Start.Pivot.Grow. Business Accelerator
op Cynthia E and Clarence E Nevels Foundation, Inc.
Start.Pivot.Grow. Accelerator: Technology-Driven Economic Development
Start.Pivot.Grow. Accelerator is a national business development program partnering with Dallas College to fuel equitable economic growth through results-driven education, technical assistance, and capital access for small-to-midsize businesses.
Core Innovation: The program centers on KPIXAI, a proprietary growth simulation platform enabling real-time strategic planning, KPI tracking, and financial modeling. This technology transforms traditional accelerator models by providing data-driven, measurable pathways to sustainable business growth.
Demonstrated Impact: Since the pandemic, the program has served 468 businesses (77.3% women-owned), delivered 560 hours of technical assistance, and generated $754,817 in participant capital raises. Program graduates created 73 jobs while accessing $101,500 in grants through quarterly pitch competitions.
Program Components:
* Research-backed business education through Dallas College partnership
* One-on-one advising and mentoring with KPIXAI strategic planning integration
* Quarterly $2,500 micro-grants and sponsored pitch competitions
* Technology-enabled scalability serving hundreds of businesses annually
Economic Development Outcomes: The program addresses JPMorgan Chase Foundation priorities by creating sustainable job growth, supporting women-owned businesses in underserved communities, and providing technology tools that reduce traditional barriers to business development resources.
Sustainability Model: Grant-funded operations with corporate sponsorships enable no-cost participant access while maintaining program quality. The KPIXAI platform's efficiency allows higher participant-to-staff ratios than traditional accelerators while delivering superior measurement and accountability.
Community Impact: Multi-market presence (Dallas, Long Beach) creates replicable economic development model focusing on equitable wealth distribution and systematic barrier reduction for historically underserved entrepreneurs.
This technology-integrated approach delivers measurable small business growth, job creation, and community economic development outcomes essential for foundation impact demonstration and accountability.
