Transformational Growth for Entrepreneurs

Propeller’s Impact Accelerator is a 5-month program that provides mission-driven entrepreneurs with coaching, community building, curriculum, and technical assistance to grow their businesses.

The Growth Track of the Impact Accelerator is designed to support established companies in growing revenues and staff in the next 12 months. 

The Impact Accelerator is open to entrepreneurs with businesses grounded in financial viability, social impact, and dedication to the shared prosperity of our city and region. Entrepreneurs in the greater New Orleans area who work within our five focus areas: community economic development, education, food, health, and water should apply. 

The Growth Track of the Impact Accelerator is best suited for growth-stage entrepreneurs working in one of our five main areas of focus (community economic development, education, food, health, and water) who are looking to grow their staff and scale revenue. Leaders of non-profit organizations with earned revenue streams may also apply.

Impact Accelerator participants have regular Lead Mentor office hours to set goals for growth and sustainability, receive support from Subject Matter Experts, and attend in-person meetups to access entrepreneurial curriculum. Please review the Impact Accelerator Overview for a full description of program benefits. A summary of program benefits include:

• 12+ hours of business development curriculum
• Free coworking office space at Propeller’s facility
• Introductions to key community stakeholders, lenders, connectors, investors, and holders of contract opportunities
• 12 + hours of individualized strategy sessions with a dedicated Lead Mentor
• Approximately 20 hours to work with subject matter experts on projects related to marketing, finance & accounting, operations, and legal support 
• Detailed work plan driving growth towards identified financial and impact related goals
• Membership in a cohort of 15 like-minded entrepreneurs, as well as a network of over 300 alumni

In community economic development, Propeller’s Impact Accelerator supports BIPOC-owned brick and mortar establishments, construction companies, affordable housing developers, professional service providers, and organizations improving the operating environment for BIPOC entrepreneurs. 

Eligibility Category: Brick-and-Mortar Storefronts

• For-profit
• Operating a brick-and-mortar storefront
• Majority (50%+) owned by BIPOC entrepreneur(s)
• Priority Areas: Businesses that have been operating for 3+ years, demonstrate a commitment to remaining in their current neighborhood, create livable wage jobs, and foster strong community ties. Preference is also given to businesses with plans to grow through commercial and/or government contracts.

Eligibility Category: Construction & Professional Services

• For-profit
• Majority (50%+) owned by BIPOC entrepreneur(s)
• Priority Areas: Businesses seeking to scale operations and grow their team through commercial and/or government contracts.

Eligibility Category: Affordable Housing Development

• For-profit or nonprofit
• Majority (50%+) owned by BIPOC entrepreneur(s)
• Priority Areas: Emerging developers producing high-quality affordable housing targeting 30% to 50% of the area median income (AMI) in the greater New Orleans area

Eligibility Category: Ecosystem Change Venture

• For-profit or nonprofit
• Majority (50%+) ownership by BIPOC individuals, or majority (50%+) of executive leadership and board led by BIPOC individuals
• Priority Areas: Mission-driven organization focused on making the entrepreneurial ecosystem more equitable for BIPOC entrepreneurs through direct services, policy, or advocacy work

In education, Propeller’s Impact Accelerator supports entrepreneurs working in the service provision or delivery of early childhood education and care from birth to eight years of age.

Eligibility Category: Early Childhood Education Centers

• For-profit or nonprofit 
• Family Child Care Providers or Type III Centers 
• Plans to increase enrollment, grow staff, and/or expand business location within the next 12 months
• Priority Areas:
  • Family Child Care Providers seeking to transition to Type III Centers
  • New Type III Centers
  • Expansion of existing Type III Centers

In food, Propeller’s Impact Accelerator supports entrepreneurs who have developed a consumer packaged goods (CPG) brand and are looking to scale via wholesale strategies. 

Eligibility Category: Consumer Packaged Good Brands

• For-profit 
• Consumer packaged good brands with environmentally sound practices, locally sourced ingredients, health benefits, or have other compelling social or environmental benefits. 
• Priority Areas: Consumer packaged good brands seeking to 
  • Scale via wholesale strategies
  • Prepare retail readiness 
  • Bolster supply chain management for scaling and growth
  • Secure investment for retail expansion

In health, Propeller’s Impact Accelerator supports entrepreneurs who provide direct health and wellness services, including clinical care, and services that address the social and physical determinants of health. Propeller prioritizes entrepreneurs who serve a BIPOC client base, who seek to make healthcare more accessible, and who plan to grow their staff in the next year. 

Eligibility Category: Direct Provision or Delivery of Healthcare

• For-profit or nonprofit with earned revenue
• Providers of direct clinical care or healthcare
• Priority Areas: 
  • Entrepreneurs serving a BIPOC client base
  • Entrepreneurs seeking to make healthcare more accessible to New Orleanians
  • Entrepreneurs seeking to grow their staff in the next 12 months

Eligibility Category: Provision of services impacting social and physical determinants of health

• For-profit or nonprofit with earned revenue
• Providing services impacting social and physical determinants of health
• Priority Areas: 
  • Entrepreneurs serving a BIPOC client base
  • Entrepreneurs seeking to make healthcare more accessible to New Orleanians
  • Entrepreneurs seeking to grow their staff in the next 12 months

In water, Propeller’s Impact Accelerator focuses on supporting entrepreneurs working in the fields of green infrastructure, urban stormwater management, coastal restoration, native plant cultivation, and climate resiliency.

Eligibility Category: Green Infrastructure and Stormwater Management

• Currently working urban stormwater management or green infrastructure
• For-profit or nonprofit with earned revenue
• Priority Areas: Businesses seeking to scale revenues via commercial and government contracts

Eligibility Category: Coastal Restoration

• Currently working or seeking to work in coastal restoration
• For-profit or nonprofit with earned revenue
• Priority Areas: Businesses seeking to scale revenues via commercial and government contracts

Eligibility Category: Native Plant Cultivation

• For-profit or nonprofit with earned revenue
• Priority Areas: Organizations increasing supply of native plants to be used in green infrastructure projects

Eligibility Category: Climate Resiliency 

• For-profit or nonprofit with earned revenue
• Priority Areas: Organizations improving disaster preparedness and resiliency via infrastructural projects such as solar or alternative power grids

Reach out to us at [email protected] to connect with a team member to assess your fit. Propeller has a variety of programming that may suit your needs, and we will work to guide you to the programming that best fits your stage and challenges. 

The Impact Accelerator is a free program. Propeller is a non-profit organization that receives grants from funders who invest in our programming to provide support to entrepreneurs. We believe that entrepreneurship can and should be pursued by any individual hoping to make a positive impact on our community. We provide space and opportunities to such entrepreneurs by addressing and mitigating barriers to entry when possible.

The Impact Accelerator: Growth Track runs from May 10th through August 7th, 2025. Participants who get the most out of Impact Accelerator have the capacity to attend all Tuesday Night Meetups, come prepared to Lead Mentor Office Hours, and follow through on work plan tasks. Typically, the time commitment for the Impact Accelerator is 3 – 6 hours per week.

A complete schedule of program dates are listed on the Impact Accelerator Overview.

Monthly surveys are a requirement for all Impact Accelerator participants. Monthly surveys typically take about an hour to complete and ask for information regarding revenue and other finances.

Applications are open February 14th through April 6th, 2025. 

We encourage anyone interested in applying to our 2025 Impact Accelerator: Growth Track to attend one of our informational sessions to learn more about how the program can benefit their business. Sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, February 25th, 2025 and Tuesday, March 17th. Registration is required.

Questions? Learn more about Impact Accelerator benefits in the Impact Accelerator Overview or contact us at [email protected].