Creators Momentum Business Accelerator
Accion Opportunity Fund designed the Creators’ Momentum Business Accelerator, fueled by support from Etsy’s Uplift Fund, to provide entrepreneurs who contribute to the creative economy with meaningful learning and networking opportunities, along with grant capital to spark their business growth.
Apply by 5pm ET on May 2nd, 2025
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 2025, 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
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
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
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
Food & Beverage
Businesses manufacturing/producing food and beverage goods
- Beverage manufacturing
- Food manufacturing
Photography
Businesses engaged in the art or practice of taking and processing photographs
Fragrance & Candle-Making
Businesses producing fragrances, perfumes, candles, or similar items
- Candle manufacturing
- Fragrances
Plant & Foliage Art or Retail
Businesses selling plants and/or businesses designing or producing artistic works using real or artificial flowers
- Animation
- Broadcasting
- Dance companies
- Production of musical instruments
- Independent performers
- Motion picture & video production
- Musical groups, artists, & producers
- Songwriting
- Theater companies
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 9. The deadline to apply is 5pm ET on May 2.
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 (2024 if available or 2023)
- The most recent bank statement from a business bank account
Application FAQ
If your business is less than 12 months old, you are not eligible for this opportunity. Business tax returns are required if you have been operating for longer than 12 months.
If you do not have recent tax returns due to specific and extenuating circumstances, please submit your tax filing extension form along with 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
Business tax returns are required if you have been operating for longer than 12 months. If you do not have recent tax returns due to specific and extenuating circumstances, please submit your tax filing extension form along with another accepted document, such as a business license.
Yes, sole proprietors are eligible to apply.
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.
No, if you previously participated and/or graduated from the Creators’ Momentum Business Accelerator, you are not eligible to apply again
No, employees of small businesses are not eligible for this opportunity.
No, this opportunity is only open to current owners of LLCs, corporations, or sole proprietorships.
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.
No, there is no fee to apply for this program.
Submission & Troubleshooting
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.
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.
Yes, you can save an incomplete application to return to at a later time.
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.
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.
Check out the Submitter Resource Center or reach out to Submittable’s Customer Support team with any technical questions here.
Selection & Awards
AOF will review the applications.
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.
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.
All applicants will be notified, whether they are selected or not, by late June.
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.
Grant funds will be transferred from Accion Opportunity Fund to the grantees’ verified business bank account via ACH.
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.