Ensuring Access to Generational Wealth for All
Leveling the Entrepreneurial Playing Field
Accelerate Equity redefines entrepreneurship by centering historically excluded communities to develop into CEOs, provide resources and guidance to build generational wealth, and actively disrupt siloed networks. AE recognizes that access to capital, networks, social sponsorship, etc. is often—if not always—situational and deeply systemic, and begins long before the actual start of a business venture.
Closing the Racial Wealth Gap
Closing the racial wealth gap through founders that create generational wealth is as much a process of personal transformation and new relationships as it is a marketplace opportunity. Foundational to the lack of access is Friends & Family investment, the springboard for many entrepreneurs, as well as an impetus for consideration of additional investment. Lack of Family & Friend investment is connected to the root cause of the lack of generational wealth, and is a flaw in the system, not in Founders who have been marginalized.
Current Solutions Lack Results
Solutions to date have oversimplified the problem and have incentivized the entrepreneurial ecosystem to respond by centering on education. These solutions are problematic because they:
- Reify the master narrative that certain people groups are unintelligent.
- Absolve the systems of any responsibility to own and act in favor of repairing it. As a result, failure of businesses in certain neighborhoods or social groups is perceived as solely the fault of the entrepreneur.
- Divert focus from the system to the individual which puts sole responsibility on the individual for their lack of success, and encourages them to be satisfied (and call it a win) when individual players succeed (the Oprah effect).
- Enriches an ecosystem of technical support that draws millions to fund services for marginalized founders, with little direct investment in their success.
Accelerate Equity 101: An Introduction to the Program
Accelerate Equity is a year-long program that focuses on supporting founders from historically and economically marginalized communities as they navigate the entrepreneurial journey toward the goal of generational wealth.
> Accelerate Equity Building Blocks
- Year-long program that meets in person, 1 day a month
- Participants are part of the Entrepreneur in Residence program at Start Garden that includes a participation stipend
- Ideal for scalable startups that have launched their MVP or established small businesses to grow revenue
- For entrepreneurs building businesses to achieve generational wealth
ACCELERATE EQUITY IS |
ACCELERATE EQUITY IS NOT |
| Membership in a community of business builders invested in each other’s success | Access to one-and-done meetings |
| Building businesses with their unique advantages and disadvantages | One size fits all coaching |
| Relationship building through shared experiences | Networking |
| A lab for both personal and business transformation | A mentorship program |
| For those who recognize a problem, would like to be part of the solution and need a point of entry | For those who need to be convinced that culture, community and generational wealth impact business growth |
Join Accelerate Equity
Fill out our form and join a community of like-minded business builders. Together, we can acknowledge, identify and tackle racial equity in business.
What Past Accelerate Equity Participants Are Saying
Accelerate Equity has exceeded my expectations. It showed me the conversations and relationships I didn’t know I needed to have. As a founder of color, we often don’t have nor seek spaces to share and listen authentically – I’ve felt deeply heard and understood.
Accelerate Equity has helped me better understand and feel the generational mistrust and continued racial divide that is stuck in a vicious cycle. My hope is that we come up with innovative strategies to break this cycle.
As a founder, it definitely makes me think about alternatives to venture capital for sure, but also highlights why the RIGHT venture capital is so important. The relationship dynamic between founder and investor for Black founders is really important.
Accelerate Equity has been a game-changer. As a founder who has experienced multiple accelerators, this one stands out as truly unique. It’s a space where I can authentically be myself, sharing and growing alongside people who are facing similar challenges in real-time. I believe every founder should have the opportunity to attend a program like this.
Accelerate Equity has helped me explore and lean into my value as a Black Woman who owns a business by challenging me to explore my beliefs about money, rest and entrepreneurship. I really appreciate the accountability and support from the leaders and my awesome cohort because I don’t feel alone in learning how to succeed and have longevity in my business. AE shows me that I have people rooting for me to win and they are DOING what they can to ensure it!
Accelerate Equity has served as a critical lifeline for our business, both in business insights and in supporting us as founders. This journey is often lonely, and having a consistent support system has been truly invaluable.
My experience with Accelerate Equity has been business therapeutic, knowing that I’m not on this journey alone, but with other founders with a like-minded vision. The biggest impact has come from our three facilitators. D. Ross gives us the business navigation in real time, Paul keeps us focused on the task and goals, and Nadia’s perspective ties everything together! I know I can close an investment opportunity now thanks to Accelerate Equity.