Helping founders find community and connections
Empowers diverse, early-stage founders to build purpose-driven businesses by providing training, mentorship, and resources focused on stakeholder theory and conscious capitalism, fostering both societal and financial value in historically excluded communities.
Seed accelerator providing 13 weeks of programming and $25,000 in seed funding to 6–8 tech startups per cohort, aiming to close the gap between innovative ideas and getting to market.
Learn more →Accelerator powered by FounderTrac platform for women and minority-owned businesses in Prince George's County, providing online portal access, cohort programming, mentors, and growth tracking.
Learn more →Intensive 12-week accelerator for early-stage cybersecurity startups, providing mentorship, funding connections, and technical resources to refine products, scale operations, and secure investment.
Learn more →A free 10-week virtual accelerator (Wednesdays, 5-6:30 PM) in partnership with M&T Bank. Covers business planning, finance, capital access, marketing, legal, and pitching. Includes a pitch competition with cash prizes. Graduates may apply for the EmPOWER Loan Program offering up to $10K via LEDC CDFI and Maryland's DHCD. Designed for racially and ethnically diverse entrepreneurs in Frederick County.
Learn more →A 6-month accelerator for women who already own micro-businesses and are ready to grow. Part of the Empowered Women International (EWI) initiative. Participants meet twice monthly and gain access to LEDC's CDFI microloan products to fund expansion. Located at the White Oak office: 12520 Prosperity Dr., Suite 200, Silver Spring, MD 20904.
Learn more →8-week capacity building accelerator for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, especially those transitioning from federal careers, to develop sustainable business plans and launch their companies.
Learn more →A business accelerator specifically designed for women entrepreneurs in Prince George's County, providing structured business development support, mentorship, and resources to help women-owned businesses scale and grow. Participants receive hands-on coaching, peer learning opportunities, and connections to funding and markets.
Learn more →A cohort-based accelerator for underrepresented small business owners in Baltimore. Provides comprehensive technical assistance alongside access to LEDC's CDFI microloan products for capital. Located at Impact Hub Baltimore, 10 E North Ave. Designed to support entrepreneurs from communities historically underserved by traditional business financing and support systems.
Learn more →Free 8-week bootcamp for early-stage and historically underserved entrepreneurs in Howard County, teaching business fundamentals with M&T Bank, culminating in a shark-tank-style pitch competition with cash prizes.
Learn more →Free 8-week online accelerator for small, minority-, woman-, and veteran-owned businesses in Anne Arundel County. Includes a $10,000 operating grant, mentorship, and access to VOLT loans.
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