Deadline: August 15, 2025
Applications are open for the WBENC Industry Accelerator Program 2025. WBENC and Kroger are bringing entrepreneurs an exciting Industry Accelerator program this fall from September 11 through October 17. The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) Industry Accelerator | Kroger Feeding Growth Opportunities is a cohort-style accelerator program featuring education sessions, mentoring, pitching opportunities, and more.
Through this dynamic Industry Accelerator, brought to you by Kroger, applicants accepted into the cohort will participate in a dedicated accelerator program with 2 additional education sessions. Once accepted, cohort participants will:
- Attend a series of virtual sessions led by Kroger team members on a variety of topics such as business pitching, presenting to a category manager, marketing tips, and more.
- Be matched with a Kroger mentor for a 1:1 discussion to occur during the program.
- Have their capability statements reviewed by Kroger supplier diversity professionals and buyers for consideration to pilot a contract with Kroger. (This opportunity is based upon specific criteria, vendor capabilities, and Kroger sourcing needs, and does not guarantee a contract will be awarded).
Benefit
- The program will culminate with a LIVE virtual pitch competition featuring all cohort participants, and an opportunity for one business owner to receive $10,000 in funding.
Eligibility
- Applicant must be an owner of the company.
- Elevator pitch videos submitted in the application are limited to 60 seconds. Any videos longer than 60 seconds will not be accepted, and the application must be resubmitted.
- The business solution featured in the application pitch video must be an existing business solution that is currently ready for market or already in market, not a future endeavor in need of investment.
- If the company has more than one owner, only one representative may apply and pitch/participate in all program components.
- Company is registered in Kroger’s vendor management system Supplier Hub prior to application submission.
- Cohort participants will be notified of acceptance into the program no later than 9/1/25.
Application
Applications are open until August 15, 2025. This application must be completed in its entirety and cannot be saved or returned to at a later time.
For more information, visit WBENC Industry Accelerator Program.
