Because
International mission is to use products as solutions to alleviate
poverty. Our founder Kenton Lee and a group of friends started the
nonprofit organization Because International™ to serve as the structure
to get The Shoe That Grows to as many kids as possible who are in
desperate need of footwear to protect their feet. This was always meant
to be a small hobby for Kenton and his friends. It was something they
were passionate about, but they never dreamed it would be the worldwide
cause and movement that it is today.
About the Fellowship
Drawing
from what we’ve learned in bringing our own manufactured product to
market, the Because Accelerator is designed for an entrepreneur who is
in the early to middle stages of product development. The program is
uniquely focused on overcoming the challenges to developing affordable
manufactured products which have proven market attractiveness and are
ready to aim for production at scale. This training will be beneficial
for both entrepreneurs who are launching their first product, or those
who are looking to add something to an existing line. The ten sessions
cover the following concepts:
Fully understanding the problem
Stages of product design and development
Launching a business
Creating a financial plan
Developing a marketing and sales plan
Setting and achieving growth goals
Upon
completion, entrepreneurs will have a written business plan, a polished
pitch ready to share with potential investors, progress towards or
completion of a next level goal and an opportunity to participate in an
annual pitch competition.
Eligibility
Anyone
with a socially innovative product is encouraged to apply! We do not
work with entrepreneurs in restaurant, entertainment, education,
software, food or service industries.
How to Apply
We
run two cohorts each year. A cohort is a group of entrepreneurs who
start the program at the same time and go through it together. We'd love
to consider you for our next cohort! The first step is to complete an application.