The Community Business Accelerator: by FOUND/LA and Grid110

The Community Business Accelerator, by FOUND/LA & Grid110, is a 16-week intensive program designed to empower and elevate Los Angeles-based businesses serving the local community. This accelerator provides hands-on support to companies that are not just driven by profit but also by a shared mission to serve their communities—whether through job creation, equitable access to resources, or any other way of pouring back into local LA neighborhoods. Throughout this program, founders will develop a tailored approach to securing capital, refining their product-market fit, building high-performing teams, and implementing operational roadmaps to drive sustained growth.

Business with Purpose

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Growth with Impact

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Business with Purpose • Growth with Impact •

PROGRAM ELGIBILITY

Who is eligible to apply?

LOCATION

Businesses must be based in Los Angeles County and have a focus on serving the local community.

STAGE

Companies must have been in business for at least one year with a demonstrated product or service. Ideal candidates are early-stage entrepreneurs who are refining their business model and are ready for growth.

COMMITMENT

Founders must be able to fully commit to the 16-week program, attending weekly sessions on Wednesdays from 2 PM - 4 PM PST, and actively participate in discussions, collaboration, and self-directed learning.

GROWTH

Founders should have a clear intention to grow their business, improve operational efficiency, and refine product-market fit.

FUNDING

Businesses should have received less than $250k in total funding from any source.

What does the program entail?

PROGRAM DETAILS

Program sessions will be held weekly for 16 weeks on Wednesdays from 2pm - 4pm PST. These sessions will include hands-on instruction, discussion, and collaboration, with accompanying self-directed learning to further founder’s understanding of the topic. In addition to this, we will host optional events outside of weekly sessions.

The weekly sessions cover topics such as:

Building a fundraising roadmap

Developing a clear growth & operational roadmap

Enhancing product or service offerings

Effectively communicating through pitching & storytelling

Sign Up for an Info Session & Co-working Session

PROGRAM FIT

Who is this accelerator best for?

Businesses who are embedded in and/or focused on serving the local Los Angeles community and/or people.

Entrepreneurs who value learning in a collaborative environment, building alongside fellow entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurs who thrive with a blend of structured, hands-on instruction with the flexibility of self-directed learning.

 FAQs

  • The 16 week program will take place on Wednesdays from 2PM - 4PM PST between January, 2025 - May, 2025, with Orientation taking place in early January, 2025.

  • Yes. Companies must be based in LA, with an interest in growing and connecting with the LA ecosystem.

  • Each week consists of about 2 hours of content to be reviewed and completed asynchronously, in addition to weekly 2 hour live sessions led by the Grid110 Team. Along with this, we will also host optional weekly events and office hours to further your learning. Like anything, you get out what you put in. This program is designed to support founders through the entrepreneurial process, while allowing them to focus on running the day-to-day operations of their business. 

  • The program is free for all accepted companies. Companies must go through an application process to be eligible for this program. To add, Grid110 does not take equity in or provide funding to any company.

  • Grid110 does not focus on any particular business type or vertical. We welcome applications from any field, sector, or industry (except cannabis). Knowledge and skills taught and reviewed during the program are applicable and transferable to ideas from all sectors & industries. While most businesses are tech enabled, you do not necessarily need to be a “tech company” to be considered. Our companies range across various types of products/services: SaaS, mobile apps, e-commerce, CPG, food, social enterprises, fashion, B2B software, health/wellness, AI, sports, beauty.

  • Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to accommodate any edits to applications once submitted.

  • While all members are encouraged to engage with content, a maximum of two co-founders / team members can attend the weekly live sessions.

  • This accelerator will cover key topics, such as:

    • Fundraising & Capital Pathways

    • Product-Market Fit

    • Team Building & Expansion

    • Growth & Operational Strategy

    • Marketing & Branding

  • While the primary program sessions will be self-directed online content and virtual zoom sessions, we will plan for some in-person community building opportunities.

  • In addition to joining our highly engaged, diverse, and generous community of alumni founders and community partners, selected companies will gain access to our platforms and tools perks package valued at $100K+, access to our engaged & supportive founder slack community, and access to our network of 3K+ industry mentors, experts, and investors.

  • Please reach out to programs@grid110.org

FOUND/LA supports local entrepreneurs to help them build their business, purpose, and community. They connect future and existing business owners—particularly women, immigrants, and minorities—with resources to help them succeed. That includes funding, educational tools, incubator-style workshops, unique mentorship opportunities, and most importantly, a community of other local entrepreneurs.

FOUND/LA works with partners to make sure entrepreneurs have access to the resources they need to grow their businesses. Through partners, FOUND/LA provides funding in the form of loans, as well as incubator-style workshops, training, and mentorship. FOUND/LA also creates a community of like-minded business owners who can learn from and alongside each other.

Learn more about FOUND/LA HERE.

Grid110 is an economic and community development non-profit dedicated to creating clear pathways to success for early-stage entrepreneurs. Their mission is to make the entrepreneurial path more equitable, inclusive and accessible. Grid110 supports companies across a diverse range of industries and stages through their no cost, no equity cohort-based accelerator programs.

Their alumni have raised $123M+ in outside capital, with 70% of the funding raised by women founders and 72% by founders of color. For every $1 donated, Grid110 generates $42 back into the community, in addition to the 625+ local jobs that Grid110 companies have created. Grid110 is an award-winning organization that fosters the most thriving, inviting, and inclusive community for entrepreneurs and puts their founders’ needs first.

Learn more about Grid110 HERE.