ASCEND ATLANTA
The Ascend National Cohort, sponsored by JP Morgan Chase is a tool through which entrepreneurs of color access a breadth and depth of resources unavailable in other programs to meet the challenge and grow their profitability.
HUBS
There are five Ascend National Cohort Hubs that are part of this program.
The 2023-24 program follows a successful inaugural year that saw 48 businesses improve their operations, which has led to growth rates between 5% and 50% since September 2022.
A PROGRAM SET APART
By 2025 the Ascend National Cohort will grow 100 businesses owned by people of color toward the middle-market. The Ascend National Cohort’s unique M3 Model melds increased access to Markets through contracting opportunities, Management skills development through business mentoring, coaching and education from three nationally ranked business schools and access to Money through loans and investments.
By the end of 2026, the Ascend National Cohort will grow at least 75 Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) to have annual revenues of more than $5 million and another 25 to have more than $10 million.
Over the 7-months of the cohort program, businesses access a fantastic set of resources that address the opportunity/challenge they have identified, including:
- 60-80 hours of business coaching from a successful entrepreneur
- 80 hours of assistance from an MBA student
- Two consulting sessions from EY
- Two accounting and financial management consulting sessions from RSM
- Two capital access sessions with business and middle-market lenders from JPMorgan Chase
- Six days of in-person instruction from business school faculty in either Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Columbus, OH; Minneapolis, MN; or Seattle, WA
- 18 hours of virtual instruction and small group work on operational excellence, B2B marketing, and organizational leadership
For additional information, please visit the Ascend National Cohort website: https://ascendcities.com/cohort