Innovation Works (IW) provides Baltimore’s social entrepreneurs with an enterprise development pipeline complete with stage-based services to help ensure the long-term success of their organizations and economic development in their neighborhoods.
The IW+MC Boost Program is a critical milestone in Stage 3: CREATE IW’s enterprise development pipeline. This four-day enterprise development workshop is a joint project between IW and the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship (MC). It links aspiring social entrepreneurs into a web of resources designed to ensure their long-term success.
Boost utilizes and expands upon Miller Center’s structured, validated curriculum, which has helped over 1,300 international social enterprises attain operational excellence and prepare for investment. Boost participants engage in hands-on training focused on critical learning outcomes necessary to optimize social impact while becoming more financially sustainable.
The program packs core business lessons into a powerful workshop to help established nonprofit, for-profit, and hybrid social enterprise leaders in Baltimore learn business fundamentals, improve strategic thinking, and articulate a business plan that demonstrates impact, growth, and long-term financial sustainability.
Participants leave the Boost Program with the strategies and materials needed to grow their enterprise in a financially sustainable manner. It also provides an opportunity to apply for the funding and capacity-building programs they need to reach the next level of growth, including the IW+MC Accelerator, a 6-month accelerator program in IW’s Stage 4: GROW and Ignite Capital, IW’s impact investment subsidiary.
Seasoned social enterprise development leaders from Miller Center and Innovation Works lead the entrepreneurs through Boost’s training modules. In addition, executive mentors with expertise in innovation and entrepreneurship support participants throughout the four days.
Two to three IW Boost participants are paired with one to two executive mentors for the duration of the program. Assigned mentors support participants in completing each module, help apply critical lessons to each organization’s business plan and work through actionable next steps when the workshop ends.
These mentors serve as trusted advisors through the launch or growth of the enterprise. Innovations Works and the mentors also help plug the participants into a network of support resources focused on helping Baltimore businesses and organizations succeed. Participants are also introduced to a network of like-minded leaders working to build a thriving Baltimore.
By the end of the IW+MC Boost Program, participants:
Participants then have the opportunity to present their work from the four days to their peers in the program.
Current and former Boost participants include leaders and decision-makers from 90+ social enterprises based in Baltimore who are familiar with and able to direct their organization’s business strategy.
Boost participants are selected by a committee of IW stakeholders, which include community leaders, social sector leaders, and other institutional partners. IW looks specifically for organizations based in Baltimore City with a social mission as a foundational component of their business. All Innovation Works programs are offered free of charge to selected organizations.
To participate, organizations must be:
In addition, organizations can be:
Apply to join the Spring 2023 IW+MC Boost Program HERE.
Do you have questions about how Innovation Works + Miller Center Boost program works? Our FAQ page has the answers!
