Small Business Academy

Our Small Business Academy is a 16-month entrepreneurship certificate program that supports creative and social entrepreneurs in developing plans, improving operations, accessing capital, and strengthening leadership capabilities to build thriving, resilient businesses.

Through the Small Business Academy, you will gain the education, tools, and resources to:

• Develop your business plan and financial forecast in alignment with your mission and values;
• Create and improve marketing, sales, operations, and financial management of your business;
• Learn to pitch your business in any setting;
• Apply for funding to implement your business plans; and
• Prepare to hire and lead a team.

Below are the courses included in the Small Business Academy.

Learn more about the courses you will take in our Small Business Academy.

Average time commitment for our Small Business Academy course work is 15-20 hours / week dedicated to building your business.

Building a business is a process of continuous improvement. As business owners, you receive feedback from customers, employees, and partners on regular basis through informal conversations and more formal surveys and other tools. And, you use that feedback to refine your business strategy.

The courses in the Small Business Academy also provide you with regular feedback to develop and implement your business strategy and plans, improve your operations and financial management, apply for funding, and build a team. You will receive informal feedback from mentors and peers on your weekly business development activities. In addition, you will receive more formal feedback through progress reports designed to provide you with documented feedback on your business and personal development and next steps for your business at regular intervals throughout each course

In order to complete the Small Business Academy and receive a Certificate of Completion, you must meet the following requirements:

• Comply with the attendance policy;
• Submit all required activities for completion of each course in the program; and
• Meet all financial obligations to Uptima Entrepreneur Cooperative.

A Certificate of Completion will be issued to each entrepreneur who has successfully completed the program within thirty (30) days of the end of the program.

We select up to 8 businesses per location to participate in our Small Business Academy in each enrollment period.

Selection Criteria

• Founded, own a majority stake, and manage the day-to-day operations of a creative or social enterprise
• Have experience in the industry in which you started your creative or social enterprise
• Are growing a small business, small non-profit, or cooperative with the potential for employing others in the community
• Business has the potential for meaningful positive social, environmental, and/or economic impact in your local community
• Business has an online presence through a website and social media
• Business has generated sales between $5,000 to $50,000 over the last year
• Business has not received more than $10,000 of outside funding (e.g., pitch competitions, crowdfunding, loans, equity)
• Current resident of the Boston, Chicago, or Oakland / East Bay Metro Areas
• At least 18 years or older as of the application deadline or if under 18, have legal guardian consent
• At least intermediate level English language skills
• Able to commit up to 20 hours per week to building your business

Admissions Process

To be considered for the Small Business Academy, you must apply online. After each application deadline, our local selection teams will review all applications for the Small Business Academy and select the top applicants for interviews.

Based on interviews, our local selection teams will select up to 8 businesses per location to participate in the Small Business Academy. We will notify all applicants of our selection decisions at least one week prior to the start date of each enrollment period.

Our Small Business Academy is offered during the following times.

The cost of the Small Business Academy is $20,050 which consists of a one-time $50 non-refundable registration fee and program fees of $20,000.

Given the current economic circumstances, we are providing entrepreneurs with a subsidized cost on the program fee, which will be determined based on household income, as well as a payment plan over the 16-month enrollment period. Below are the monthly program fees based on household income levels.

Below are the total program fees for Small Business Academy over the 16-month enrollment period based on household income levels.

In addition as a business owner, you will need to invest in the basic costs of growing your business. You should be prepared to pay these basic costs of doing business on your own. These costs are estimated at $100-$200 per month for subscriptions to maintain your website, QuickBooks accounting system, file management system, office technology, and phone / video conferencing.

Do I have to be a resident in one of those metropolitan areas (Boston, Chicago, or Oakland / East Bay metropolitan areas) to apply?

We are committed to supporting the local economies where we run our programs. As such, you must be a resident in a metropolitan area where we have a location, either Boston, Chicago, or Oakland / East Bay metropolitan areas.

What is the value of the Small Business Academy?

The full value of our Small Business Academy is $20,000. Given the current economic situation, we are subsidizing the majority of the cost of the Small Business Academy for all entrepreneurs of color. By completing the Small Business Academy, you will have the knowledge, tools, and network necessary to grow your creative or social enterprise.

What kind of businesses are you looking for?

We encourage those who are passionate about creating sustainable impact in their community to apply. Some of the entrepreneurs we have worked with in the past include, but are not limited to, those in arts and culture, health and wellness, food and beverage, retail and eCommerce, manufacturing, and services industries.

What kind of positive social, environmental, and economic impact are you looking for?

We are looking for entrepreneurs who believe in advancing principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy. This includes business concepts that provide for cultural expression, create good jobs, advance worker ownership and democracy, utilize sustainable production methods, shift to zero waste, among other practices.

What happens after I complete the Small Business Academy?

As a Small Business Academy graduate, you may be eligible to apply for and receive funding and ongoing support for your business through our partnerships with mission-aligned funders, RUNWAY and The REAL People’s Fund. Our partnerships with RUNWAY and The REAL People’s Fund provide friendly, restorative capital and continued business support and community to grow your business in alignment with your values.

Are Small Business Academy entrepreneurs eligible to become member-owners of Uptima?

All Uptima entrepreneurs who complete a certain level of our programs and are in good standing on their program fees are eligible to become member-owners of Uptima Entrepreneur Cooperative. Entrepreneurs who are interested in becoming member-owners will need to go through the membership process.

What does it mean to be a member-owner of Uptima?

Becoming a member of Uptima Entrepreneur Cooperative means you become a part of a cooperative community that invests in each other, shares in our profits, and has a say in how we are run.