LGBT Business Incubator
Above Consulting has worked with LGBTQ+ organizations in San Francisco for many years to provide entrepreneurship education, business training, and individualized support to LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.
Building on this experience, the LGBT Business Incubator is a four-week, instructor-led program designed for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs who are developing a business idea, preparing to launch, or have recently started a business.
Delivered live via Zoom, the program combines practical business instruction, interactive exercises, group discussion, and individualized business consulting. Participants work directly on their own business ideas throughout the program while learning alongside a community of fellow entrepreneurs.
The program is designed with a focus on supporting LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. However, entrepreneurs of all backgrounds who are interested in participating are welcome to apply.
What You’ll Learn
Develop & Validate Your Business Idea
Define the customer pain point your business will address, identify your target customers, and develop the products or services and value proposition that respond to their needs. Use customer discovery and market research to test your assumptions and strengthen your business concept.
Find Customers & Make Sales
Develop your market positioning and determine how you will reach your target market. Identify the right marketing channels, develop your marketing approach, and build a practical sales process for turning prospective customers into paying customers.
Understand the Money
Understand startup costs, pricing, revenue, expenses, profitability, cash flow, and the financial resources needed to start and operate your business.
Set Up & Launch Your Business
Determine how your business will operate and what you need to put in place to launch successfully. Develop your operational approach, identify the systems, resources, and partnerships your business will need, and understand key considerations such as business structure, location, permits and licensing, and other startup requirements. Develop an actionable plan for launching and operating your business.
Program Format
Four-Week Cohort
Participants progress through the four-week program together, creating opportunities to exchange ideas, share experiences, and learn from one another.
Live Online Training
The program includes four three-hour, instructor-led sessions delivered live via Zoom.
Interactive Learning
Sessions combine short instructional segments with exercises and group discussion, giving participants opportunities to immediately apply concepts to their own business ideas.
Individual Business Consulting
Each participant will have access to one hour of individualized business consulting during the program.
Who Should Apply
The LGBT Business Incubator is designed for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs who want to build a strong foundation for starting and developing a business.
The program is particularly suited for people who are developing a business idea, preparing to launch a business, or have recently started a business and want greater clarity around their customers, marketing, finances, and operations.
Participants should be ready to actively work on their business ideas, engage with fellow entrepreneurs, and apply what they learn throughout the four-week program.
The program focuses on supporting the LGBTQ+ entrepreneurial community in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. However, entrepreneurs of all backgrounds are welcome to apply.
Program Outcomes
By the end of the four-week program, participants will have:
A clearly defined business concept and value proposition;
A stronger understanding of their target customers and the customer needs their business will address;
Customer and market insights to help evaluate and strengthen their business idea;
A practical approach to reaching customers and generating sales;
A basic financial framework covering startup costs, pricing, revenue, expenses, and cash needs;
A clearer understanding of how their business will operate and what they need to put in place to launch; and
An actionable plan for launching or continuing to develop their business.
Program Faculty
The LGBT Business Incubator is led by Eddie Tang, Founder and Principal Consultant of Above Consulting.
Over the past 12 years, Eddie has advised and supported approximately 1,000 entrepreneurs and small business owners through consulting, business training, and entrepreneurship programs. His work focuses on helping entrepreneurs develop practical strategies in business planning, marketing, financial management, operations, and growth.
Small business experts may also participate in selected program activities.
Tuition
$500 per participant
Special introductory tuition for the inaugural cohort.
Upcoming Cohort
Applications are now being accepted for the upcoming LGBT Business Incubator cohort.
Cohort size is limited to maintain an interactive learning environment and provide meaningful individualized support.
Applicants will complete a short online application and will be contacted regarding next steps.
Questions?
For questions about the LGBT Business Incubator, please contact Eddie Tang at eddie.tang@aboveconsultinginc.com.