Ascend Management Education Program
Ascend provides access to capital, market opportunities and business education to high-potential entrepreneurs of color. A partnership between Meda and the Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship, Ascend supports high-potential business owned by entrepreneurs of color that are preparing to scale for long-term success.
Through the financial support of JPMorgan Chase, Ascend offers both a local and national program depending on the current size and capabilities of the company.
Ascend National Cohort
Based upon their success with the local Ascend Twin Cities program, Meda and the Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship have been invited to participate in the more intensive Ascend National Cohort program that targets larger companies with more experienced management teams.
Program Details
The National Cohort will commence this September 28-30 with 20 companies participating in a 3-day intensive session at the Carlson School of Management. Online sessions will meet every other Friday from October through March, featuring faculty from the 5 participating universities and professional services firms helping the companies to develop their capabilities and expansion plans. The program concludes in April with another 3-day intensive program on April 4-6. Each company will be supported by an MBA Fellow and experienced business coach.
The Ascend National program supports companies with annual revenue of $3 - $9 million.
What You'll Learn
Funded by JPMorgan Chase, the Holmes Center and Meda deliver will educational courses structured around the 3M-Model, a research-driven approach that can help your business overcome access gaps:
- Management: The Holmes Center will introduce business owners to a broad range of management topics and help apply concepts to develop growth strategies. In addition to direct access to Carlson School faculty, teams will have support from both Carlson School MBA Fellows and experienced business coaches to apply their educational sessions to their company's current challenges.
- Markets: Meda will help you understand corporate customer requirements, potential fit, help you build relationships, and secure contracts.
- Money: Meda will help you develop capabilities statements, identify funding requirements and potential sources.
MBA Ascend Fellow
Are you a current MBA student at the Carlson School? Apply to be a MBA Ascend Fellow!
You'll work as business consultants to small businesses owned by people of color. You'll receive a stipend and have the opportunity to connect with other Fellows at top-ranked business schools that support the Ascend National Cohort Program.
APPLY TO BE A MBA ASCEND FELLOW
Business Coach
Are you an experienced business owner or executive who is interested in volunteering to support the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders? Reach out to jstavig@umn.edu to learn more about becoming an Ascend Business Coach!
You'll work as business consultants to small businesses owned by people of color. You'll have the opportunity to connect with other executives and Fellows at top-ranked business schools that support the Ascend National Cohort Program.
Ascend Twin Cities Cohort
Ascend Twin Cities is a local management education program for Twin Cities-based entrepreneurs of color and business owners seeking to gain more support and knowledge to grow their company. You'll also gain access to elusive opportunities and connections to help your business succeed in the long-term. Ascend Twin Cities has supported 38 MN-based companies since joining the national network of 15 cities since 2020.
Program Details
An annual cohort of 10-15 companies will attend bi-weekly educational sessions between July and November 2023.
The program starts on July 19 and meets for 2 hours every other Wednesday at the Carlson School.
Targeting high potential companies with $0.5 - $3 million of annual revenue.
What You'll Learn
Funded by JPMorgan Chase, the Holmes Center and Meda deliver will educational courses structured around the 3M-Model, a research-driven approach that can help your business overcome access gaps:
- Management: The Holmes Center will introduce business owners to a broad range of management topics and help apply concepts to develop growth strategies.
- Markets: Meda will help you understand corporate customer requirements, potential fit, help you build relationships, and secure contracts.
- Money: Meda will help you develop capabilities statements, identify funding requirements and potential sources.
Ascend Twin Cities Partners
The Holmes Center
The Holmes Center is the hub of entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of Minnesota that inspires, educates, and connects the next generation of Minnesota's entrepreneurs.
Meda
Meda provides business consulting, access to capital, and connections with market opportunities for minority entrepreneurs.
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
JPMorgan Chase is a global leader in financial services, offering solutions to the world's most important corporations, governments, and institutions in more than 100 countries.