing community with everything they need to launch and scale.

Learn more at www.helloalice.com, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

Topic: Announcements