Accelerate
your
growth.

Have a vision for your business, but not sure how to get there? The Accelerator at ICA can help.

Overview

How it works.

The Accelerator provides coaching, connections, and access to capital to help you scale your business, build a great team, and get ready for investment. Our 12-week business accelerator program can give you the knowledge, mentorship, and community you need to build the business you envision.

Apply Now

Criteria

What it takes.

If you’re ready to take your business to the next level — for yourself and your community — we want to help.

An established business model that supports job creation.

The availability and commitment to fully participate.

Demonstrated product/market fit and traction.

A scalable business model with tangible expansion opportunities.

Program

What to expect.

Time



12 weeks to work on the three pillars: growth strategy, capital landscape and investment readiness.



A commitment of 5 hrs/week and attendance at every session is mandatory to participate. The program generally runs from May - August.

Structure



Cohort based, in-person and virtual workshops centered on strategic learnings and practical takeaways. In-person sessions will take place in Downtown Oakland.



Two tailored program tracks: one for seed-stage companies and the other for growth-stage companies. We will place you in the track that will best serve you as a founder.



1-on-1 mentoring sessions with high-caliber advisors to put learnings into action.

Commitment



1% deferred equity. (Growth-stage only)



Capacity and ability to participate in an intensive program.

Funding Opportunity



Graduates of the Accelerator will be eligible to apply for ICA’s founder-friendly impact capital ($25K–$1M) when your business is ready. Capital is not immediate or guaranteed.

Ready to go?

Our Accelerator is a game-changer for entrepreneurs who want to grow their business and make a positive impact on their communities. The Accelerator at ICA can support your entrepreneurial journey while giving you the coaching, connections, and capital you need to succeed.

Apply Today

Testimonials

Hear from our Entrepreneurs

“I feel lucky to have had this experience. The class content was so relevant, and the instructors were brilliant and well organized. […] The cohort was a great mix of passionate business owners all at the same growth stage, so it was beneficial for us all to share experiences and learn from each other.”

— Lila Owens, Cupcakin' Bakeshop

Testimonials

Hear from our Entrepreneurs

“I was able to calibrate my own experiences, strengths, and weaknesses alongside other similar people. Spending time with other business owners who were facing similar learning curves and challenges provided a certain amount of reflection that is elusive in the flurry of day-to-day work.”

— Brian Eby, EBY Construction

Testimonials

Hear from our Entrepreneurs

“The Accelerator helped me build confidence as a leader to be more directive and delegate effectively. It also helped me be able to make hard decisions based on looking at the data of my business and be able to get buy-in from my team about how to pivot to the trends.”

— Reem Assil, Reem’s California