Catalyst Cohort

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Program Overview

Mountain BizWorks is launching a new inclusive entrepreneurship program to provide ongoing business and leadership skills-development for Entrepreneurs of Color.

Participants will be embedded in a peer advisory group facilitated by an experienced growth coach, and will also gain access to one-on-one mentoring, expert speakers, business development services, and other opportunities for transformational learning.

Over the course of 12 months, you will meet regularly via Zoom for two hours with a peer group of fellow business owners, all led by a facilitator. During this time, you will navigate through business challenges using the collective intelligence of others by contributing wisdom, encouragement and accountability towards your goals for the purpose of achieving better results in your business.

For the first three months, participants will get exposure to foundational business strategies and develop an actionable plan. Then the group will meet on a monthly basis in mastermind sessions to share their progress and continue to get support from the group. Throughout the program, participants will be able to take advantage of individualized coaching sessions with program facilitators and Mountain BizWorks coaches. Each participant will also get $2,000 to apply towards tailored business services to help advance their growth goals.

 

Interested in Applying?

Click here to be added to the Catalyst Cohort interest list and we’ll notify you when we open applications for our next Catalyst Cohort (in early 2021). 

Curious about our current cohort members? Meet the Companies Accepted into the First Cohort

 

 

What’s Included:

You’ll combine a foundation in multiple business disciplines to create a springboard for the future of your business through:

A Peer Advisory Group 
Get matched with and meet twice a month with a peer group of fellow business owners. As a member of the group, you will receive accountability by your peers to achieve your individual business goals through invaluable outside perspectives on a few major business challenges and gain increased confidence that you’re taking the right actions to achieve your goals.

Customized Business Development Services
Get down to business with $2,000 to use towards the cost of services such as marketing, legal fees, bookkeeping, accounting, HR, insurance, credit repair, and other business development services.

Growth Coaching
Receive personal business coaching sessions. Meet individually, once a month with a coach who will help you explore the different aspects of your business, dig deeper and find answers for the challenges you face, while building the skills and confidence you’ll need to succeed.

Guest Speakers
Experienced guest speakers will join in on the conversation and take you on a deep dive into their field of expertise. You will have a chance to get your most challenging business questions answered and learn from these skilled business leaders.

Access to Learning Resources
Go beyond the classroom and spend time learning from our foundational content for continuous transformational learning to develop a strong base in strategy, management, accounting, marketing, operations and finance.

Professional Networking
Join forces with peers from a wide array of life experiences that will challenge and inspire you, will unlock new business opportunities, and will create a climate of collaboration in which you can grow personally and professionally.

 

Who This Program Is For:

This program is designed for existing Entrepreneurs of Color whose business has strong job growth potential and want to boost their business profitability while further developing their professional network.

 

Program Outcomes:

  • Accountability in achieving individual business goals with invaluable outside perspectives on major business challenges.
  • The ability to set, stick to, and achieve big goals.
  • Increased confidence that you’ve made the right decisions and are taking the right actions to achieve your goals.
  • Solutions and ideas, which come from brainstorming with the group.
  • Tapping into the experience and skills of others, including the Facilitator.
  • An instant and valuable support network.
  • A sense of shared endeavor.
  • A boost to your everyday positive mental attitude.
  • An unyielding commitment to constant learning.
  • Clearly written goals and specific plans laid out to achieve them.
  • Concrete steps taken towards achieving your goals, with the support and guidance of your facilitators, peers, coaches and access to technical services.

 

How Much Does it Cost:

Thanks to generous support from Buncombe County and others, there is no cost to participate in the program.

 

First Cohort Launch Schedule:

Application Window: September 9 – October 9
Candidate Interviews: October 12-16
Participants Selected & Announced By: October 19
Cohort Meet & Greet: October 26
First Mastermind Session: November 2, 2020
Program will run until November 2021