The Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship offers an accelerator program designed to help social enterprise leaders transition from traction to scale. This six-month, virtual program equips leaders with the knowledge, networks, and confidence to advance their mission. Through mentor-guided modules, participants develop a clear long-range impact strategy, a practical business plan, and a funding pitch grounded in the realities of their enterprise. The program is provided at no cost to participants.
Program Focus and Structure
• Focus Area: The program targets social enterprises tackling poverty through women’s economic power and/or climate resilience.
• Approach: It utilizes proven curricula and pairs participants with executive mentors and leadership coaches to identify and address business gaps and opportunities.
• Outcome: Participants develop a comprehensive action plan to achieve their vision for organizational growth.
• Format: The accelerator is a six-month virtual program.
Participant Requirements
• Role: Must be a senior leader, such as a CEO, Executive Director, or Managing Director.
• Language: Must be fluent in English or Spanish.
• Connectivity: Requires consistent and reliable access to the internet.
• Skills: Must be proficient in Excel.
• Time Commitment: Availability to participate in the 6-month program, which requires weekly 1-hour calls with mentors and a commitment to work a few hours per week on becoming more investable.
Organizational Requirements
• Mission: Must be committed to creating positive benefits for people living in poverty and addressing one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Impact Focus: Must be intentional about supporting women’s economic power, climate resilience, or the intersection of both.
• Scalability: Must be committed to scaling its solution far beyond current operations.
• Operational Status: Must be operational for at least one year and actively delivering products or services to customers.
• Revenue: Must have at least $50,000 USD (or local equivalent) in annual earned income and not be entirely dependent on contributions or grants.
• Financials: Must have a working financial model forecasting cash flow, balance sheet, and income statement.
• Team Size: A minimum of 3 full-time staff members or equivalent.
• Runway: A minimum 3-month cash runway.
Mentorship Details
• Mentor Pairing: Participants work closely with two executive mentors from a network of over 500 professionals.
• Mentor Background: The mentor pool includes diverse start-up founders, serial entrepreneurs, and senior executives from companies such as Apple, Google, Intel, and Paypal.
• Dedicated Support: The program provides 180 hours of focused, immersive, and customized executive mentoring tailored to each enterprise's unique business needs.
Application Timeline for June 2026 Cohort
• Early Application Deadline: February 27
• Early Decision Notification: March 31
• Regular Application Deadline: April 27
• Cohort Selection Notification: All applicants will be notified by May 29, 2026
• Note: Applications submitted after April 27, 2026, will be considered for the subsequent accelerator cohort.
The accelerator's screening process is rigorous, ensuring that selected participants are placed among peers who are making significant shifts in the world. The program is designed to be a transformative experience, providing value and insights that can support a company's growth indefinitely.