Make Startups Announces Inaugural Cohort for Executive Fellowship Program
*Augusta, GA — March 15, 2024 —* Make Startups proudly unveils the inaugural cohort of the Make Startups Executive Fellowship (MSEF) Program. This exclusive program, designed to elevate the impact potential and operational capacity of entrepreneurship support, ecosystem building, and economic development organizations, welcomes 17 entrepreneurial ecosystem-builders from 10 diverse regions.
Charting a Course for Excellence: MSEF Executive Fellowship Program Overview
Seeded with a $50,000 grant from the Ecosystem Builder Leadership Network (EBLN) Field Advancement Fund awarded in November 2023, The Make Startups Executive Fellowship is a six-month intensive program meticulously crafted to empower executives in their respective fields. With two in-person immersions, bi-weekly online training sessions, one-on-one advising, peer coaching, and local field-building initiatives, the program is poised to amplify the skills and knowledge of these distinguished leaders. Fellows will learn how to access Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding to support their entrepreneurs and founders in their ecosystem. Make Startups will provide training, technical resources, and access to their proprietary CoFounderOS technology platform. This platform specifically will enable ESO leaders to integrate measurement and evaluation plans into their programs, showcasing the impact of entrepreneurial training on the local economy. The fellowship will also equip participants to advocate for policies that support entrepreneurial pursuits at local, state, and national levels.
Celebrating Vision and Diversity: Meet the Inaugural Cohort
Make Startups proudly introduces the 17 visionaries chosen for the inaugural MSF Executive Fellowship Program. Each participant, with a minimum of five years of entrepreneurship development experience, represents a commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship and a dedication to lasting economic impact. We are proud to announce our cohort members:
Naila Jackson (Alabama)
Lloyd Reshard (Florida)
Tricia Teague (Illinois)
Jared Ell, Nikeshia Fomby, Rhonda Ladig, and Marty Mechtenberg (Indiana)
Larry Horn (Kentucky)
Cuong Quy Huynh (Michigan)
Arsh Haque (Oregon)
Tanya Morris, Tiffany Spraggins, and Thomas Webster(Pennsylvania)
Holly Burrow, Darlisa Diltz, and Ren Mitchell (Texas)
Scott Mosley (Wisconsin)
Fellowship Pillars: A Blueprint for Success
Sustainable Ecosystem Building: The program focuses on enabling increased funding and better measurement of outcomes by entrepreneurial support programs at the local, state, and national levels.
Inclusive Entrepreneurial Training, Support, & Connections: Emphasis is placed on the role of ecosystem builders and economic developers in creating opportunities for necessity driving pursuit of entrepreneurship as well as disadvantaged and underrepresented groups entering entrepreneurial ecosystems for the first time.
Long-Term Economic Impact: The program centers on the potential for job creation, inclusive growth, and generational wealth through entrepreneurship training programs that lead to business success.
Grace Belangia, co-founder of Make Startups, expressed her enthusiasm for the program launch, saying, "We are confident this initiative will equip leaders in our field with the tools and resources they need to make a lasting impact for entrepreneurs and their local ecosystems. We are truly excited to launch the Make Startups Executive Fellowship (MSEF) program this spring with plans to scale in the fall of 2024, and we are deeply grateful to both EBLN and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation for their generous support."
About Make Startups:
Make Startups is a dynamic organization committed to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. Through a range of programs and initiatives, Make Startups empowers startups, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem builders to succeed, innovate, and contribute to economic growth.
Sponsorships & Media Inquiries:
Grace Belangia
Co-Founder
Make Startups
706-877-8707