The
Entrepreneurs’ Organziation (EO), a global business network of 9,500+ business owners in 131 chapters and 40 countries, has launched a program called
Accelerator with its Cincinnati chapter. The Accelerator program aims to aid small business owners and founders looking to grow their businesses.
Locally, EO has a membership of 51 business owners representing 1,000 employees and $300 million in annual revenue. To become a member of EO, you must be a founder or owner of a business that generates more than $1 million in annual revenue. The Accelerator program reaches out to younger/less developed business, requiring businesses to generate between $250,000 and $1 million in annual revenue.
“We’re hoping to reach out to young entrepreneurs, offer educational content and tools for them and really share experiences, not just give advice,” says Dave Ebbesmeyer, communications director for the Cincinnati chapter of EO. “We’re not a networking group, we’re not a chamber. It’s more of a support system of business owners. We’re all very passionate about our region and seeing it grow.”
The education content of the Accelerator program focuses on four key areas: strategy, people, money, and sales and marketing. Insights are distilled from different EO members from around the world, gathering information from entrepreneurs in Canada, India, the U.S. and more.
“One of the most important things I do as a business owner is interact with other business owners,” Ebbesmeyer says. “EO has events that are locally, regionally, nationally and internationally focused that bring in anyone from Steve Wozniak (Apple co-founder) to Mark Cuban.”
Locally, EO has begun working with organizations like the
Greater Cincinnati Venture Association (GCVA) to plug into the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Cincinnati and offer mentoring services.
“EO has been largely a referral based group thus far, but working with GCVA has been great to become more involved with the startup community in Cincinnati,” Ebbesmeyer says.
A maximum of 30 participants will be allowed to participate in the Accelerator program; applications are
open online now.
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