Rochester Entrepreneurial Incubator

Many Americans dream of starting their own business.  For most traditional entrepreneurs the main barriers to success are simply lack of business expertise and access to credit.  For nontraditional entrepreneurs (Disabled and disadvantaged adults, Ex-offenders, Disabled and able-bodied Veterans, Nonprofit Social Entrepreneurs, High School Dropouts, Unemployed and under-employed individuals, Individuals on public subsidy and Young entrepreneurs) the challenges go beyond credit access and insufficient business expertise.  A vast majority of nontraditional entrepreneurs lack: access to Information Technology services, knowledge of available government and private for-profit and nonprofit resources, professional development training, a strong educational background, access to start-up space and administrative support, marketing expertise, access to professional and legal services, access to funding sources.  Many have physical disabilities and have to overcome built-in community and funder prejudices.

The Rochester Entrepreneurial Incubator is being established to help these nontraditional entrepreneurs get the assistance they need to be successful and self-sufficient.  The entrepreneurs we will serve (Disabled and disadvantaged adults, Ex-offenders, Disabled and able-bodied Veterans, Nonprofit Social Entrepreneurs, High School Dropouts, Unemployed and under-employed individuals, Individuals on public subsidy and Young entrepreneurs) are facing long odds of attaining success and are often not served by other entrepreneurial programs.

The Rochester Entrepreneurial Incubator (REI) is a program of the Academy for Career Development created as an incubator site to provide marginalized and nontraditional entrepreneurs with the tools and support services they need so they have the opportunity to pursue their dream of creating new businesses, and in the process developing income streams and a road to self-sufficiency for people who face barriers to employment, or come from low-income communities that offer few economic opportunities.