Creators’ Momentum Business Accelerator

How it works

The Creators’ Momentum Business Accelerator is an eight-week virtual program designed to provide creative entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools they need to take their businesses to the next level. In 2024, the program will provide 100 business owners with a full suite of impactful offerings, including:

• Self-paced online courses
• Valuable industry expertise via virtual seminars
• Networking opportunities with like-minded creative entrepreneurs via virtual workshops
• A $5,000 business grant upon successful completion of the program

TO BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY, APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

• Owner of an operating business that contributes to the creative economy, including crafters, artists, makers, musicians, and other creative entrepreneurs.
• Owner of a business that has been operational for at least one year
• Owner of a business with annual revenue equivalent of less than $500,000
• Owner of a business employing 5 or fewer full- or part-time employees
• Located in any of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico
• Committed to completing the full program
• Have a business bank account

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Frequently Asked Questions

OVERVIEW

ELIGIBILITY

APPLICATION PROCESS

SUBMISSION AND TROUBLESHOOTING

SELECTION AND AWARDS

OVERVIEW

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM?

The purpose of the Creators’ Momentum Business Accelerator is to support creative entrepreneurs, including those who have historically been locked out of traditional business support ecosystems. We know that creative entrepreneurs can thrive when given the advice, access to networks, and impactful resources that they need to bring their talents to the world.

This virtual program offers a unique combination of seminars, small-group workshops, self-paced digital education, and grant capital. Over the course of the eight-week program period, participants will create a growth plan that they can use beyond the program period to fuel the growth of their business.

WHAT ARE THE ROLES OF THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN THIS PROGRAM?

The Creators’ Momentum Business Accelerator will be administered and executed by Accion Opportunity Fund. Etsy is the program sponsor.

WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS?

The time commitment is approximately 2-4 hours per week over the course of the eight-week program.

This includes weekly virtual events and networking opportunities, online courses and assignments, and the development of a personalized growth plan for your business. A detailed program schedule will be shared with selected participants.

ELIGIBILITY

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM?

Any small business owner who meets the following criteria is eligible to apply for the Creators’ Momentum Business Accelerator:

• Owner of an operating business that contributes to the creative economy, including crafters, artists, makers, musicians, and other creative entrepreneurs
• Owner of a business that has been operational for at least one year
• Owner of a business with annual revenue equivalent of less than $500,000
• Owner of a business employing 5 or fewer full- or part-time employees
• Located in any of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico
• Committed to completing the full program
• Have a business bank account

WHICH INDUSTRIES ARE CONSIDERED PART OF THE CREATIVE ECONOMY?

• Arts & Crafts – businesses designing and/or producing works of visual arts
  • Art dealers
  • Ceramics & pottery
  • Drawing
  • Fiber or textile arts
  • Graphic design & digital art
  • Illustration
  • Metalworking & welding
  • Painting
  • Papercraft
  • Sculpture
  • Tattoo artists
  • Visual art
  • Woodwork
• Cosmetics & Personal Care – businesses producing cosmetics or personal care items or providing personal care services
  • Barber shops
  • Beauty, hair, and/or nail salons
  • Makeup production/manufacturing
  • Nail design
  • Professional makeup art
• Fashion & Accessories – businesses designing and/or producing clothes, shoes, jewelry, and accessories
  • Clothing and/or shoes design and/or production
  • Fashion styling
  • Jewelry design and production
  • Wearable accessories design and/or production
• Food & Beverage – businesses manufacturing/producing food and beverage goods
  • Beverage manufacturing
  • Food manufacturing
• Fragrance & Candle-Making – businesses producing fragrances, perfumes, candles, or similar items
  • Candle manufacturing
  • Fragrances
• Home Décor – businesses designing and/or producing home décor goods or providing interior design services
  • Furniture design & production
  • Glassware & glass blowing
  • Handmade home décor
  • Interior design services
• Music, Video & Performing Arts – businesses engaged in creating or producing music, broadcasting, video or motion picture arts, or other creative activities performed in front of an audience
  • Animation
  • Broadcasting
  • Dance companies
  • Production of musical instruments
  • Independent performers
  • Motion picture & video production
  • Musical groups, artists, & producers
  • Songwriting
  • Theater companies
• Photography – businesses engaged in the art or practice of taking and processing photographs
• Plant & Foliage Art or Retail – businesses selling plants and/or businesses designing or producing artistic works using real or artificial flowers
  • Florists & flower artists
  • Landscape design
  • Plant retailers
• Toy & Hobby Goods – businesses designing and/or producing toys and other hobby goods
  • Doll, toy, and game manufacturing
  • Gift, novelty, and souvenir stores

APPLICATION PROCESS

HOW DO ENTREPRENEURS APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM?

Applications for the Creators’ Momentum Business Accelerator will open at 9am ET on April 17. The deadline to apply is 5pm ET on May 13.

Eligible small business owners can apply through AOF’s application partner Submittable by creating a free account and completing an online application.

WHICH DOCUMENTS DO APPLICANTS HAVE TO PROVIDE TO BE ELIGIBLE?

• Front-and-back copy of photo identification (driver’s license, state ID, passport, permanent resident card, matricula consular, tribal card, military ID, or trusted traveler ID)
• The most recent business tax returns (2023 if available or 2022)
• The most recent bank statement from a business bank account

WHAT IF I DO NOT HAVE TAX RETURNS FOR MY BUSINESS?

Business tax returns are required if you have been operating for longer than 12 months. If you do not have recent tax returns, please submit one of the following:

• Articles of incorporation for LLCs, S Corps, and C Corps
• Sole proprietorship formation
• Fictitious name statement or DBA
• EIN registration
• City, state, or federal license to do business
• Relevant professional license

If your business is less than 12 months old, you are not eligible for this opportunity.

WHAT IF I DO NOT HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE?

If you have been in business at least 12 months and do not have either recent business taxes, articles of incorporation for LLCs, S Corps, and C Corps; sole proprietorship formation; fictitious name statement or DBA; EIN registration; city, state, or federal license to do business; or relevant professional license, you are not eligible for this opportunity.

IF I HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS LONGER THAN 12 MONTHS, CAN I SUBMIT A BUSINESS LICENSE INSTEAD OF TAX RETURNS?

Business tax returns are required if you have been operating for longer than 12 months. If you do not have recent tax returns, you can submit a business license or another one of the following accepted documents:

• Articles of incorporation for LLCs, S Corps, and C Corps
• Sole proprietorship formation
• Fictitious name statement or DBA
• EIN registration
• Relevant professional license

ARE SOLE PROPRIETORS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

Yes, sole proprietors are eligible to apply.

IF I HAVE MULTIPLE BUSINESSES, CAN I APPLY MULTIPLE TIMES?

No, each individual business owner may only apply once and is only eligible to receive one grant even if he or she owns more than one business.

WHAT IF I AM AN EMPLOYEE AT A SMALL BUSINESS OR SERVE IN A MANAGEMENT ROLE AT A SMALL BUSINESS, CAN I APPLY ON ITS BEHALF?

No, employees of small businesses are not eligible for this opportunity.

ARE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

No, this opportunity is only open to current owners of LLCs, corporations, or sole proprietorships.

DO I HAVE TO BE A UNITED STATES CITIZEN OR LEGAL RESIDENT TO BE ELIGIBLE?

We do not request any information related to the immigration status of applicants. Applicants must answer all application questions and submit all required documentation to be eligible. We recommend that sole proprietors and single-member LLCs include their SSN or ITIN on the W9 to expedite payment processing.

IS THERE A FEE TO APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM?

No, there is no fee to apply for this program.

SUBMISSION AND TROUBLESHOOTING

WHAT IF I AM UNABLE TO UPLOAD ALL OF THE INFORMATION REQUESTED?

You must provide all documentation requested. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Visit Submittable’s Resource Page to learn how to troubleshoot this problem or reach out to Submittable’s Customer Support team with any technical questions here.

CAN I MAKE CHANGES TO MY APPLICATION AFTER SUBMISSION?

No, you may not make any changes after the application has been submitted. If you made a mistake on your application, you can withdraw it and submit a new one.

CAN I SAVE MY APPLICATION AS I AM WORKING ON IT?

Yes, you can save an incomplete application to return to at a later time.

WILL I RECEIVE CONFIRMATION AFTER THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED?

Yes, you will receive confirmation by email. Please be sure to whitelist notification emails from Submittable and check the email you used to sign up for your Submittable account regularly.

WHAT BROWSER SHOULD I USE?

Our platform works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Internet Explorer is not supported. Please make sure you are using a supported browser.

You can download Firefox by following the instructions linked here.

You can download Chrome by following the instructions linked here.

WHO DO I CONTACT IF I’M HAVING TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH THE APPLICATION?

Check out the Submitter Resource Center or reach out to Submittable’s Customer Support team with any technical questions here.

SELECTION AND AWARDS

WHO REVIEWS THE PROGRAM APPLICATIONS?

AOF will review the applications.

HOW ARE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS SELECTED?

Participants are vetted to ensure they substantially meet all program criteria. Applicants must have answered all application questions and provided all requested documentation in order to be eligible. Incomplete applications cannot be considered.

HOW WILL I BE NOTIFIED IF I WILL RECEIVE A GRANT?

All communications regarding the program will be through emails from Accion Opportunity Fund via Submittable, including the notification if you were selected to participate in the program.

WHEN WILL PARTICIPANTS BE NOTIFIED IF THEY ARE SELECTED?

All applicants will be notified, whether they are selected or not, by late June.

WHO WILL RECEIVE THE $5,000 GRANTS AND WHAT CAN THEY BE USED FOR?

Participants who are selected for the program and who graduate will receive a $5,000 grant to put toward their business growth plan that they will develop during the program. The grants will be disbursed upon successful completion of the program.

HOW WILL THE GRANT MONEY BE DISBURSED?

Grant funds will be transferred from Accion Opportunity Fund to the grantees’ verified business bank account via ACH.

IS THE GRANT CONSIDERED TAXABLE INCOME?

Yes, this grant may be subject to tax reporting based on the value of the grant received. Accion Opportunity Fund will issue 1099 tax forms to all grant recipients. Please consult with a tax professional to learn more.

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