Seven nascent enterprises will get a leg up on business-building by joining a city business “accelerator” program — coronavirus or no coronavirus.
Now in its third year, the Collab Spring Accelerator is an 11-week program for entrepreneurs who want to create positive change in their communities by building unique and viable businesses and organizations.
The Collab accelerator is designed to provide practical assistance to (mostly) first-time entrepreneurs in getting their fledgling enterprises up and running and geared for sustainable financial success. The program targets traditionally underserved entrepreneurial communities including females, people of color, immigrants and the LGBTQ community.
The accepted entrepreneurs participate in 11 weeks of workshops and weekly one-on-one coaching sessions. They receive technical assistance, including legal and marketing guidance, a mentor from the Collab Mentor Network and $1,000 in startup capital (hey — these are mostly micro-enterprises) and connections to potential funders and funding sources at the conclusion of the program.
For the duration of the COVID pandemic, the workshops and coaching sessions will take place virtually via Zoom. “Having the Accelerator be virtual is not preferable to sharing space in the same room together, but we are committed to trying our best to build a sense of community, solidarity and connectedness as a cohort,” explained Collab co-director Caroline Smith.
The lucky seven:
- Founded by Phylicia Currence, College By Her aims to inspire and support black college women through therapy, mentorship and community.
- Women’s Work is an art therapy and wellness program promoting art and mindfulness to support women through life transitions. Its co-founders (foundresses?) are Briah Luckey and Sarah Cohen.
- April Jackson is the creator of Students With Aspiring Goals (S.W.A.G. — natch), a social enterprise that employs young people to run food ventures — arming them with entrepreneurial and life skills and financial literacy.
- The Blush Initiative is a cosmetology-based mentorship and workforce development program designed to impact the mental health, self confidence and career-readiness of high-school students. Winter Carson is its founder.
- The Sanford family (Eryc, Jocelyn, Skylar and another Eryc) have created a mobile smoothie and juice bar known, deliciously, as Fruit of the Earth. Its irresistible product line is made with healthy, nutritious and locally sourced fruits and vegetables.
- Demeka Anderson is the force behind Wash & Go, a natural hair, skin and nail-care salon on wheels.
- Founded by a quintet of young women, Opal Stork Home Care is a geriatric transportation and home care agency providing concierge service throughout the state.
Founded in 2017 by two Yale College alumnae, Collab New Haven is dedicated to grass-roots community building by helping underserved communities germinate new businesses to build long-term economic sustainability.
More information about the seven ventures, the Collab accelerator and Collab itself is available at collabnewhaven.org.
