Creators’ Momentum Business Accelerator 2024

The Accion Opportunity Fund, with support from Etsy’s Uplift Fund, has established the Creators’ Momentum Business Accelerator. This program is designed to empower entrepreneurs within the creative economy by offering valuable learning and networking opportunities, alongside grant capital. The initiative aims to spark business growth for creative individuals and aligns with a mission to provide crucial support to those historically excluded from traditional business ecosystems. The program recognizes that creative entrepreneurs can flourish with the right advice, access to networks, and impactful resources. The primary target beneficiaries of this accelerator are creative entrepreneurs, including crafters, artists, makers, and musicians, who own operating businesses that contribute to the creative economy. The program specifically seeks to support those who have been operational for at least one year, have annual revenues under $500,000, employ five or fewer full- or part-time employees, and are located in the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico. The overarching impact goal is to foster the success of these entrepreneurs by equipping them with the tools and resources necessary to grow their businesses and bring their talents to a wider audience. The program's priorities and focus areas include providing a comprehensive virtual experience. This encompasses seminars offering valuable industry expertise, small-group workshops for networking with like-minded entrepreneurs, and self-paced digital education. A key component is the provision of grant capital, specifically a $5,000 business grant upon successful completion of the eight-week program. This multi-faceted approach is intended to address the diverse needs of creative entrepreneurs, from business education to financial support and community building. Expected outcomes and measurable results for the 2024 program include supporting 100 business owners through a full suite of offerings. Participants are expected to create a growth plan that they can implement beyond the program period to sustain their business expansion. The $5,000 grant serves as a direct financial injection to fuel growth, while the educational and networking components are designed to build long-term capacity and resilience within the participating businesses. The program's success will be measured by the successful completion of the program by participants and the subsequent application of their growth plans and grant funds.