Business
Accelerator Programs
First Innovators’ Business Accelerator Program supports First Nations entrepreneurs and businesses to strengthen their foundations, develop their ideas and create new opportunities for growth.
The program combines practical business development with mentoring, coaching, workshops, connections and real world opportunities. Participants work on their own business throughout the program, putting what they learn into practice and building a clearer pathway forward.
It is also about opening doors. Through First Innovators’ networks, participants can connect with other First Nations businesses, mentors, industry experts, professionals, partners and opportunities that can support their journey beyond the program.
Building Stronger Businesses
Every business enters an accelerator at a different stage.
Some participants may be developing an early stage business, while others may already be operating and looking to strengthen their foundations, reach new customers, access funding or take their business to the next level.
The program helps participants step back, look at where their business is now and work through the areas that can help them move forward.
It is practical, hands on and focused on applying the learning directly to each participant’s business.
Depending on the needs of the businesses involved, the program can explore:
What We Work On
The goal is not simply to complete a program. It is to leave participants with stronger businesses, greater confidence and practical next steps they can continue building on.
From Learning to Doing
The Business Accelerator is designed to help participants apply what they are learning as they move through the program.
Participants can test and validate their ideas, strengthen their business model, develop goals and plans, better understand their customers and financials, build their marketing approach and learn how to communicate the story behind their business.
They can also develop and practise different types of pitches, receive feedback from mentors and experts and identify practical actions they can continue working on beyond the program.
Program Outcomes
By the end of the program, participants can have:
• A clearer and stronger business model
• Tested and validated business ideas
• Clear business goals, priorities and action plans
• Greater understanding of business fundamentals
• Stronger understanding of customers and markets
• Improved financial understanding and financial
projections
• A practical approach to marketing and business
promotion
• A stronger business story and pitch
• Greater confidence presenting their business
• New networks, relationships and industry connections
• Greater awareness of funding, procurement and growth opportunities
• Practical tools to help manage and grow their business
The goal is not simply to complete a program. It is to leave participants with stronger businesses, greater confidence and practical next steps they can continue building on.
One of the most valuable parts of an accelerator can be the people you meet along the way.
Participants learn alongside other First Nations entrepreneurs, sharing experiences, ideas, challenges and opportunities.
We also connect participants with First Nations business owners, entrepreneurs, mentors, industry experts, professionals and partners who can share their knowledge and experience across areas such as business development, sales, marketing, finance, leadership and growth.
These relationships help create a wider network around participants that can continue beyond the program.
A Connected Business Community
How the Program Can Work
Our Business Accelerator can be delivered over a number of weeks and combine:
Not every business, community or industry needs the same accelerator.
First Innovators can work with communities, organisations, government, funders and partners to tailor Business Accelerator Programs around the needs, experience and stage of the businesses involved.
Programs can be designed for emerging businesses, established businesses looking to grow, or businesses operating within particular industries. We can adapt the length, workshops, mentoring, business activities and level of support to create a program that is relevant to the participants.
We are also expanding our Accelerator model to develop more industry focused programs, working closely with specific industries, businesses and experts to provide participants with deeper industry knowledge, specialist mentoring and connections.
This creates opportunities for First Nations businesses to better understand their industry, connect directly with people working within it and explore customers, procurement, partnerships, supply chains, investment and other opportunities for growth.
The result is not simply an accelerator delivered to a group of businesses. It is a program built around where those businesses are, the industry they operate in and where they want to go next.
Tailored to Your Community and Industry
Partner With Us to Accelerate
First Nations Business Growth
Want to help First Nations businesses build, grow and access new opportunities?
First Innovators works with communities, businesses, government, funders and industry partners to create Business Accelerator Programs that respond to the businesses and opportunities in your community or industry.
Whether you want to support emerging entrepreneurs, help established businesses grow, strengthen businesses within a particular industry or connect First Nations businesses with new markets and opportunities, we can build a program around what you want to achieve.
Partner with us to create stronger businesses, build valuable connections and open new pathways for First Nations business growth.
Build stronger businesses. Open new doors. Create opportunities.
