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About

NextFab’s Artisan Accelerator is a 12-week program designed to provide current and aspiring creative entrepreneurs who make physical products with business education, access to resources, and community support to build viable businesses. This program will be accepting 15 applicants (priority given to historically disadvantaged communities) for the 2025 cohort. Applicants must qualify as a micro-enterprise (5 or fewer employees) and be classified as a low-to-moderate income household per Department of Commerce guidelines.

Accepted participants will receive:

  • • 12 weeks of product development and business education covering topics in business models, marketing strategy, and financial management.
  • • 9 months of access to a shared studio space and storage with a legal business address at NextFab, 1800 North American St, Philadelphia, PA 19122. NextFab specializes in production areas related to woodworking, metalworking, jewelry, textiles, 3D printing, large format 2D printing, laser cutting, and CNC fabrication.
  • • An annual NextFab membership and $2,400 credits to spend on technical education and machine reservation costs.

This program is ideal for creative entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their business. This program can help if you’re new to running a business, feeling overwhelmed, and/or struggling to balance creativity with day-to-day tasks. Participants who get the most out of this program typically:

  • • Create physical products or perform contract work.
  • • Have started an informal (casually selling to friends and family) or formal business (have consistent monthly sales).
  • • Have a developed product idea or skillset.
  • • Would like to make this business their full-time work.
  • • Can benefit from access to education and equipment provided by NextFab’s makerspace. Explore our equipment and classes here.


How to Apply

This program is free to apply to, and if selected, all costs are covered as part of the Department of Commerce BTAP grant. Applications are due by Monday, August 18th, 2025, at 11:59 pm.

The Artisan Accelerator is open to applicants whose business address, either brick-and-mortar or home-based, must be located within Philadelphia city limits, and will be a hybrid of virtual and in-person. Some travel to the NextFab makerspace is required. Applicants must qualify as micro-enterprises (5 or fewer employees) and be classified as low-to-moderate income households per Department of Commerce guidelines (for single households, making less than $25,100 and $83,562). This program includes a Facilitation Fund to aid in program access to services such as childcare, transportation, and access to technology.


Application Timeline:
Applications open: Tuesday, July 29th
Info Session: Tuesday, August 12th from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm at NextFab
Application deadline: Monday, August 18th at 11:59 pm
Participant Selection Notifications: Friday, August 22nd
Program Begins: Tuesday, September 9th

Apply Here

For additional questions, please reach out to us at artisan@nextfab.com.

Program Schedule:

September 9th – November 6th, 2025 & January 13th – February 5th, 2026
Tuesdays & Thursdays 10 am – 12 pm
During the 12 weeks, this program will meet twice a week for 2 hours, with one virtual session and one in-person session. Weeks 1-2 will include an additional day for the NextFab Gift Guide photoshoot. All in-person sessions will take place at 1800 North American St, Philadelphia, PA 19122. This program pauses from November 6th, 2025, to January 13th, 2026, to allow for a holiday season break. The final section of the program runs until February 5th, 2026, and is designed with time to apply what you have learned.

In this section of the program, we will cover:

Product Development: September 9th – October 9th, 2025
Learn the process to develop excellent products and define your design style, process, and brand. This portion of the program will teach you to think critically about current and new products, who your audience is, and provide structured time to improve your production with the guidance of our technical staff.

Business Foundations: October 14th – November 6th, 2025
Meet with business educators in group sessions to define your business goals and create a business model. You will learn to analyze your cost structure and build out a financial dashboard to help you make informed strategic decisions. Attend sessions held by professionals in bookkeeping and accounting, legal, and insurance to learn how to set up your business for success while balancing creative work.

Please note that our program will observe a Winter Break from November 7, 2025, to January 12, 2026. This break is designed to provide participants with ample time to engage in winter markets, capitalize on holiday selling opportunities, and enjoy their holidays.


Sales & Marketing: January 13th – February 5th, 2026
Build on your business foundations to expand sales and take advantage of opportunities. You will develop a sales and marketing strategy alongside a marketing expert, crafting your brand identity, digital funnels, and finding your ideal customers. Participants will have a final product photoshoot to document their progress and tell their story.

Feast Jewelry

The NextFab Artisan Accelerator program gave me exactly what I needed at exactly the right time in my businesses’ trajectory. The program challenged me and provided me the necessary tools to see and respond to brand-building with a new perspective; one beyond the daily grind. Workshopping through a cohort of like-minded entrepreneurs, added a wealth of personal journeys to the experience. Adrienne Manno of Feast Jewelry

Addi Naturals

NextFab’s Accelerator program helped me scale my business by 20% in a few months. The resources, guidance and support shaped my marketing strategies, financial projections and customer segmentation.  I cannot thank NextFab, Todor, Earl and all the speakers enough. I sincerely appreciate everything you all have provided my business. Yemina Israel of Addi Naturals

Idol Light

This program was super helpful for growing my network and preparing my business to take the next steps. I loved the variety and genuine nature of the advisors and participants as well as being able to openly share and receive information about current problems/successes in our businesses. The classes all connected to each other and I have a much better understanding of my customer, my business’s value, and how to strategically enter into the marketplace with advertising. Thank you so much!!! Machele Nettles of Idol Light

Untitled_Co

The NextFab Artisan Accelerator program was a great way to jumpstart my business into a more focused area of thought and direction. Cody Hughes of Untitled_Co

Confetti

The artisan accelerator definitely boosted my knowledge of what it takes to scale a business. I’ve learned so many tools to begin building the structure of my business and the support to keep it sustainable. Jeremiah Jordan of Confetti

Kpelle.Designs

This program helps guide and navigate those just starting out and those who have been in business for years. The instructors who were brought on showed expertise. I will go further and say Earl Boyd was my favorite instructor, with Ethan Fox being a close second. The knowledge provided was invaluable and it was a joy to have the opportunity to be a part of. Gwanyan Barker of Kpelle.Designs

Modest Transitions

Nextfab’s Artisan Accelerator program helped me grasp an understanding of a mini MBA. Everyone was very knowledgeable and passionate about their craft. I felt a part of a family and not so much competing with the other cohorts. It's an amazing program! Melanie Hasan of Modest Transitions

UrsaMareaClay

After starting a small business during the pandemic, what I needed most was mentorship, support, accountability, and resources. NextFab’s program provided just that. Every aspect of the Artisan Accelerator program was thoughtfully developed and successfully transitioned to running remotely...My cohort was diverse in craft and demographic, supportive to one another, and inspiring. Annette Shantur of UrsaMareaClay

Steven Dailey Studio

The Artisan Accelerator program helped me to disassociate what I “thought” and “felt” about my business and learn to practice objective review of what actually happens. From who my actual customers currently are to where I see the most income- the coaching I received taught me that what I can’t quantify is not real. Steven Dailey of Steven Dailey Studio

Salvaged Woodworks

As a small business owner/entrepreneur I feel like I am working hard, wearing many hats etc. This program did a great job of letting me step back and take a look at my business with a more detached perspective. This detachment from the emotional side of being in business let me see a clearer path to determine sensible goals. Gordon Richardson of Salvaged Woodworks

LORI LOVES…

Before this program, I thought that you were either a business or an artist. Throughout these 8 weeks, I’ve learned that it’s a combination of both and both parts need equal attention. Lori Thomson of LORI LOVES...

Asata Maisé

The Next Fab Accelerator Program provided the knowledge, resources, and community I needed to confidently run my business as an artisan. I’ve learned so many valuable tools that I’ve already begun applying to my business in only 8 weeks. Asata Beeks of Asata Maisé

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