Deadline: February 9, 2025
Applications are open for the Retail Readiness Entrepreneurship Training Program 2025. The Retail Readiness Entrepreneurship Training Program is a competitive 16-week leadership and venture development program designed to support 25 underserved retail entrepreneurs who transform agricultural inputs into higher-value products or work directly in agriculture.
Founders receive essential training, a curated list of retail readiness certifications and the financial stipend to pursue those certifications, mentorship, and access to a robust network and community. The program also offers long-term, sustainable alumni support to help entrepreneurs become retail-ready, scale their ventures, create jobs, and positively impact their communities.
Benefits
- Each Founder will have the opportunity to receive up to $1,000 to support their pursuit of external retail readiness certifications. This stipend helps cover certification fees and related expenses, supporting Founders in advancing their retail skills and career opportunities.
Eligibility
- The training program is open to U.S.-based entrepreneurs from cities with the highest documented levels of wealth inequality, as measured by the GINI Index. The geographic scope for the program includes places like Chicago, Dallas, Houston, and Los Angeles, among many others.
- You are an impact-driven entrepreneur or community leader, working directly in farming or creating value-added products based on agricultural inputs. This could mean processing raw agricultural materials into something more useful and marketable or creating products that involve recycling or upcycling, reducing waste and environmental impact. Some examples of value-added products in agriculture include: ready-to-eat products, organic and specialty products, artisanal and craft products, natural fibers and textiles, cosmetics and personal care products, biofuels, bioproducts and more. This training program supports historically underserved entrepreneurs who are making lasting impact in their communities through innovation and value creation.
- Your venture is in Problem-Solution or Product-Market Fit Stage, with engaged customers or beneficiaries, and demonstrated outcomes in both impact and revenue. This typically includes a track record of successfully raising funds through grants, investments, donations, or other means to support your ventures.
- You are able to commit to the 16-week program including the two-week virtual Immersive. They prioritise applicants who are fully committed to actively participating in the entire 16-week program. At the heart of the program is a strong sense of community, and its success hinges on the active engagement and enthusiasm of all participants, who are eager to both learn and share.
- You are available to attend the workshops that are hosted on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
- Adults 18 or Older.
Application
Complete the online application. This application should take approximately 45 minutes to fill out. The priority deadline for application submissions is February 9, 2025. Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis thereafter until the spots are filled.
For more information, visit Retail Readiness Entrepreneurship Training.
