CommerceUplift:

Empowering Brands to Scale & Grow

Let’s take your business to new heights!

Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills, CommerceUplift Program

We're dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs and guiding them to grow and scale. The CommerceUplift Program, backed by BEFH’s solid record of product placements, business coaching successful outcomes, and proven Kauffman FastTrac curriculum provides the tools, knowledge, and mentorship necessary to grow your business and enhance your brand's presence. Join CommerceUplift to surpass barriers, achieve success, and contribute to generational wealth and legacy.

Applications for our next cohort will open Winter 2024.

What to Expect:

In our 12-week journey, you'll be part of an entrepreneurial cohort, learning alongside seasoned facilitators and individuals well-versed in the start-up world. They'll share insights into the common challenges of launching a business. Each week features sessions with our lead facilitator and a special guest expert. You'll benefit from regular accountability coaching calls and technical support to link you with vital resources for your business's expansion. Plus, gain perpetual access to our FastTrac® Toolkit online, a treasure trove of planning templates, step-by-step guides, instructional videos, and more. This course will be capped at 15 students to ensure quality.

Upon completing the program, you'll discern your business idea's profitability and possess a comprehensive plan to guide your journey or present to potential investors.

In our FastTrac® course, spanning ten modules, you will:

  • Immerse yourself in entrepreneurial principles and refine your business idea.

  • Investigate market demands and identify opportunities.

  • Establish financial objectives and estimate initial costs.

  • Enhance your research prowess, highlighting your offering's unique advantages.

  • Analyze market dynamics and craft a strategic marketing blueprint.

  • Forge a distinct business identity and devise marketing tactics.

  • Construct your team and comprehend various business structures.

  • Strategize for financial success, assess pricing, and gauge profit margins.

  • Master cash flow management and funding avenues.

  • Define and execute the crucial steps to kickstart your venture and finalize your business strategy.

As an affiliate of the Kauffman FastTrac® program, Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills proudly offers the Commerce Uplift Program. This 10-week program is designed for businesses that started without a plan, guiding you through essential steps to develop one.

IDEATE: Initiate your entrepreneurial journey, transforming your idea into a viable concept.

POSITION: Analyze the market, understand your customers, and establish your business model.

COMMIT: Engage with your market, secure your first sales, and safeguard your venture.

REFINE: Fine-tune your approach and ensure your financial groundwork is solid.

LAUNCH: Prepare to launch, lead, and expand your business effectively.

During your journey with the FastTrac Program, you will have access to a dedicated workspace on the FastTrac Portal, tailored for the cultivation and development of your business concepts and strategies. This workspace is segmented into four distinct areas, each equipped with specialized templates:

Business Plan: Craft the core components of your business, from marketing strategies to pricing models and beyond.

Business Model Canvas: Illustrate and explore your business idea, uncover new prospects, and devise or refine your business model.

Pitch: Formulate a clear, impactful narrative about your enterprise to engage friends, potential clients, investors, and the broader market.

Financial Forecast: Generate a financial projection to anticipate, monitor, and evaluate your business's growth over the next three years.

Hear from our members

Through BEFH, I was to learn and prepare for the HyVee Pitch Competition at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City , Mo where I was chosen top 15 finalist to pitch my business Idea. Shortly after that I was able to get a meeting with the local manager at HyVee in Manhattan, Kansas there and was able to get my Cosmetic and Skincare line in-store on the shelves, November 2022. 

- Jessica Andrews, J’s Makeup Artistry

FAQ

  • $65 for BEFH members / $95 for non-members (fees are non-refundable)

    Fees contribute to costs associated with running the program including physical space to hold classes, pitch competition, and material costs.

  • The course will be hybrid with virtual classes through zoom and some in-person field trips and events.

  • This program requires you to work on your business plan and conduct research outside of class. Outside coursework will require a minimum of 5-10 hours per week for the duration of the course.

This Program is Brought to you by Commerce Uplift Sponsors:

Kauffman FastTrac® Is A Program Of The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private, nonpartisan foundation that works with communities in education and entrepreneurship to create uncommon solutions and empower people to shape their futures and be successful. For more information, visit www.kauffman.org.