THE EMERALD CITY
With only 7% of its population being Black, you might not expect The Emerald City to be an ideal place for Black entrepreneurs to thrive. While Seattle’s Black community may be small, it is mighty, putting the city on the list as one of the top cities for Black businesses, having over 1000 of them! Even more impressive, statewide, nearly 90% of businesses opened in Washington are still in operation a year after opening.
You can look to the Central District as proof. The Central District has been Seattle’s epicenter of Black culture for over 100 years. While not all establishments that start in the “Coffee Capital of the World” remain open, many new businesses continue to keep the district percolating while combating gentrification and cultivating culture.
Since 2022, Black Dot has partnered with our team to present the MORTAR Entrepreneurship Academy, our 15-week cohort-based program for local entrepreneurs. This curriculum was designed for those who are ready to start or scale their enterprises, adding to the local economy and the continued legacy of Black-Owned businesses in Seattle, Washington.
To apply for the MORTAR Entrepreneurship Academy program in Seattle, please click APPLY NOW at the top of this page.
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
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