Since opening its doors in 2018, the nonprofit organization EforAll has helped small businesses launch across the Cape through its free accelerator program, pitch contest, and pop-up shop.
Founded on Cape Cod to help address the struggles of the workforce by bridging the housing gap through entrepreneurship, EforAll Cape Cod’s main goal is to help grow economic development through local entrepreneurship.
“We do have an emphasis on inclusive entrepreneurship, so we help individuals from all backgrounds,” executive director Christan Marshall said.
“Something we see on Cape Cod is it can be really tough to make a living wage… .and afford year-round housing. So sometimes what we are doing is helping the entrepreneur develop a side income through this business,” she said.
Each of the 15 entrepreneurs selected for the year-long program is paired with a team of three mentors. The mentorship team meets with the entrepreneur for 90 minutes a week on top of weekly classes where they can learn more about best business practices from those who have firsthand knowledge about small business ownership, Ms. Marshall said. Programs are free and run in the spring and fall.
“Those folks [mentors] get truly invested in the success of the entrepreneurs while they are in the accelerator and into the future,” she said, “We have had over 140 mentors who have helped so far since 2018.”
EforAll has an office in Mashpee, and some entrepreneurs who have gone through EforAll’s programs have been able to open full-time storefronts in Mashpee Commons.