Through an application process, 15 creative businesses are selected for an intensive yet supportive 12-week program. Eligible creative businesses are entrepreneurs who are actively making and selling products in the market (either wholesale or directly to customers) with a minimum of one year of operations.
ErieMade participants will:
Entrepreneurship Curriculum:
The ErieMade cohort will meet at the 1020 Collective space in downtown Erie for 8 learning sessions consisting of an innovative and cutting-edge creative entrepreneurship curriculum. Sessions will include guidance from successful creative entrepreneurs, content experts on topics such as marketing and legal matters, and group activities to encourage growing and learning together as a cohort.
Business Coaching:
ErieMade provides the opportunity for one-on-one mentoring from the program facilitator, who is an experienced business advisor with expertise in leadership, market research, business strategy, and more. Program participants are also encouraged to meet with the program facilitator during ErieMade “study weeks” which includes a two-hour session held at the 1020 Collective where participants can drop in and discuss the curriculum content.
Connections and Networks:
The 15 participants in the ErieMade cohort will develop valuable relationships with peer entrepreneurs, support resources, mentors, and more. The cohort will also receive a free one-year membership to 1020 Collective, where entrepreneurs are encouraged to co-work, collaborate and stay tapped into Erie’s dynamic creative community.
In partnership with Bridgeway’s Creative Business Accelerator, ErieMade will be facilitated by Amanda Duncan, a community builder and business consultant based out of Erie, Pennsylvania. Throughout her career, she has supported entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits with strategic and operational guidance. As the current Community Leader of Radius CoWork, a community of over 170 freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners, she has played a significant role in fostering an environment of growth and collaboration. She is also the owner of Chiara Consulting, a business consulting firm, where she partners with entrepreneurs and business owners to streamline their operations, increase productivity, and achieve their goals more efficiently.
ErieMade features a new collaboration between Bridgeway Capital’s Creative Business Accelerator and 1020 Collective, a graduate of the 2022 ErieMade Business Academy. 1020 Collective is an art and event space located in the heart of downtown Erie, Pennsylvania, that includes multiple galleries, a multi-purpose event space, a unique state-of-the-art recording studio, a cafe, and a store. The ErieMade program sessions will be held at 1020, and program participants will receive a free, one-year membership to access 1020 resources and spaces.
ErieMade sessions will be held in person at 1020 Collective on Wednesday evenings from May 17 through July 26, 2023. Participants are expected to attend all eight two-hour learning sessions, with optional study sessions available during “study weeks,” and complete assignments outside of classroom time. On average, ErieMade requires 5-8 hours weekly to participate. This challenging and exciting program culminates in a graduation event celebrating participants’ hard work and accomplishments.
