Our Programs > The Entrepreneurial Accelerator

Accelerate your business progress and unlock Your Full Potential.

The Entrepreneurial Accelerator supports aspiring entrepreneurs and existing business owners as they catapult from concept to the commercial sphere.

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Host an Accelerator

“The accelerators present real life, on the spot experiences to develop and strategize with professionals, coaches in the field of your goals, such as branding and designing your website. You leave the accelerator feeling supported, productive, engaged, with a plan as well as a person to work with you on your goals. You do not leave feeling alone and that you have sat through hours of someone talking to you, papers to look at and no plans and/or concepts how to proceed.”

Yvette Jives

Founder, HERS

Why business owners struggle

According to the Small Business Association (SBA), the reason for this is inadequate planning, lack of specific experience, insufficient capital, poor location, inadequate market understanding, and marginal customer service.

The great news is that the journey doesn’t have to be walked alone.

How The Entrepreneurial Accelerator Helps

The Entrepreneurial Accelerator (TEA) provides support for entrepreneurs to test the feasibility of their ideas, complete comprehensive business plans, clarify assets, develop resources, and build relationships as they progress forward.

TEA is broken into 3 primary features:

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Inclusive Learning Lab

The Entrepreneurial Accelerator provides IDA Approved, high quality, yet practical, interactive workshops. These workshops, or learning labs, have valuable outcomes that help participants enhance or expand knowledge of vital business concepts.

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Asset Building Lab

The Entrepreneurial Accelerator provides useful Technical Assistance and technology to help create and enhance assets in participants’ businesses. Participants obtain assistance around assets like one-page websites, graphics, headshots, podcasts, video, etc..

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Resource Bar

The Entrepreneurial Accelerator provides a menu of helpful resources through our partnerships. Get on-the-spot assistance from Mountain BizWorks, AB Tech, Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation, and more. Participants walk away with 1:1 coaching, workshop registration, and new contacts and connections.

Participants move room to room, station to station getting exactly what they need whether it is product photos for their website, assistance applying for funding, or help writing a business plan.

3 Ways to Participate

Choose 1 of the 3 options below.

Accelerate Your Business Progress

Start a business or get tools and resources to help yours grow.

Find an accelerator near you.

Find an Accelerator

Bring the Accelerator to Your Community

Customize the accelerator to meet the needs of new and aspiring business owners in your community. Contact us for more information.

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Volunteer! Become and Equity Partner

Equity Partners provide coaching and other resources to TEA participants. Find out how you and your organization can help.

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Instructors

Aisha Adams, Program Developer & Instructor

Aisha Adams, an influencer with a heart for community economic development, champions social change advocates, thought leaders, and courageous disruptors. She is a serial entrepreneur, CEO of the Aisha Adams Media, and partner in Equity Over Everything. Aisha’s ventures include the Asheville View, a talk show addressing hot-button issues, and Nappy Thoughts, a popular blog. Aisha’s work has been featured in various publications, including Black Business, Asheville Citizen-Times, Yahoo Money, and more.

Dr. Joseph Fox, Instructor

Joseph Fox, Ed.D., is president and CEO of Fox Management Consulting Enterprises. A long-time educator, he has held instructional and administrative roles at numerous institutions of higher education, including Haywood Community College, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Western Carolina University and Lenoir-Rhyne University. Dr. Fox holds Doctor of Education and Master of Business Administration degrees from Western Carolina University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Pfeiffer University. He also possesses the Professional in Human Resources Management (PHR) National Certification, Achieve Global Leadership Training Certification and the Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning (REAL) Certification. Dr. Fox serves on several nonprofit boards in Western North Carolina, and is a highly sought-after speaker, presenting on various topics related to entrepreneurship, empowerment and planning for retirement.

Dr. J Hackett, Instructor

J Hackett is an executive director with more than 20 years’ experience in the nonprofit world. He has led initiatives and organizations from the grassroots to the international level and helped build bridges across cultures. Hackett’s work has been recognized in the North Carolina Bar Journal for social enterprises, he’s been honored by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and has been published in the Association for Addiction Professionals’ scholarly journal. He is an expert in social entrepreneurship, community and economic development and discovering purpose. In addition to a bachelor’s degree from UNC Asheville, Hackett holds a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University.

Dr. Taylor, Instructor

Monique A. Taylor, Ph.D., is a seasoned professional with nearly four decades of higher education, accounting and taxation experience. Dr. Taylor’s professional focus has been internal auditing in higher education, and she served as chief audit officer at Winston-Salem State University and UNC Asheville. She also partnered with the Internal Revenue Service for more than 20 years to develop, manage and direct community volunteer income tax sites. Dr. Taylor is an accomplished accounting instructor, and has held adjunct faculty roles at multiple universities and colleges. She currently serves on several Asheville-area nonprofit boards, and is the sole proprietor of Taylor Tax & Accounting Service.