17 Austin small businesses have completed the second annual FASTForward small business accelerator program. The program was developed and led by the IC² Institute and supported by the City of Austin Economic Development Department’s Small Business Program.
FASTForward participants made their final presentations and received a Completion Certificate issued by the IC² Institute on December 4, 2017 in City Council Chambers.
Participating companies were Elevated Evolution LLC; Austin Language Learning School; Emoji’s Grilled Cheese Bar; The Maximus Box; Fandindo Textiles LLC; Got Dirty Blinds? LLC; Your Smart Closet, Inc.; Melissa Borrell Design; Lua Brazil LLC; Tamale Addiction; Garbo’s; Stitch Texas; Sweet Ritual Vegan Ice Cream; Skybridge Academy; Spirit Pieces; Crushing Tigers; and Bright Production Development.
Learn more about the participants on the FASTForward companies page.
The small businesses, recruited through the minority chambers of commerce and other small business resource organizations, enjoyed the assistance of dozens of experienced community mentors, including MBA students from The University of Texas. Having student involvement has the two-fold benefit of providing the students with real world experience while giving the business owners a fresh, new vantage point.
The FASTForward initiative was created to help address the growth disparity in Austin. On average, women- and minority-owned small businesses do not achieve the same annual revenue and overall growth as the average majority-owned business in Austin. The City’s Economic Development Department is committed to closing that disparity gap.
For more information see:
- City of Austin Economic Development Department’s Small Business Program – www.SmallBizAustin.org
- FASTForward Austin – fastforwardatx.org
- Watch the graduation presentations
