Memphis, TN - January 7, 2025 - What began as a conversation over lunch at a small Cuban restaurant in downtown Memphis turned into a thriving venture dedicated to small business success. Al Da Silva, founder and owner of DaSilva Consulting, LLC, turned a napkin sketch into a full-fledged consulting firm that now supports entrepreneurs across the Mid-South.
Da Silva’s entrepreneurial journey was sparked following a friend's challenge to establish his own consultation firm.
“After transitioning out of a corporate role, it became clear that my extensive strategic and operational experience could significantly benefit small businesses,” explained Da Silva.
In 2017, DaSilva Consulting was officially launched in Memphis, Tennessee. Since then, the company has grown into much more than a traditional consulting firm. Its signature offering is the Roadmap to Success, an AI-guided business accelerator program designed to help small businesses align assessments, strategy, tactics, and measurable outcomes.
The program has become the backbone of a scalable platform used by individual business owners, business associations, chambers of commerce, and banks looking to support and grow their small business portfolios.
While the consulting business is rooted in the Mid-South, serving West Tennessee and Arkansas, its virtual tools have enabled expansion well beyond the region.
“Our goal is to create a nationwide solution available to business associations, banks, and chambers as a data-driven small business strategic and operational support program,” said Da Silva.
At its core, DaSilva Consulting offers fractional executive services, primarily focused on growth, scaling, and succession planning. Da Silva and his team act as part-time COOs for clients, providing high-level insight into strategy, operations, marketing, and data analytics.
Their flagship Roadmap to Success (RTS) program includes a 12-month accelerator track featuring virtual coaching, strategic assessments, and access to powerful software tools. The company also delivers business literacy workshops and webinars tailored to both small business owners and middle management.
What sets DaSilva Consulting apart is its commitment to integrating human expertise with advanced AI tools. “We view small business ownership as akin to climbing a series of mountains,” Da Silva said. “Our job is to help them prepare, climb, and mark the path so their team can follow.” That hands-on, holistic approach goes far beyond offering advice, it embeds Da Silva’s team as partners in the business’s success.
The company’s mission is straightforward: increase the success and viability of small and midsized businesses around the world through business intelligence and operational best practices.
The vision is to empower small businesses to access capital, grow, and make a positive impact on their communities.
For Da Silva, the reward is in the results. “I take great pride in the knowledge that our work, tools, and partnerships have a direct impact on the lives of business owners and entrepreneurs,” he said. “Each time we help someone gain clarity or access new opportunities, it reaffirms the purpose behind what we do.”
His advice for those looking to start a business in Northwest Tennessee - or anywhere - is simple: “Start with a clear purpose and surround yourself with people who believe in your vision and have already been successful in their journeys. Use data to guide your decisions, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most importantly, stay focused on execution. Ideas are great, but action is what drives success.”
With Da Silva at the helm, that advice is more than words; it’s a roadmap others are already following.
About The Mill Workspace: The Mill Workspace, a DBA of Northwest Tennessee Entrepreneurship, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)3 entrepreneur center located in Dyersburg, TN and focused on serving entrepreneurs in the nine counties of Northwest Tennessee. They help businesses through one-on-one counseling, workshops, and multi-week programs all designed to help businesses in the region start up and grow.
Programs at The Mill are funded in part by a grant from LaunchTN.
