Entrepreneurship for All, a nonprofit business accelerator founded in Lowell, is expanding with its first fully virtual business accelerator program.
EforAll’s new virtual program will begin piloting in Arizona, California and Texas in January. The nonprofit said this expansion is part of its mission to serve 50,000 entrepreneurs by 2030. EforAll works with underrepresented founders to start and grow their ventures through business training, mentorship and its professional support network.
“This Virtual Accelerator gives us the ability to expand our community, create greater social impact and serve more under-represented entrepreneurs conceptualizing business plans,” Meralis T. Hood, CEO of EforAll, said in a statement. “Our decision to pilot this initiative in Arizona, California and Texas is driven by our desire to test this program in new locations with diverse demographics, ample Spanish-speaking communities, and an opportunity to serve the communities’ entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
The virtual accelerator will be free for participants and follow EforAll’s existing program framework. The programs are available in both English and Spanish.
For the pilot, 15 entrepreneurs will be selected for each cohort from the collective states and be provided a team of up to three dedicated mentors. Founders will take part in a 12-week training program and have the opportunity to win seed money. The goal is to help founders navigate early-stage business challenges and connect them to local, regional and national networks.
Applications for the English and Spanish language virtual programs are open through October 26 for entrepreneurs living in or looking to launch a business in Arizona, California and Texas.
Since launching in Lowell, EforAll has expanded to serve communities in Massachusetts, including Berkshire County, Cape Cod, Fall River/New Bedford, Merrimack Valley, Lynn, Pioneer Valley, Roxbury and Worcester. EforAll also has in-person programming in Longmont, Colorado.; Lowcountry, South Carolina; Maine; Northwest Arkansas; and Rhode Island.
EforAll says that it has launched over 1,400 businesses since its founding in 2010. Last year, the nonprofit reported that its businesses provided 2,108 local jobs and generated over $66 million in revenue.
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