MORTAR @ BOUNCE!
With a colorful, painful, diverse, and inspiring history, Akron has historically offered growth and opportunity for aspiring business owners and entrepreneurs for generations. As the center of African-American culture in Akron during the mid-20th century, Howard Street was home to many of the city’s black-owned businesses and entertainment establishments. This prominent business district provided an atmosphere of hope & prosperity in which minority-owned businesses could thrive.
Thanks to the city’s commitment to reproducing the successes of areas like Howard Street throughout the city, Akron is primed to foster a culture of equitable growth that drives the local economy. The “Rubber City” is bouncing back, and MORTAR is grateful for an opportunity to play a part in continuing to build the legacy of amazing Black-Owned businesses in the region.
Since 2020, Bounce Innovation Hub has partnered with our team to present the MORTAR Entrepreneurship Academy, our 15-week cohort-based program for local entrepreneurs who are ready to start or scale their enterprises, adding to the local economy, and the continued legacy of Black-Owned businesses in Akron, Ohio.
our
academy
The MORTAR Entrepreneurship Academy is a fifteen-week course designed for those who are starting or growing their businesses. It will challenge you. It will inspire you. It will force you to confront your limitations and help you identify and develop your strengths. You will be exposed to new information and you will be reminded of what you already know. You will be asked to work hard inside and outside of class. You will be asked to think abstractly; to imagine something that does not yet exist. You will be asked to think concretely; to work with data and information and to make decisions about your business. But most of all, you will be asked to make some REAL decisions. If at any point you decide that this entrepreneurial journey isn’t for you—come and talk to us. Chances are we can talk you off of the ledge;, but if you choose to walk away, understand that everything you’ve learned will still help you on your journey to wherever you’re headed.
our
academy
The MORTAR Entrepreneurship Academy is a fifteen-week course designed for those who are starting or growing their businesses. It will challenge you. It will inspire you. It will force you to confront your limitations and help you identify and develop your strengths. You will be exposed to new information and you will be reminded of what you already know. You will be asked to work hard inside and outside of class. You will be asked to think abstractly; to imagine something that does not yet exist. You will be asked to think concretely; to work with data and information and to make decisions about your business. But most of all, you will be asked to make some REAL decisions. If at any point you decide that this entrepreneurial journey isn’t for you—come and talk to us. Chances are we can talk you off of the ledge;, but if you choose to walk away, understand that everything you’ve learned will still help you on your journey to wherever you’re headed.
program
FLOW
Before taking flight, even before stepping onto the plane, a pilot consults her preflight checklist. This is to ensure that when she’s soaring 30,000 feet above the clouds, nothing surprises her, nothing throws her off her course. Read below to get a taste of a typical class and the week-by-week outline.
ELEMENTS OF A MORTAR ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACADEMY SESSION
MEETS WEEKLY FOR THREE HOURS
‘PUTTING IN WORK’ OUTSIDE OF CLASS
GUEST SPEAKERS
WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH MENTORS
ACTIVITIES
VIDEOS
REFLECTION
CELEBRATING SUCCESS AND LEARNING FROM FAILURE
WEEK BY WEEK
ORIENTATION : MEET YOUR CLASS
WEEKS 1-4 : FOUNDATIONS
WEEKS 5-8 : THE CORE
WEEKS 9-11 : REALLY REAL
WEEKS 11-15 : BEYOND MORTAR ENTREPRENEURIAL ACADEMY
Interested in
learning more?
To apply for the MORTAR Akron program, please click APPLY NOW at the top of this page.
For more information or to donate, visit Bounce Hub!
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