JUMPSTART ACCELERATOR:  

The 10-week Accelerator Program is a community-centered economic development strategy designed to increase the number and sustainability of low employer firms led by Black and other under-resourced/underrepresented entrepreneurs. By supporting businesses with one to five employees, including sole proprietors ready to grow, the program strengthens neighborhood economies, increases household income stability, and builds community wealth across South Central Wisconsin.

The Accelerator provides an equity-informed curriculum that combines practical training, individualized mentorship, and hands-on application. Entrepreneurs strengthen business operations, improve financial readiness, and develop clear value propositions and pitch materials that support responsible, sustainable growth. This approach expands the pipeline of investment-ready low employer firms without pushing businesses to scale beyond their capacity.

A core feature of the program is increased access to capital. Through partnerships with community lenders, financial institutions, and mission-aligned investors, participants gain exposure to equitable financing pathways, including grants, flexible lending, and alternative capital. Entrepreneurs build the skills to navigate funding systems that have historically excluded them, increasing capital flow into disinvested communities.

With two years of post-program mentorship and a cohort-based model, the Accelerator fosters peer networks, shared learning, and long-term business stability. The program advances an inclusive regional economy by strengthening low employer firms that create income, retain local wealth, and drive sustainable economic growth in South Central Wisconsin.