Local First Arizona’s We Rise Launches Business Coaching and Technical Assistance Programs
After graduating two cohorts in the business accelerator, We Rise is launching two new initiatives: The We Rise business coaching program and the We Rise Technical Assistance program. These two programs will cater to entrepreneurs who don’t need or are not ready for a six-month accelerator program, but who still need assistance. These initiatives ensure that those who don’t get selected to participate in the accelerator program still get business support tailored to their specific needs and stages of growth.
The We Rise Business coaching program will serve start-up entrepreneurs who apply for the Business Accelerator, but who need additional support and time to refine their business idea before they can write a full business plan and grow their business. Participants will receive input and advice from experienced business coaches who will guide them and help them refine, develop and test their business ideas. During the program, entrepreneurs will get to identify their customers, define their unique selling points, and evaluate the viability and the potential for profitability of their business idea; It serves as a precursor to the We Rise Business Accelerator. The program will comprise two workshop-style group coaching sessions on the business model, potential target customers, and value proposition analysis, plus an orientation and final presentation class and a series of one-on-one coaching sessions.
The We Rise technical assistance program will provide hands-on and tailored business support to established businesses that need a quick intervention to solve a specific business-related problem. These businesses will get support from We Rise business analysts, and where necessary, a team of business advisors with industry and technical expertise will be put together to help a business troubleshoot or develop strategies, systems, and processes to grow their business to the next level.
The We Rise team hopes that with the launch of these two programs, no entrepreneur who requests business support or applies to the accelerator program will be turned away. By leveraging the existing expertise of the team and the LFA network, more entrepreneurs will be helped, and a greater impact will be made. The inaugural incubator workshops will run from April 12th through April 26th, 2022. After the workshops, participants will receive coaching throughout the following 5 weeks, and those with viable business ideas who demonstrate the firmness of purpose to launch their businesses will be encouraged to apply to the accelerator program.
