ADAPT: Social Innovation for a More Resilient Future Initiative – United States

The second iteration of ADAPT: Social Innovation for a More Resilient Future will support 10 to 12 founders proximate to the issues and communities they serve, that are building solutions that address Economic Inclusion, Financial Health, and Community Resilience impacting underserved and underrepresented communities.

Benefits for Startups

• Peer Selection Grant
  • The top two (2) startups selected by their peers will receive grant capital of USD $50,000 to support their operations. All companies will also receive $3,000 for support.
• Mentorship
  • Opportunities to network and receive mentorship from potential investors, strategic partners, founders, and business leaders.
• Connections
  • Build deep connections with other founders in their cohort and the larger Village Capital investor and alumni network. Participate in mock board meetings with representatives from relevant institutions, corporations, and investors.
• Training
  • Three interactive workshop weeks tailored to help their startup identify early milestones and prepare them for their next round of capital (if relevant).
• Advice
  • One-on-one coaching with an investment analyst focused on building a financial model, identifying unit economics, and using financial metrics to drive both their business and investor diligence.
• Exposure
  • Exposure on Village Capital’s program website and other communications collateral.

Who Should Apply?

The call for applications is open to startups in the United States building high-growth, scalable solutions that address one or more of the following challenges:

• Economic Inclusion
  • Create professional networks and pathways to employment and training for both underrepresented students and those re-entering the workforce.
  • Contribute to financial literacy to reduce burdensome debt and improve credit scores.
• Financial Health
  • Help low-income or other underserved communities build savings, investments, emergency funds, retirement funds, and lifetime income.
  • Democratize access to financial products and services such as financial advice, fraud protection, and insurance.
• Community Resilience
  • Build a more inclusive response to climate resiliency and prepare individuals and communities for the challenges associated with climate change, such as losing one’s home, employment, or access to essential services.
  • Implement pathways for advancement for those who are displaced due to climate change, immigration, or other pivotal life moments.

Eligibility Criteria

• Legal incorporation as a for-profit entity.
• Headquartered in the United States.
• Market-based solution that tackles the challenges above.
• Have a minimum viable product (MVP), and raised less than $1.5M in equity.
• Have at least one full-time founder proximate to the issues and communities they serve.
• Have meaningful customer or business validation (not limited to revenue, it can also be successful pilots, number of users, and/or strategic partnerships).

For more information, visit Village Capital.