• Speed up the growth and success of start-ups and existing businesses in Rock County that are owned and operated by Black entrepreneurs

• Provide immediate access to business coaches, professionals (lawyers, accountants), mentors, and other entrepreneurs

• Provide marketing assistance, market research, marketing analytics tools, access to loan facilitators, grantors, and legal advice

• Develop ongoing workshops (for new and existing businesses) that deliver a consistent and intensive entrepreneurial skills development training program

• Provide a physical workspace that’s meant to foster networking among Black entrepreneurs and their coaches, mentors, and the professionals who train them

• Provide a physical workspace where these Black entrepreneurs can enjoy a collaborative workspace where they can grow and thrive

• Provide a free 10-week accelerator program designed to further develop existing businesses

Rock County Jumpstart members are eligible to apply to participate in a free 10-week accelerator course. Participants join a cohort and meet once a week to work through a curriculum taught by successful and skilled entrepreneurs.

Our curriculum is designed to help business owners:

• Better define their business model

• Gain a better understanding of marketing strategies

• Learn more about the legal aspects of running their business

• Develop an effective sales strategy

• Learn about the importance of credit and where they can secure funding even if they have bad credit

• Learn the importance of business owners becoming leaders in their community

• Move Black entrepreneurs closer to closing the wage gap in Rock County

• Help Black entrepreneurs provide vehicles for economic growth in their own community