That’s the impetus behind Emerging Prairie’s twin set of “cohort programs,” which offer a boost to sometimes underrepresented business groups who want to succeed in the entrepreneurial environment.
Darby Njos, interim director of Ecosystem Development at Emerging Prairie, said the focus of her job is helping to support the local social entrepreneurial ecosystem through connections and events.
“We believe that entrepreneurs thrive when they’re connected and they’re not isolated,” Njos said.
The cohort programs have become a direct response to the coronavirus pandemic, she said, because news ways of connecting had to be developed when in-person events can’t be hosted.
The Fargo-based nonprofit, who has as its bedrock a belief that entrepreneurs bring innovation, culture and creativity to the business world, started with the New American entrepreneur cohort program last year, and this year will not only continue it but add in a social entrepreneur cohort program, as well.
“Often times, entrepreneurs are not supported enough to get past year one, or get past year five,” Njos said.
The programs aim to help solve that by creating connections with funding sources, legal help, grants, foundations, mentors and business start-ups.
In 2019, Emerging Prairie partnered with the NDSU Challey Institute to produce the New American Entrepreneur cohort program to see if the idea was a viable one.
What the programs have in common is a goal to help early-stage founders make connections and resources by pairing them a cohort who will help them focus on an identity or industry over 16 weeks. The groups are small, intimate and niche.
The 2019 New American cohort program saw 10 applicants graduate, and this year another round will be chosen. The newly-launched social entrepreneur cohort program will be similar.
Emerging Prairie will be collaborating with NDSU Nice Center to produce the 2020 New American Entrepreneur cohort program, and with Impact Foundation to produce the 2020 Social Entrepreneur cohort program.
Each of the programs have specific sets of requirements and time commitments, and each has a separate application process. But, the goal remains the same.
“Our goal is to connect all the pieces together to make a community thrive for entrepreneurs,” Njos said.
For more information visit www.emergingprairie.com/new-american-entrepreneur-cohort/ and www.emergingprairie.com/social-entrepreneur-cohort/.
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September 21, 2020 at 09:00PM
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Cohort programs aim to help social entrepreneurs and New Americans - INFORUM
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