A 6-month accelerator program for underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Empowering entrepreneurs with financial resources
Awardees will each receive US$12,000 total: $8,000 and $4,000 in Fiverr credit. The $8,000 can be used towards the business however the entrepreneurs and their coach see fit. The $4,000 credit can be applied to professional services offered on Fiverr’s platform.
Centering self-guided, interactive learning and mentorship
Participants engage in self-guided sessions, tailor-made by 1863 Ventures, covering essential topics like Business Operations and Risk Mitigation. These are complemented by 6 hours of 1:1 business coaching and monthly group discussions, offering opportunities for reflection and sharing insights. Additionally, interactive workshops led by Fiverr enhance collaborative learning and practical application.
Building bonds and networks to catalyze growth
Community is the cornerstone of our program, uniting our entrepreneurs, cohort alumni, and the wider 1863 Ventures community. With access to Fiverr's Executive and Customer Success teams, we catalyze growth through meaningful connections.
Mission
The mission of the Future Collective is to support underrepresented entrepreneurs within the Fiverr ecosystem by maximizing their opportunities for growth.
The program grew out of Fiverr’s commitment to enabling a more equitable playing field for entrepreneurs who face systemic structures, cultural barriers, or life circumstances working against them.
Overview
The Future Collective is an accelerator program by Fiverr for early-stage U.S. and Canada-based underrepresented entrepreneurs at pivotal moments in their business.
We're putting our purpose—to revolutionize how the world works together by creating opportunities for anyone to grow their business, brand, or dreams—into action. We do this by contributing to expanding access to funding, resources, education, and mentorship to empower entrepreneurs in attaining both prosperous business outcomes and long-term viability.
All education and mentorship is overseen by Fiverr and 1863 Ventures, a DC-based business working to accelerate New Majority founders (i.e. individuals who have been historically underestimated) from high potential to high growth.
We are currently in our fourth year of offering this program and are excited as our commitment to this work grows and evolves.
Curriculum
Capacity Building
In entrepreneurship, success encompasses more than technical skills. Elevate your business by strengthening both your entrepreneurial mindset and capacity. Tailored for existing business owners, this module cultivates perspectives and capacities for sustainable growth and innovation.
Marketing & Customer Management
Gain profound insights into your audience and their journey to becoming loyal customers. Leverage data to enhance customer understanding. Implement a customer-centric framework to streamline operations, boost customer lifetime value, cut costs, and maximize return on ad spend.
Finance & Financing
Revenue is vanity, profit is sanity, but cash is King (or Queen). Finance is the universal language of business, offering insights into a company's trajectory. This session empowers you to confidently navigate your finances, create financial scenarios, and outline the actions needed to attain your desired outcomes.
Risk Mitigation
Safeguard your business by identifying and managing potential risks. Learn to develop and implement strategies that protect your venture from uncertainties and threats, essential for scaling your business.
Business Operations
Effective process management drives the success of top brands. It propels your brand towards its goals, enhances organizational structure for operational efficiency, and bolsters your competitive edge. Learn to identify, optimize, and maintain crucial processes in your brand for sustained success.
Fundraising
Secure capital with precision – know how much you need and how to allocate it wisely. Dive into the art of raising funds, whether through debt, equity, grants, or crowdfunding, equipping yourself with the skills for successful business financing.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible, applicants must confirm they meet each of the following criteria:
- You (the applicant) have an active Fiverr account and have made at least 3 orders on the platform
- You (the applicant) are a resident of the U.S. or Canada and are over 18 years old
- Your (the applicant’s) business has been operational for at least 1 year, with products or services ready to be promoted and sold on a national scale
- Your (the applicant’s) business generated at least $50,000 in revenue during the most recent fiscal year
- You are willing to engage in self-guided learning modules, monthly 1-hour 1:1 coaching sessions, mandatory cohort networking and discussion sessions, and homework assignments in a timely manner, totaling approximately 30-40 hours from January to June 2025
- You are ready to actively engage with Fiverr freelancers and internal teams throughout the duration of the program to help scale your business and reach your goals
- You are willing to participate in storytelling around both your experience leveraging Fiverr and as a participating member of the Future Collective program
of participants (2024 cohort) indicated that their business acumen has improved because of the program.
Confidence level when asking the 2024 cohort how they would describe their outlook towards achieving business goals after the program.
Of the 2024 cohort generated net new business opportunities as a direct result of this program.