Deadline: 20-Feb-22
Applications are now open for the Change Labs Incubator Program to foster the creation of successful Native American small businesses that provide a social benefit to tribal communities.
Funding Information
They also offer $2,000 in professional services including brand development, website design, professional photography, or legal support, as well as up to $10,000 in seed money to graduates.
Benefits
- Peer Community: Starting a business or nonprofit is an emotional journey. Build a strong peer community that you can rely on for inspiration and support. Their alumni run successful organizations and create economic opportunities in their communities—85% are still in business today.
- Funding: Upon graduation, you are eligible to apply for a $10,000 loan to seed your idea and continue to receive monthly coaching to grow your idea. This unique opportunity is only available to graduates of the Change Labs incubator program.
- Hands-on Training: Engage in 24 virtual classes with like-minded peers. Your cohort will meet every two weeks for a two-hour Zoom class over a 12 month period. Each class covers topics ranging from business model development to budget building to social media marketing.
- Coaching: Founders meet with their coaches every two weeks to address their specific needs in financials, marketing, operations, and every aspect of starting a successful business or nonprofit. Their coaches are experts in their fields, providing guidance and mentorship to new entrepreneurs.
- Native Network Building: Throughout your time in the incubator, you will be exposed to potential mentors, including local change makers and service providers such as accountants, lawyers, and designers, who can help you on your entrepreneurial journey after graduation.
- Workspace: Need a space to work, connect to the Internet, or have a meeting? Looking for a small storefront? Change Labs aims to provide a co-working space with internet access, meeting rooms, and retail opportunities so that you can conduct your business in a professional setting.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply to the Change Labs Incubator, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must be an enrolled citizen of a Native American tribe.
- Your business or nonprofit must be located or planned to be located within the boundaries of a Native American reservation in New Mexico, Arizona, or Utah.
- You are in the “startup” phase, meaning you haven’t yet launched your business or nonprofit or you launched it sometime after January 2021.
- You can commit to and have access to reliable internet to attend 2 two hour Zoom trainings each month for 12 months.
- You can commit to spend up to five (5) hours per week to meet with your assigned coach and/or complete mutually agreed upon goals and assignments.
For more information, visit https://www.nativestartup.org/incubator