ELEVATE – MBE Executive Education

A bridge to community.

Opportunity for small businesses.

Launched in 2020, the ELEVATE program aims to provide high-quality executive leadership training to minority small businesses located in Washington, DC. ELEVATE, which stands for Executive Leadership Education Venture Advancing Talented Entrepreneurs, spurs from a partnership between the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development (CNHED) and the George Washington University School of Business (GWSB). The program focuses on helping minority small business owners and entrepreneurs acquire new skills that will allow them to more effectively and efficiently manage their business’ products and services, increase revenue, and lay a strong foundation for sustainable employment. This program is now accepting applications for its third cohort.

About the Curriculum

Developed by the George Washington University School of Business Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence (CFEE) and led by faculty members, Professors George Solomon and Ayman El Tarabishy, the ELEVATE curriculum is designed to help small busuiness owners and entrepreneurs:

Succinctly and critically analyze and evaluate various business opportunities
Develop an entrepreneurial mindset to help create a digital corporate strategy
Comprehend the complex roles of entrepreneurship, leadership, and management throughout the development of organizational strategies
Recognize new opportunities for introducing innovation in wide-ranging organizational settings
Develop a strategy for contracting and procurement with anchor institutions and corporations
Understand various financial valuations of your firm

Eligibility Criteria

Must be a registered business and located in the District of Columbia
Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE)
Minimum 51% minority-ownership

Must meet at least two of three criteria:

In business for at least five or more years
Minimum of 10 full-time employees
Annual revenue of $500K or more

How to Apply

Are you eligible? If so, get ready to apply by following these simple steps below:

Step 1: Preview application questions first before starting your online application and recording your video essay
Step 2: Complete your online application
Step 3: Upload your photo and the YouTube URL to your pre-recorded 3 to 5-minute video essay to complete your online application
Step 4: Provide one business reference

For more information and to apply click here.