A Fellowship Program for Mainstreet Entrepreneurs

You’ve built your business. You’ve survived the pandemic.
And now, you want to move to the next level of growth and strengthen your community in the process.

Fellowship Program Overview

Supported by a five-year grant from the Economic Development Administration, we are offering a unique learning opportunity to 12 small business owners from Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

Inclusive Entrepreneur Fellows address  key business challenges through online workshops, mentoring networks, and access to the entrepreneurial resources at Northeastern University. 

The program is primarily online, with some in-person activities on the Northeastern University – Boston Campus. There is no cost to participate in the fellowship program.

The Inclusive Entrepreneurship Experience

Meet Melissa Coriaty

Owner of Verbena restaurant in South Portland, Maine, and 2022 Inclusive Entrepreneur Fellow, has this to say about the experience.

The Inclusive Entrepreneurship Experience

Meet Melissa Coriaty

Owner of Verbena restaurant in South Portland, Maine, and 2022 Inclusive Entrepreneur Fellow, has this to say about the experience.

Eligibility Requirements

The Inclusive Entrepreneur Fellowship program is designed for small business owners who want to scale their business, strengthen their communities and meet these criteria:

  • Founder, Owner or CEO of a small business operating in Massachusetts, Maine, or Rhode Island in operation for at least 3 years
  • 21 years or older as of the application due date (January 19, 2024)
  • Proficient in English
  • A legal resident of the fifty (50) United States, the District of Columbia and its territories
  • For-profit, from any industry
  • Formed under United States law and operating in the United States

To get the most out of this 20-week  program, which is delivered primarily online from March 11 to July 7, business owners are asked to invest their time to engage in the following:

  • Attend a virtual program orientation, mid-point meeting, and end-of-program debriefing
  • Participate in convenient online workshops
  • Participate in a mentoring network
  • Create a business growth plan over the course of the program