Founders Cohort

The ACCESS Founders Cohort is the flagship program of the Foundation. The program supports early-stage entrepreneurs by providing access to capital, connections, and coaching – all leading to a dynamic Investor Showcase. Founders get a chance to refine their pitch and meet angel investors that want to help companies grow. 

Applications for the 2024 cohort are now closed.

Apply for the 2024 access Cohort

Our Process

Founder Qualifications

To qualify for the Founders Cohort, companies must meet the following criteria:

  • Early stage, Seed, Seed+.
  • At least one female or minority founder/confounder owning a minimum of 33.3% of the founder’s shares (Asian American, African American, Hispanic, Latinx).
  • Post revenue (Post Revenue (min annual revenue/ARR of $100K or recent monthly run rate/MRR of $10K during the last three months).
  • Raising equity and can submit a “roughly right” term sheet by 4/4/24 as part of the online application process.
  • Must be able to provide proformas, financials, and full company data upon request.
  • Provide Business Plan summary, Business Model Canvas, and Pitch Deck will be required for all finalists.
  • Location preferred: Georgia, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

ACCESS Founders receive:

  • Workshops and mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and executives.
  • Co-working space provided by the City of Dunwoody.
  • Partner events to increase networking opportunities.
  • Marketing support to increase visibility of brand and business.


More benefits will be added in the future, including Investors Roundtables and a Business-to-Founders Collaborative.

Workshops

Learning is growing, and in order for your company to grow you need to stay on top of new trends, ideas, and more! As a Founders Cohort member, you will have access to the Workshops offered by the ACCESS Foundation. Topics may include finance, legal, marketing and more.

Mentoring Program

Coaching is key! With our Mentoring Program, founders get paired with at least two business leaders for 1:1 coaching. Founders also get office hours with the ACCESS Corporate Advisory Council made up of corporate executives and leadership who are subject matter experts in focused areas of entrepreneurship.