Anoop Prakash

Anoop Prakash is the Associate Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development for the U.S. Small Business Administration.  In this capacity, he manages SBA’s technical assistance programs providing training and business counseling for over 1.4 million small business clients annually. An additional 1+ million clients each year benefit from information and tools available on SBA’s Website.   With a budget of $106 million, his office provides these services through a variety of business development networks across the nation.



Small business education programs are offered at major state universities through more than 1,000 Small Business Development Centers (SBDC’s) and over 10,500 SCORE volunteers provide counseling and mentoring to new and in-business entrepreneurs. The small business owner can also receive training and counseling 24/7 through all of the programs including, online courses offered through the agency’s Small Business Training Network (www.sba.gov/training). In addition, the office of Women’s Business Ownership has 99 Women’s Business Centers in key communities nationally providing assistance to women business owners with a special emphasis on assisting economically disadvantaged woman clients.



Prior to joining the SBA, Mr. Prakash was vice president for strategy & business development at the Lexis Nexis Special Services Group, Inc. in Washington, DC.  In this position, he was responsible for strategic planning, market development, marketing, strategic alliances and acquisitions.



Mr. Prakash, prior to Lexis Nexis held various senior positions in the private sector.  These positions included director of business development for Siebel Systems, Inc. and management consultant for McKinsey & Company, where he focused on business-building and change management projects. 



A former Marine, Mr. Prakash served as a captain, deploying to the Persian Gulf region as the Air Combat Element intelligence officer with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.  He currently serves as chairman of the board for Brainfood, a non-profit youth development organization in Washington, DC. 



Mr. Prakash earned an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a BA in economics and public policy from Stanford University.  A native of St. Cloud, Minnesota, he currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland with his wife Gita and daughter.

This Speaker's Events

Opening Reception and Presentation of the Entrepreneurial Development Awards

Invitation Only
This event will serve as a networking reception in one of the more extraordinary venues in Washington, DC. SBA’s resource partners will be honored at this event for their unrelenting dedication to entrepreneurial development nationwide.

Complimentary bus transportation from the Mandarin Oriental to the U.S. Department of State will be provided to all invited guests beginning at 5pm on April 21. Buses will arrive at the Maine Street Entrance of the Mandarin Oriental to transport participants to the Reception at 5:00 pm.  The last bus will leave at 5:30 pm.  Only those registered for the event will be able to board the buses.  Buses will depart from the U.S. Department of State at 8:00 pm.

When you arrive at the Department of State, proceed to enter the building from the “C” Street entrance.   On the left hand side of the entrance there is a blue awning labeled “Visitors Entrance”.   Please proceed to that entrance, and you will be directed through security.  Please be sure to have the government issued identification that you provided the information for during the registration process as well as your SBW Credentials.  Once cleared through security, you will be allowed to enter the building through the main lobby.  SBA representatives will be in the lobby to conduct guest check-ins and guide you to the Ben Franklin Room.

Please be aware that the State Department is very strict on the personal belongings that guest will allow in the Ben Franklin Room.   They strictly prohibit jackets, bags and umbrellas.  The only personal item allowed in the Ben Franklin Room is a small ladies purse and a personal camera.  As such, we ask that you be cautious in what you bring with you to the event.  If you choose to bring prohibited personal belongings, you will be asked to leave them at the Coat Check. 

Learn more about this event