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NextFab’s Artisan Accelerator is a 9-month program to provide current and aspiring creative entrepreneurs who create physical products with business education, access to resources, and community support to build viable businesses. One accelerator cohort will be held for 2024 and 10 applicants will be selected.

Accepted participants will receive:

  • 2.5 months of business education covering topics in business models, marketing strategy, and financial management.
  • • 6+ months of self-paced product and production coaching, shop education, and business growth consulting.
  • 9 months of a micro-studio or bench rental space included with a legal business address at NextFab’s North Philly location (1800 N. American St, Philadelphia, PA 19122), and business services, such as shipping and receiving.
  • An annual NextFab membership with up to 24 hours of shop education included.

How to Apply

This program is designed for creative entrepreneurs, whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your business to the next level. 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.

This program is free to apply, and if selected, all costs are covered as part of the Dept. of Commerce BTAP grant. Applications are due by Sunday, June 16th at 11:59 pm, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The Artisan Accelerator is open to residents living in Philadelphia, and surrounding areas, and will be a hybrid of virtual and in-person. Applicants must qualify as micro-enterprise (5 or fewer employees) and be classified as low-to-moderate income households per Dept. of Commerce guidelines (for single households, making less than ($28,140-$96,350/year). This program includes a Facilitation Fund, to aid in program access to services such as childcare, transportation, and access to technology. For additional questions, please reach out to us at artisan@nextfab.com.

This program is a good fit for you if you:

  • • Are feeling overwhelmed and isolated, and are unsure what the next steps are needed to grow.
  • Have started or plan to start a business (either casually selling to friends/family or with consistent monthly sales).
  • • Are aiming to turn your creative business into your full-time work.
  • • Create physical products or perform contract work, and want to prototype new products, scale production, or incorporate new mediums.
  • • Are searching for your brand/business identity and want to reach more customers.
  • • Could benefit from access to education and equipment provided by NextFab’s makerspace. Explore our equipment and classes here.

Application Timeline

Applications open: Monday, May 20th at 9:00 am
Info Session #1: Thursday, June 6th from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm (in-person)
Info Session #2: Tuesday, June 11th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (virtual)
Application deadline: Sunday, June 16th at 11:59 pm
Selection Notifications: Monday, July 8th
Program Begins: Tuesday, August 6th

 

Apply Here

Program Schedule:

Week(s) 1 – 10
Aug 8th – Oct 17th, 2024, Tuesdays & Thursdays 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

For the first 10 weeks, this program will meet twice a week for 2 hours, with one virtual session and one in-person session to be completed at NextFab North Philly. Week 7 will include an additional day for the NextFab Gift Guide photoshoot. 

In this section of the program, we will cover:

Building your business model
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.

Building your sales and marketing funnel
You will develop a sales and marketing strategy alongside a marketing expert, crafting your brand identity, and digital funnels, and finding your ideal customers. Participants will be featured in NextFab’s Gift Guide and learn how to tell their stories to leverage PR opportunities.

Understanding key business activities
Attend sessions held by professionals in bookkeeping and accounting, human resources, legal, and insurance to learn how to set up your business for success while balancing creative work

Weeks 11 – 40
Oct 22nd, 2024 – Apr 29th, 2025

For a 6-month window, this program is self-paced. You will have a monthly check-in with your business coach, and custom schedule additional training.

Product Development
Receive a product critique from NextFab’s shop educators on your products or goods. Together they will craft a personalized plan to improve the quality, production, or profitability of your products. You will be paired with a product coach for 6 months to walk you through specific training, machinery, or techniques. This program includes 12 months of membership with 24 hours of shop education.

Business Growth Consulting
Meet one-on-one with a business coach to continue to assess your strategic direction and growth goals. One-on-one consultations will be available to participants in the areas of HR, financial strategy, and marketing strategy.

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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