FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab Program

The FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab, developed in partnership with Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF) and FedEx, is a comprehensive program aimed at helping small business owners build or enhance their e-commerce capabilities. This initiative supports entrepreneurs at various stages of their e-commerce journey through three core components: an intensive learning cohort for beginners, advanced virtual seminars, and a suite of on-demand online learning modules. The program’s signature feature is the Beginners’ Cohort, a four-month intensive learning experience tailored to small businesses that either have no online store or are struggling with stagnant online sales. The cohort includes a series of nine virtual workshops held biweekly, individualized coaching from e-commerce experts, and a structured curriculum designed to equip participants with essential e-commerce skills. Participants will also have the opportunity to launch their products on the SOKONI marketplace, receiving technical assistance with store setup, marketing, customer service, order management, and product photography. Participants who successfully complete the program will receive a $5,000 grant to support the e-commerce growth plans they developed during the course. The workshops are delivered by Terrand Smith of 37 Oaks, a Chicago-based consultancy specializing in preparing small businesses for expansion through retail channels. The virtual seminars and micro-courses are managed by AOF and feature insights from FedEx and other industry experts. These learning opportunities are open to a broader audience of small business owners beyond the Beginners’ Cohort. Eligibility for the Beginners’ Cohort includes being a U.S.-based business that sells a shelf-stable, packaged product, has been operational for at least six months by January 2025, earned less than $500,000 in revenue in 2024, and is not part of a prohibited industry. Participants must be committed to completing all program requirements. Required application documentation includes photo identification, recent tax returns or business registration documents, and a current business bank statement. Applications for the 2025 Beginners’ Cohort opened on June 3, 2025, and will close at 5:00 PM ET on July 3, 2025. Selected participants will be notified in mid-July 2025, and the program will run from early August to mid-December 2025. The virtual seminars are scheduled for September and October 2025, and January and February 2026. For further inquiries, interested applicants can reach out through the contact form provided on the AOF website. Additional resources such as previous program graduate stories, online modules, and seminar recordings are available to support applicant preparation.

Ensure completeness of application and documentation to avoid disqualification; incomplete applications will not be reviewed.