BizUp: Creative Professionals

Are you an artist, maker, or creative professional ready to transform your passion into a sustainable business?

BizUp Creative is a premier 10-week business accelerator designed specifically for the unique needs of the creative community. This program is offered by Caravanserai, Visit Greater Palm Springs, and Riverside County Office of Economic Development to provide the "business backbone" every creative enterprise needs to thrive—from financial management and marketing to long-term operational scaling.

What the Program Offers:

Expert Training: 10 weeks of hybrid workshops covering business models, banking, digital marketing, and operations.
Dedicated Mentorship: Over 10 hours of personalized, one-on-one coaching with experts, available in English and Spanish.
High-Profile Showcase: A graduation and networking event hosted by Visit Greater Palm Springs.
Future Opportunities: Participants who successfully complete the program may gain access to potential grant funding opportunities and additional capital resources. More details regarding eligibility and funding availability will be shared during the cohort.

We are looking for motivated entrepreneurs within the arts, gallery, and creative agency sectors in Riverside County who are ready to launch, stabilize, or grow their business.

Apply now

Program Journey

Application

Business Location

Your business must be located and serve Riverside County.

Business Stage

We welcome entrepreneurs at various early stages of their journey, including:

Side hustles or informal ventures that have already generated revenue
New businesses launched within the past three years
Existing micro or small businesses ready to grow, pivot, or formalize

Business Type

We encourage all industries and sectors to apply—even if you aren't sure your business fits the traditional definition of the "creative industry." Our goal is to support a diverse range of enterprises, including but not limited to:

Visual Arts: Painters, sculptors, photographers, and muralists.

Design: Graphic designers, architects, and interior stylists.
Makers: Woodworkers, jewelers, and artisanal craft producers.
Culinary: Specialty food producers, bakers, and catering leads.
Media: Videographers, digital marketers, and web developers.
Lifestyle: Event planners, floral designers, and fashion creators.

Business Size

While our core mission is to support startups and emerging small businesses, we welcome applications from enterprises at any stage of growth.

Language Access

The program is open to English-speaking and bilingual entrepreneurs
Spanish-language support is available upon request

Apply now

Business Training

45 days

Mandatory

Bilingual (English and Spanish)
Hybrid 10-session course
Covers compliance, finance, marketing and more
One-on-one business consulting offered by Caravan SBDC - 10 sessions
No-cost

Access to Capital

We are committed to the long-term success of our cohort. Beyond the training and coaching, graduates of the BizUp Creative program may be eligible to apply for exclusive seed funding and small business grants designed to help activate your growth. This capital is made possible with support from the Riverside County Office of Economic Development. Eligibility and funding details will be unveiled during the course of the program.

What past participants say from our other programs

“I started my Organic Wine Exchange with a desire to educate and bring organic wines to the masses. It was a decision that I knew was the right fit for passion and experience. However, my business knowledge was not as developed as my other skill sets. Joining the BizIUp Palm Springs program offered by Caravanserai helped me develop the core of my business, work through new ideas, and stay accountable. The team of mentors became the business advisors I never had, and I am so grateful to carry on the knowledge I gained from this experience.”
Ann Arnold, Organic Wine Exchange CEO, 2024 BizUp Palm Springs participant