Zolidar and Project Equity Partner to Make Employee Ownership Actionable at Scale

Employee ownership (EO) is gaining ground, but for it to grow meaningfully, we need more than awareness. We need infrastructure. We need trained advisors. It requires a better way forward.

That's why we're excited to announce a strategic partnership between Zolidar and Project Equity, one of the most recognized national leaders in employee ownership transitions. Together, we're combining Zolidar's intuitive, AI-powered tools with Project Equity's EO Advantage training programs to help more business owners and advisors confidently explore, assess, and pursue employee ownership. EO is ready and necessary to meet the moment.

📣 Read the full joint press release here

Project Equity: A Trusted Name in the EO Field

With deep experience, policy influence, and a national advisor training platform, Project Equity has helped define the EO field for exit planners, CPAs, CFPs, wealth advisors, and attorneys alike.

Their EO Advantage program, including EO ExitPro 101 and the Certified Employee Ownership Advisor (CEOA) designation, has built a growing network of advisors equipped to guide clients through broad-based models like ESOPs, EOTs, and worker cooperatives.

Now, these trained advisors have a tech-powered path to apply their expertise in real engagements using Zolidar’s platform.

“This partnership is a game-changer for scaling impact,” said Evan Edwards, CEO of Project Equity. “It bridges the gap between learning and doing, empowering advisors to confidently guide EO transitions and giving business owners a self-directed path to explore their options.”

This partnership represents a critical infrastructure milestone — combining proven training methodologies with AI-powered assessment tools to make employee ownership transitions accessible at scale. It signals that the field has matured beyond advocacy to practical implementation.

Why This Matters: 3M Businesses, $10 Trillion at Stake

Every day, more than 10,000 business owners in the U.S. reach retirement age. Most have no succession plan. That adds up to over 3 million businesses and $10 trillion in enterprise value at stake in the coming decade.

These businesses support jobs, neighborhoods, and local wealth — but too often, they quietly disappear or get sold off without preserving their legacy.

Employee ownership offers a powerful alternative: one that keeps ownership local, strengthens community resilience, and builds wealth for working people.

But many owners don’t know it’s an option. And the advisors they trust often lack the training or tools to help.

That’s the gap we’re closing.

Training + Technology: A Full-Stack Solution for EO Advisors

Interest in employee ownership is growing — but implementation remains the sticking point. That’s where the combination of Project Equity’s EO Advantage and Zolidar’s planning platform creates outsized value.

Exit planning advisors, wealth managers, CPAs, and small business consultants often lack the tools or confidence to guide those conversations.

That’s where this partnership creates real value.

Project Equity’s EO Advantage is a comprehensive learning platform designed specifically for professionals supporting small business succession planning.

It includes:

• EO ExitPro 101: A foundational online course to compare employee ownership models with other business exit strategies
• Modular learning paths aligned with advisor specialties, including legal, financial, and operational roles
• Real-world case studies, strategy playbooks, and implementation tools
• The Certified Employee Ownership Advisor (CEOA) designation

Zolidar turns that expertise into action:

• Day Zero Guide: A decision-support tool that benchmarks all major exit paths, including EO, and recommends viable options
• Aha Planner: A lightweight feasibility and valuation tool using just a few financial inputs
• Zolid AI: A smart assistant surfacing EO insights, definitions, and suggested next steps based on user progress

Together, they equip advisors and owners with a clear, confident way forward.

Why This Partnership Moves the Needle

What makes this collaboration meaningful isn't just alignment — it's leverage.

When training expertise meets technology infrastructure, the sum becomes greater than its parts, creating new pathways for business owners who previously saw employee ownership as too complex or risky to pursue.

Project Equity brings trusted training, national reach, and deep relationships with funders and communities.
Zolidar brings the tech infrastructure to support EO at scale.

The result: a modern, mission-aligned approach to business succession that’s actionable, repeatable, and built for scale.

Project Equity is a nationally recognized nonprofit known for leading the charge on EO adoption across the country. Their educational programs — backed by impact-driven funders like JPMorgan Chase, Prudential, and The W.K. Kellogg Foundation — have trained hundreds of advisors and sparked dozens of successful EO transitions.

“This collaboration marks a major step forward in Project Equity’s mission to scale the employee ownership movement...”

This collaboration reflects the natural evolution of employee ownership infrastructure. As the movement matures, the combination of proven training methodologies with intuitive technology creates new possibilities for business owners and advisors who previously viewed EO transitions as too complex to navigate.

It represents a powerful new infrastructure for enabling broad-based employee ownership — from early feasibility to implementation.

And it creates a unique advantage for business succession advisors who want to stay ahead of market trends and better serve mission-aligned clients.

Together, we’re creating the systems that make employee ownership scalable, repeatable, and ready for the future of work.

The Future of Ownership Starts Here

With trusted training, modern tools, and a shared commitment to inclusive ownership, Project Equity and Zolidar are building the foundation for a future in employee ownership.

• Every business owner deserves a viable exit.
• Every advisor deserves the right tools.

Let’s scale employee ownership together — starting now.

• Explore Zolidar’s platform
• Learn more about EO Advantage
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