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)
Between July 15 - September 30, 2022 for the 2022 cohorts.
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.
*More specific details about the exact timeline will be announced soon.
*More specific details about the exact timeline will be announced soon.
Contact us at seed2@caravanseraiproject.org with any questions or comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
The amount awarded is based on the application, progress during the training program and coaching sessions. Ventures that have been active for less than 6 months are eligible for up to $3,500 and are required to submit a business plan and a strategy demonstrating next steps how the funds will be used. Ventures that have been active for more than 6 months are eligible for up to $7,500. In this case in addition to a business plan and a strategy demonstrating how the funds will be used and next steps, they have to demonstrate uninterrupted business activity (documents such as but not limited to filed taxes, business permits, investments, banking relations, sales, invoices, payroll, contracts, leases, documents etc.).
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.
P.O. Box 2486
Palm Springs
CA 92262, USA
© 2021 Caravanserai Project. All rights reserved. Website Created by Free Logic Inc.
© 2021 Caravanserai Project. All rights reserved. Website Created by Free Logic Inc.
