Social Entrepreneurs for Economic Development (SEED) is an initiative funded by California’s Employment Training Panel aiming to support the entrepreneurship of immigrants and limited English proficient entrepreneurs who face significant employment barriers, increase California’s economic diversity and help spur business innovation across the state.
The SEED Initiative provides entrepreneurial training, technical assistance to target populations and micro-grants of up to $ 7,500 to support them in starting or maintaining a small business in California aimed at addressing a social problem or meeting a community need.
Caravanserai Project, in partnership with Uplift San Bernardino at the Making Hope Happen Foundation and Get in Motion Entrepreneurs, joined the SEED Initiative in June 2022 and was awarded a $2 million grant. The SEED Initiative is a 24-month program and our goal is to support over 200 Latin@ entrepreneurs in the Inland Empire of California.
As part of the SEED Initiative, Caravanserai Project and its partners will provide entrepreneurial training and technical support to Inland Empire based Latin@ entrepreneurs (for profit, nonprofit or sole proprietor). The successful graduating entrepreneurs are eligible for micro-grants of up to $ 7,500.
Eligibility for the Entrepreneurship Training Program
Eligibility for the SEED Initiative Micro-grants (up to $7,500 each)
A selection committee will review the applications
Acceptance emails and cohort group sent soon after applying.
Multiple cohorts (in person and online) will be available throughout the SEED Initiative program. (Scroll down to learn more)
Upon completion of the training and coaching sessions, meeting the program's requirements, and submitting required documents, successful graduates will be considered for a grant of up to $7,500
Distribution of the micro-grants is made by Caravanserai Project
The Business Readiness Training Program 2.0 aims to provide Latin@ early-stage and more advanced entrepreneurs (for profit, non profit or sole proprietor) from historically marginalized and underserved communities the tools to launch and/or grow their small businesses.
The program is highly interactive and is designed to create an inclusive and supportive environment for the participants in order to incentivize them to take action and apply in real time the information and tools acquired. The participants have cohort-based workshops as well as ongoing small groups (4-5 participants) meetings and coaching (16 hours over 8 weeks). At the end of the training, the participants are expected to present to the cohort their business based on a predetermined structure that reflects the topics discussed during the training and a clear road map showcasing the entrepreneur’s next steps and plans.
Basic concepts of business and entrepreneurship
Epiphanic methodology for customer discovery
The art of winning in business
Innovation & technology for entrepreneurs
The company's vital signs
Learn to captivate your clients
The roadmap to materialize business ideas
Tips for growing as an entrepreneur
Review and application of concepts discussed in class
Project presentation round
Contact us at seed2@caravanseraiproject.org with any questions or comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Awardees can receive up to $7,500 in installments based on performance metrics shared in advance.
Yes. As SEED Initiative Partner, Caravanserai Project and it partners are selecting the recipients of the micro-grants and disbursing the funding to selected awardees.
Yes. Only entrepreneurs who successfully graduate the Entrepreneurship Training Program and attend the mentoring sessions and meet the rest of the criteria are eligible for micro-grants.
Up to $7,500 will be awarded as micro-grants.
No. The entrepreneur are eligible to receive only one micro-grant.
Any nonprofit or for-profit enterprises, including sole proprietors, are eligible to apply as long as they fulfill the requirements for the SEED Initiative.
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Caravanserai Project is a hybrid mission-driven venture and a registered 501(c)(3) public charity number 81-2497638.
Training For Entrepreneurs
Funding For Entrepreneurs
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