EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator™
The Business Accelerator is looking for a diverse pool of social and digital health entrepreneurs and organizations who are driving change through health justice in their communities.
All finalists will receive a six-week virtual business training and a chance at grant funding.
Since we launched five years ago we have:
Made a health impact through organizations that address food insecurity, transportation, access to healthcare, STEM, youth education and more.
Provided MBA-style business
training to 93 social entrepreneurs
and 73 organizations
Provided almost
$881,000 in
grant funding
What happens if I am accepted into the program?
Accelerator candidates will learn ways to create a sustainable and scalable solution as well as how to tell their business story (the who you are and why you are the person to lead rather than the traditional “pitch” on what you do). The custom training will guide candidates through subjects including design thinking, customer discovery, market positioning, brand development and fundraising.
EmPOWERING Founders
Take your organization or business to the next level with this virtual, six-week training program for early-stage companies and social entrepreneurs making a health impact in their communities. You’ll get invaluable MBA-style business training and connect with other entrepreneurs, local industry leaders and the American Heart Association community.
Accelerator Alumni
Hear from our alumni on how the accelerator program impacted their business.
Driving change through health justice in communities
Through our training and grant program, you will test, validate, and activate innovation in real-time with the support of a team of mentors. Training will span subjects such as finance and fundraising, branding and marketing, behavioral psychology, design thinking methodologies, and customer experience design.
US citizen 18 years or older (with a pre-seed through series A company) can apply with qualified solutions that drive positive impact in areas such as:
- Education
- Healthcare Access
- Food Security
- Neighborhood Conditions
- Transportation
- Environmental Quality
- Employment/Economic Stability
- Housing
- Health Innovation/Tech
General health and wellbeing programs or businesses that do not qualify:
- One time health events
- Gyms/Yoga Studios
- Personal trainers
- Food products (that do not meet AHA guidelines) and Juice/Coffee/Smoothie bars
- Diet pills and weight loss supplements
- Those that do not provide positive health equity impact
National
Application Cycle: May 2 - June 19
The application cycle has ended.
Bay Area
Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Mateo, Solano, and Sonoma
Application Cycle: May 2 - June 19
The application cycle has ended.
Grants available: $35,000, $20,000 and $5,000 for fan favorite. All applicants accepted into the program will receive $500.
Mid-South
West Tennessee including Greater Memphis / Shelby County, North Mississippi, and rural Eastern Arkansas
Application Cycle: May 2 - June 19
The application cycle has ended.
Grants available: $25,000, $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 for fan favorite. All applicants accepted into the program will receive $2,500.
Hawai‘i
The 2022 candidates have been selected.
Fan voting is now open!
Minnesota
The EmPOWERED to Serve Minnesota Business Accelerator 2022 grant recipients have been selected!
Alumni Impact
Read these stories that feature the critical health justice impact the Business Accelerator alumni have achieved in local communities nationwide through our training and grant program.
Watch EmPOWERED to Serve in Action
Videos that reflect the powerful impact EmPOWERED to Serve has in the community.
Stories that transform the world in which we live.-
Dr. Michelle Albert, Black History Month 2022| Meet Dr. Michelle Albert, President-Elect 2021/2022 of the American Heart Association as she shares her commitment to Black History Month and to her profession which aligns closely with the mission of the American Heart Association.
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Black Men’s Health – Perspectives of Black Culture Icons | Structural racism has a devastating impact on the health of men of color – specifically mental and cardiovascular health. Jawn Murray, Damion Hall, Mathew Knowles, Trymaine Lee, Mel Gravely discuss how creating more accessible, equitable solutions for people of color across the country.
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Community Transformation Roundtable | Renowned business leaders, community leaders, philanthropists and volunteers engage in a lively, meaningful discussion about transforming communities and removing health barriers through faith, finance and business.
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Health Justice Roundtable | Scholars from our EmPOWERED to Serve and HBCU Scholars program engage in a lively, meaningful conversation about breaking down barriers to health, structural racism and how to make the world better.
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Transforming communities through faith finance and business | Join the continued conversation on community transformation, prioritizing investments in under-resourced communities.
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EmPOWERED to Serve seeks to improve health outcomes and reduce the gap in health disparities among minorities in multicultural communities.
If you are interested in learning more about our work in community activism, community health education, and social justice for historically under-resourced communities, we invite you to sign up for the EmPOWERED to Serve e-newsletter.