The Ivy League of Business Accelerators

Hey honeys and hustlers,

I apologize for the radio silence. I got COVID for the first time this month and it’s been an interesting road to recovery. I’m anxious to be back (remotely, because I’m still testing positive, unfortunately) and hope you all have been enjoying the month of July! How are you doing? What are you working on? Where did you go on vacation? I want to hear from y’all!

As the second half of the year starts that means we’re closer to the end than the beginning. You may be wondering how you can accelerate your creative business growth to finish the year strong or build on what worked really well in the first half of the year. Two Honey & Hustle podcast guests were recently accepted into what I like to think of as one of the “Ivy League” of business accelerators: gener8tor. The founders of Cadence Cash (Charles and Andrea Inoken) joined the founder of Core AI (Ed Ross) in this prestigious and competitive business accelerator program. However, is this program, and others like it, a great fit for creative businesses?

Techstars, Y Combinator, and gener8tor are likely in the Twitter and Linkedin bios of every company founder fortunate enough to grace these cohorts. Business accelerators are structured to be short-term launching pads for long-term success. They typically provide mentorship, funding in exchange for equity, networking opportunities, and business education. These could be compelling reasons to apply for creators looking to venture into the startup world with their own products or SaaS tools. The credibility associated with being an alumnus of these well-known accelerators can open doors to further investment and partnership opportunities.

However, I have to make the case for regional business accelerators. They often provide more personalized and accessible support, which can be particularly beneficial for startups and creators focused on regional markets. Local accelerators may also offer a stronger sense of community and tailored advice that aligns closely with the specific needs of the business within its local context. If you’re a little further along in your journey and have already established a product-market fit for your creative services or products, niche-specific fellowships or project-based programs can be incredibly beneficial. These programs can offer specialized resources, targeted mentorship, and a community of like-minded individuals, which can be instrumental in addressing unique challenges and advancing specific aspects of your business.

If broad exposure, extensive resources, and a high-profile network are critical for growth, participating in a major accelerator might be the best choice. But, if the focus is on regional impact or specific industry expertise, local accelerators or niche fellowships may offer more tailored and effective support.

Good luck to everyone submitting applications to grow their business! If you ever have questions about regional business accelerators, fellowships, or industry-specific programs please let me know, I’m happy to share my experience!

In Readworthy News

// Figma’s design conference Config (held in June) was planned using Notion. See the case study explaining how they did it here.

// Complex has released their list of most influential Hip Hop media power rankings for 2024 and I call complete BS on this entire list. I could be wrong though, check it out for yourself here. 

// I don’t drink Arizona Iced Tea, but I’d run through a brick wall for its founder. Hear his incredible response to why he won’t raise the price. More of this from founders, please!

// Tabitha Brown is going all in as our favorite auntie of wholesome content. She now has an app, an online store, and a new book series. Favor ain’t fair!

North Carolina News

• BlkBiz Summit is happening on August 2nd in Durham, NC at the Chesterfield Building. Register to attend here.

• Artists Thrive Summitt is happening August 13th-16th in Winston-Salem, NC. Register to attend here.

• Videri Chocolate Factory (based in Raleigh, NC) was named sixth Best Independent Chocolate Shop in the country! Read more about their rise in the charts here.

Please Hustle Responsibly,

🤙🏾✨

If you’d like to engage with this community, here are a few ways you can do that:

Forwarded this message? Sign up here.

Have a question? To get direct creative or entrepreneurial advice from me, submit your question here or leave a voice message.

Join us in the chat. Talk with other creative entrepreneurs in this community here.