The Impact Venture’s Accelerator program is an 8-week 100% virtual program designed to train and equip underrepresented entrepreneurs, putting them on a fast track to traction and funding within their startup or small business. The program is structured to fit the full-time founder or the part-time “intra-preneur”, offering a flexible part-time in-person and online schedule, while maintaining quality education, community, and access to high-level mentorship and professional networks.
Our rigorous training and development program is designed to remove barriers and close equity gaps in access to:
- Knowledge Capital – Quality training and business education combined with expert-level mentorship and coaching
- Social Capital – Access to high-level professional networks to help support the development of entrepreneurial talent and ventures.
- Financial Capital – Access to Impact Ventures exclusive capital partner network and capital match-making services.
Benjamin J. Vann
Executive Director / Growth Track Facilitator
Lucy Huang
Program Director / Startup Track Facilitator
Our uniquely designed programs offers tailored support to fit diverse founders at the early stages of their company. During Orientation, the IV Fellowship cohort will be split up into the “Startup Track” (Idea to Startup/MVP) or “Growth Track” (Early Stage to Growth). The “Startup Track” focuses earlier stage Founders and teams on founder development, business model validation, customer discovery, and go-to-market, while the “Growth Track” focuses on more later stage Founders and teams with a live product and consistent revenue looking for growth resources.
Startup Track: (Education & Business Acumen)
Founders participate in peer-to-peer accountability groups, mentor week feedback sessions, weekly online learning modules focused on business fundamentals and weekly deliverable through in-market sprints, and go-to-market planning/refinement.
Growth Track: (Revenue Growth & Capital Readiness)
Founders participate in peer-to-peer accountability groups, assigned a lead mentor and access to network of mentors, coaches, and service providers, group pitch sessions, weekly online learning modules focused on revenue optimization, sales, customer acquisition, team building, and fundraising/capital acquisition, along with weekly deliverable through in-market sprints, and milestone planning.
Startup Track Eligibility:
- Women, Black, Hispanic, People of color, LGBTQ, Veterans, or social enterprise
- Must be for profit (can be B-Corp or other for profit-for-good models)
- Must be growth oriented (2-3x growth in 3-5 years): scalable small businesses, consumer products or goods, tech or tech-enabled
- Stage: Startup (idea to prototype), Early-stage (MVP to post rev/early adopters, $50k+ annual revenue)
Growth Track Eligibility:
- Women, Black, Hispanic, People of color, LGBTQ, Veterans, or Social Enterprise
- Must be for profit (can be B-Corp or other for profit-for-good models)
- Must be growth oriented (2-3x growth in 3-5 years): scalable small businesses, consumer products or goods, tech or tech-enabled
- Stage: Early-stage (MVP to post rev/early adopters, $100k+ annual revenue), Growth (product market fit, $250k+ annual revenue)
- Looking for Flexible Debt or Equity Capital
Program Benefits:
Technical Assistance: We provide program participants technical assistance services both directly or indirectly through our preferred service providers in the areas of: business continuity planning, business model validation, loan application preparing/matchmaking, mentoring, financial management, credit training, legal support, accounting, marketing design, sales & business development, web development, product development, technology integration/enhancement.
Dedicated Mentors: Our program’s curriculum is led by experienced executives who have demonstrated significant entrepreneurial success and leadership, business acumen, and are committed to accelerating the impact and financial sustainability of underserved entrepreneurs in North Texas. Our Mentors commit 1-3 hours per week to the growth and development of participating ventures. Through a collaborative process, Lead Mentors assist Startup Ventures in developing individualized action plans using proven startup assessment tools and assist in achieving significant milestones and goals.
Pro Bono Professionals/Corporate Partners: Startup Ventures receive access from a robust network of professionals, ready to assist through our corporate hacks. Tailored support is offered within the 5 curriculum competencies of founder development, customer development, product development, company development, and traction.
SME Mentor Office Hours: Startup Ventures expand their networks with weekly opportunities to meet with 40+ influencers, executives, investors, technical specialist, and business leaders.
Use of the Impact Ventures Office Space HQ at GoodWork: **Due to current health and safety precautions this program will be 100% until further notice**
Peer Evaluation/Learning: An important component of the program is building a support network of like-minded entrepreneurs. Startup Ventures learn from one another, find solutions, and share challenges, resources, and successes. Startup ventures participate in weekly networking events, investor dinners, hack sessions, online webinars, and more.
The Impact Program Staff: We are an experienced team of startup consultants and investment professionals here to ensure your success by making timely connections with potential clients, investors, procurement officers, policymakers, government officials, and mentors.
Increased Visibility: Impact Ventures helps increase Startup Ventures’ visibility through special events, cohort roadshow to SXSW, media referrals, featured articles in publications, as well as our Website/Medium Blog, and Podcast.
Startup Perks: Through our partnerships we provide over $100k worth of support services, perks, and discounts through out perk network.
**Some services may require additional cost**
September 1st
Applications Open
October 17th @ 5:00pm
Applications Close
October 24th, 2020
Cohort Participants Announced
October 31st, 2020
Accelerator Kickoff Orientation
November 3rd, 2020
Accelerator Program Begins
November 23rd, 2020 – November 27th, 2020
Holiday Break
December 13th, 2020 – January 10th, 2021
Holiday Break
January 28th, 2021
Accelerator Program Ends
January 30th, 2021
Accelerator Showcase / Demo Day
START-UP & GROWTH TRACK SCHEDULE
- Tuesday evenings 6pm – 8pm
- Thursday evenings 6pm – 8pm
- Saturday afternoons 11am – 1pm
MENTOR/STAFF OFFICE HOURS
Participating in Impact Ventures Accelerator Program is an investment in you and your company. We’ve curated over $100,000 worth of educational content, support services, and startup perks tailored to develop your idea/business and assembled a team of 65+ expert mentors who have deep domain expertise to guide you as you pursue your milestones. After completing this program, you can expect to become a more refined entrepreneur, equipped with the knowledge to build and start scaling your concept.
Tuition for IV Accelerator Program is valued at $3,000 per fellow. Thanks to our generous supporters and donors, tuition is waived for every student accepted into the program. However, participating fellows must pay a small fee to cover materials and registration.
Program fees must be paid in full at the start of the program on November 2nd. Scholarships will be available for qualifying applicants based on household income, zip-code, and other factors.
Please proceed with your respective application process to be considered for our Fall 2020 program session.
Apply to Startup Track
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Apply to Growth Track
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