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Summer Term Begins May 13

Applications Being Accepted for IGNITE the FUSE Creative/Artisan Accelerator

February 20, 2020

CNM Ingenuity, Inc. and the City of Albuquerque have collaborated through the Job Training Albuquerque (JTA) initiative with the FUSE Makerspace to offer the first ever Creative/Artisan accelerator, focusing on small scale artists, crafters and those businesses looking to grow their production. Applications are now being accepted for the Spring 2020 IGNITE the FUSE Accelerator, an entrepreneurial approach that helps fledgling businesses grow up fast. Offered by CNM Ingenuity, Inc. and to be held at the FUSE Makerspace and the new Small Business Office downtown on Gold Street. IGNITE the FUSE Accelerator is an intensive, 10-week program designed to lift small production businesses to greater heights while generating momentum for the region’s entrepreneurial and economic development efforts.

Dafina McMillan will be the program facilitator and brings her unique and vast artisan background and entrepreneurial experience to inspire and develop new business ventures. IGNITE the FUSE is scheduled to start on Tuesday, March 17th, and will run for 10 weeks. IGNITE the FUSE Day, a time when participants celebrate the conclusion of the program by pitching their companies and demonstrating their products, will be May 19, 2020.

Open to developing businesses and early startups, IGNITE the FUSE Accelerator provides each business owner with business services and support valued at more than $15,000, which includes personal business coaching and mentoring by a successful entrepreneur in a similar field.

These companies will get to take advantage of services that include: up to 30 hours of one-on-one business coaching; 10 hours of business workshops; 40 hours of intense business training; access to co-working space at the Workforce Training Center throughout the 10-week program; access to the FUSE Makerspace to help with prototype development if needed; support in developing a 100-day tactical plan for the business after the Accelerator is over; and additional coaching after the program to help with implementing the 100-day tactical plan.

The IGNITE the FUSE program offers ten program days of entrepreneurship curriculum that includes:

  • March 17th –  Creative Entrepreneurship 101
  • March 24th – Your Business Model and Recognizing Opportunities
  • March 31st – Identifying Your Customer, Marketing & Branding Strategies
  • April 7th – Financial Literacy
  • April 14th – Ideas Into Action and Scaling Your Business
  • April 21st – Inventory Management & Minimizing Waste
  • April 28th – Production Management, Bottlenecks & Quality Components
  • May 5th – Building a Successful Network
  • May 12th -    Demo Day Practice
  • May 19th- IGNITE the FUSE Day

For more information and to apply, visit the website at https://jobtraining.wpengine.com/?page_id=7