Fund 17: BenchMarks Incubator

BenchMarks Incubator is an 8 week program that pairs early-stage entrepreneurs with Business Case Managers to work on a defined goal in: Marketing, Legal, Finance, or Business Planning, over (8) one-on-one meetings and multiple cohort workshops and events. The program is a mixture of in-person and virtual meetings. Applicants should be prepared to spend at least 4 hours per week on the program, including meetings and workshops. The program runs from January to March and requires a $75 non-refundable deposit.

The ideal candidate for the program:

• Is operating a for-profit business in New Orleans or GNO
• Has under $150k in annual business revenue
• Is past idea stage, meaning has at least one sale of a good or service, even if a prototype.
• Is early-stage, i.e. has been in business for less than 2 years and/or doesn't have some key business elements such as a business plan, registration, bank account, permits, license, or method of tracking finances.

If you aren't sure you meet these criteria, we encourage you to submit the application anyway as we consider each application on a case-by-case basis.

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