JUMPSTART TECHX BUSINESS ACCELERATOR:Application is open now and closes on May 15, 2026 at 5pm. Apply here: https://forms.gle/xyqs8t6HJafCipos8 . Open to busines owners in Rock, Walworth, Jefferson, and Green County.
The Jumpstart TechX Business Accelerator is a 10-week, community-centered economic development program designed to increase the number and long-term success of low employer firms led by Black and other under-resourced entrepreneurs across South Central Wisconsin. Focused on 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.
Positioned at the intersection of business and technology, TechX equips entrepreneurs with both foundational business skills and practical technology tools. Participants learn to apply AI, data analytics, coding, and hands-on prototyping to improve operations, strengthen decision-making, and unlock new opportunities for growth. This approach builds tech-enabled founders who are prepared to compete in today’s economy without forcing growth beyond their capacity.
The program delivers an equity-informed curriculum that combines practical training, individualized mentorship, and hands-on application. Entrepreneurs refine their business models, strengthen financial readiness, and develop clear value propositions and pitch materials that support responsible, sustainable growth. By integrating five years of participant-informed, data-driven accelerator design with Jumpstart’s STEM programming, TechX expands the pipeline of investment-ready businesses grounded in real-world needs.
A core feature of the accelerator 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 knowledge and confidence to navigate funding systems that have historically excluded them, helping to increase capital flow into disinvested communities.
Following the 10-week program, graduates receive up to two years of ongoing coaching, mentorship, and technical assistance. This extended support ensures that entrepreneurs are not only prepared to launch or grow, but are sustained as they build resilient, scalable businesses that contribute to long-term community impact.
