MBCC
Incubator & Accelerator
Programs
View ProgramsAccelerator
About
The MBCC Program is designed to engage with current & future entrepreneurs to guide them through a structured process to review or a develop their business or business idea, improve the business’ product(s) using the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) approach, and to coach the entrepreneurs on how to use their success in the MVP phase of the project to grow and scale their business, either through internal funding or by helping to find outside investment capital.
This program will work with the entrepreneur by deep diving into understanding the customer and building or improving their business’ product(s). It will use the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) approach and more advanced marketing (tradition & digital) to validate customer assumptions and obtain customer feedback.
Incubator
Incubator Program Specifics
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The Programs
This part of the program will focus on validating the business strategies and assumptions. It will also include consulting on topics such as:
- Building a team, and more advanced concepts around the legal needs for their business
- Raising outside capital, and why founders want outside partners
- Business scaling math
Recruitment & Participation
We will look to recruit 8 to 10 companies for the incubator and accelerator cohort. Participants will be entrepreneurs of color with existing or new minority owned businesses with the potential for growth and expansion. The entrepreneurs will need to have the drive to create something greater than a lifestyle business who are coachable and ambitious.
Incubator – Vision-Focused
- Problem/Solution - identify a real problem and propose a real solution
- Impact – socially and in the market (is it scalable?)
- Team – Is the team ready to commit?
- Does the team have the experience needed? Are there gaps?
- Execution – What's been done to move things forward so far?
Incubator Meeting and Program Content:
Meets 2x per week (in person; StartingBlock) for 4 weeks
- Ideation (Design Think Process), MVP
- Goal Setting, Mentoring (mentoring and being those mentored)
- Sales/Marketing
- Money operations/Human resources/E-Commerce/Supply chain/Business software/Product iteration
Required Reading
Incubator: Experience & Program Format
- Meeting Agenda (6pm to 8pm)
- 6:00pm - Introduction
- 6:15pm – Program Presentation
- 6:55pm – Break
- 7:00pm – Introduce Program Guest Speaker
- 7:45pm – Program review, reading review and next steps
- 8:00pm – Adjourn
Accelerator Program Specifics
Accelerator – Functional-Focused
Weekly One-on-Ones (In Person or Zoom)
- In business for 1 year (MBE/DBE criteria)
- Credit check (to see if eligible for SBA loans, etc.)
- Regional market
- Growing & Profitable / Cash Flow Positive / Salvageable
- Scalable (ideally)
- Solid handle on financials – able to produce reports/analysis
Accelerator Meeting and Program Content:
Meets 2x per week (in person; StartingBlock) for 12 weeks
- Ideation (Design Think Process), MVP
- Goal Setting & Mentoring (mentoring and being those mentored)
- Business Software
- E-Commerce
- Marketing
- Sales & Traction
- Business Operations
- Supply Chain
- Financial Tools/ Credit Counseling & Financing
- Human Resources
- Customer Service
- Product Iteration
Required Reading
Accelerator Experience
- Meeting Agenda (6pm to 8pm); Day 1
- 6:00pm - Introduction
- 6:15pm – Program Presentation
- 6:55pm – Break
- 7:00pm – Introduce Program Guest Speaker
- 7:45pm – Program & reading review and next steps
- 8:00pm – Adjourn
- Meeting Agenda (6pm to 8pm); Day 2
- 6:00pm - Introduction & Weekly Case Study
- 6:15pm – Break into groups
- 7:30pm – Break Group back together & Start Case Study Presentations
- 7:55pm – Program review and next steps
- 8:00pm – Adjourn
Tentative Program Schedule for Spring Accelerator & Incubator Program
Weekly One-on-Ones (In Person or Zoom)
April
May
June
Business Application and Intake form
Sign UpAccelerator
May
Incubator
MBCC Program Participation Benefits
1-Year Membership to the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce
MBCC Means Business Slack Group**
Podcast interview with James Kademan from Draw in Customers
HubSpot & Marketing Meetup/Mastermind Group
eCommerce Platform Services
Online Learning, Training & LevelUp Platform
5G Leadership Program
Access to shared services for 36-month at a reduced cost**
Bookkeeping, Comptroller, Financial Planning & Data Analytics
Marketing & Graphic Design
Webinars & Lead Generation
Software/Website Development
Services Cost Sharing *
Accounting & Tax services
Marketing & Graphic Design
Webinars & Lead Generation Software/Website Development
…. And more to come!
*Terms and Conditions apply
** Access Requirements
Must be a member of the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce in good standing
Must be a current MBCC Means Business Program Alumni or current program participant
If you have any questions, please contact us at info@mbccmeansbusiness.com
Rolling applications are now being accepted for the Accelerator & Incubator Programs!
Rolling applications are now being accepted for the Accelerator & Incubator Programs!
Accelerator
Incubator
Upcoming Sessions
Tuesday, September 5 – Thursday, November 16, 2023
Tuesdays & Thursdays from 6pm to 8pm
Monday, September 11 – Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Mondays & Wednesdays from 6pm to 8pm
Location of all sessions
StartingBlock Madison
821 E. Washington Ave.
Second Floor.
Madison, WI 53703