Empowering entrepreneurs who identify as women and people of color to develop their social venture ideas here in North Texas.
The Social Innovation Incubator designed to address historical opportunity and resource gaps and address systemic racial and gender inequities in the social innovation sector in North Texas. To accomplish this, the Social Innovation Incubator will provide an organizational and leadership development program exclusively for early-stage social ventures led and staffed by women and people of color working to implement new and creative solutions to pressing problems facing North Texans in the areas of Education, Income, and Health
Through this program, each participant will develop a validated business plan, receive personalized leadership coaching, and access financial, human, and social capital through United Way’s network.
The platform offers a learn-by-doing approach inspired by MIT's Disciplined Entrepreneurship where you'll get to generate a validated business plan for your venture.
You’ll be partnered with a professional who will provide personalized coaching to develop your venture and grow your leadership.
Ventures that complete the program will receive a program payment and will be eligible to compete in a pitch competition for additional funding of up to $5000.
Learn, collaborate, and grow your venture from anywhere, at any time, and on any device through the online platform.
1700+ entrepreneurs from 70 countries have gone through the program!
Ventures and individuals that complete this program will be positioned to access financial, human, and social capital through future United Way of Metropolitan Dallas programs.
AUGUST 1, 2021
Ask questions about your Social Innovation Incubator applications and get support from Social Innovation Accelerator leadership coaches and United Way staff. Questions can be about the application in general or they can be specific to your application.
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and Bridge for Billions will review the applications and select 20 start-ups to participate.
The final participant communication will be on August, 9.
Bridge for Billions will host an onboarding session where participants will learn how to use the incubation platform, methodology and more.
Date: Thursday, August 12 at 12 pm CDT
Entrepreneur and mentor pairs will be formalized.
The Incubation Program, powered by Bridge for Billions, offers a gamified, step-by-step platform experience that allows entrepreneurs to validate their business model and develop their visual business plan.
The platform will help you network, research and test your business plan. Throughout the program, your mentors will provide one-to-one support, challenging assumptions and offering a fresh perspective.
Not a cent! This is a free program provided by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.
The more time you’re able to put in, the better the results. We’ve structured the program so that you should be able to complete all activities within 6-8 hours per week (including an hour-long video call with your mentor). If you have a business partner, you can divide the work. If you can’t commit to at least 6 hours per week for 3½ months, this may not be the program for you.
You will need to use a laptop or desktop computer to access the platform; you’ll also need reliable internet access. For optimal performance, we recommend using Google Chrome, Safari or Firefox as your web browser.
Once accepted into the program, you’ll enter the Matching Phase, which lasts 20-25 days. During that time, basic information about your project will be accessible to our community of mentors, who will invite you to initial meetings so you can get to know each other. You can attend as many meetings as you want, but eventually you’ll have to choose your preferred mentor.
Yes! If you are working with business partners, you can all participate in the program. Only one representative from your team should apply, but if selected you can easily invite your teammates to join your project.
Protecting your intellectual property is extremely important to us. Your application and program data are confidential. Both you and your intellectual property are protected by our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. Your mentor will also sign a Mentorship Agreement that includes a confidentiality clause.
Your mentor is your guide throughout the program — someone who understands the intricacies of your business. Week after week, your mentor will help you validate your strategy and design your growth plan. Mentors support you within the platform and meet with you once a week outside the platform (typically using video calls).
Submit a question or request an introductory call with Alexis, the program manager for the Social Innovation Incubator
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