Resource Roundup: Gopuff launched a small biz accelerator with an NBA pro

This is Resource Roundup, a look at open applications for business and career-building programs, funding and other opportunities around the region. Want to share a new resource for entrepreneurs and technologists? Email us at philly@technical.ly.

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Spring Garden-headquartered unicorn Gopuff is lending some of the power from its recent growth streak to underrepresented founders across the U.S.

Put Me On is the on-demand delivery company’s new accelerator for consumer packaged goods businesses. To be eligible, business must be at least 51% controlled by people who are BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+, differently abled, immigrants or veterans.

Across six months, the selected businesses will get their products promoted on Gopuff, as well as mentorship, biz development workshops, networking and advisement from internal Gopuff teams. They can also make use of Gopuff’s new Gopuff Advertising Solutions service that allows brands to buy and track ads for their products on the platform. Put Me On is free to participating companies, and programming is virtual.

Gopuff is working alongside Phoenix Suns player Chris Paul, who will act as a “program ambassador, providing time, resources and connections to participants,” per a press release.

The first cohort of the accelerator is made up of A Dozen Cousins, Cards for All People, Cool Cat Wine Spritzers, Donata Skinfood, French Toast Bites Ale, Me & the Bees Lemonade, MUMGRY and Pipcorn. You might know French Toast Bites Ale as that collab between two Philly favorites: Yards Brewing Co., and Lokal Artisan Foods owner Charisse McGill.

Apps for the next cohort are open through Sunday, Oct. 24.

Apply here

https://twitter.com/gopuff/status/1435979736908455947

B-Smart Program

West Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative (WPCC) is working in partnership with VestedIn and Drexel University for the latest iteration of the B-Smart Program. The free program, which takes place over 10 weeks on Saturday mornings, provides new entrepreneurs with business education on topics such as biz planning, marketing and finances.

At the end of the program, entrepreneurs can pitch their concepts for capital, including loans and grants. The program has graduated 126 businesses since 2017, according to WPCC.

Classes begin on Saturday, Sep. 18. The application link is closed, but for more info, email BFLCDornsifeCenter@drexel.edu.

Leeway Foundation artist grants + media residency

If you’re an artist working in film, audio, animation, game design and the like, take note: The Leeway Foundation is collaborating with the Independence Public Media Foundation for its annual Leeway x IPMF Media Artist + Activist Residency. Grants of $25,000 will be given to women, transgender and nonbinary artists working with social justice and cultural organizations to bring attention to those orgs’ campaigns and causes.

Applicants must live in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties or Camden County, and must apply alongside a social justice-oriented nonprofit. The deadline to apply for these grants is Monday, Sept. 27. Check out an info session Tuesday, Sept. 21, to learn more about eligibility.

Apply here

Leeway is also looking at candidates for its next artist-in-residence alongside makerspace NextFab. Through the 2021-22 Leeway x NextFab Artist in Residency program, the artist would receive a $2,500 stipend to use for supplies and to document their work, as well as a NextFab membership and access to NextFab’s new North Philadelphia site and its South Philadelphia site.

The deadline to apply is Monday, Oct. 18, and you can check out an info session Thursday, Sept. 23, to learn more about eligibility. For an idea of what type of work the partner orgs could be looking for: In 2019, they funded local artist Eppchez to create a line of gender-affirming garments.

Apply here

Relief for community orgs working against COVID-19

Bread & Roses Community Fund is accepting applications for funding in partnership with the City of Philadelphia Office of Community Engagement and Opportunity to support Philadelphians adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Neighborhood Equitable Recovery Fund will use a community-led grantmaking process to create $15,000 grants for nonprofits working on health education, food distribution, family support and “community organizing to address barriers to support.”

The goal of the grant funding is to assist communities of color and with low incomes that have been most impacted by the pandemic. Organizations must have 501(c)3 certification or a fiscal sponsor, have less than a $1 million budget, and be in one of the prescribed ZIP codes.

The deadline to apply is Friday, Oct. 1. A virtual info session will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 22, at noon.

Apply here

Nominate an influential technologist

Know an influential software engineer who is making big contributions to the codebase and the community? Nominations are open for Technical.ly’s RealLIST Engineers. The third-annual list curates community members who show problem-solving, collaboration and leadership to guide the next generation. We’ll aim to include both those who are established and below the radar. Send in your picks through Sept. 15.

Nominate someone

P.S. To stay better connected to your local tech community, join us on the Technical.ly Slack. We’re also looking for feedback via our community survey: How can we do a better job informing you about what’s happening in the tech economies of Baltimore, Philly, DC, Delaware and Pittsburgh?

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These programs from previous Resource Roundups are still open:

• The COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan program from the U.S. Small Business Administration has been upgraded.
• Apps for the PGW + Temple Energy Innovation Lab will be accepted through Sept. 17.
• Apply for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneurs Access Network mentorship program for entrepreneurs of color by Sept. 17.
• The U.S. Economic Development Administration’s STEM Talent Challenge will accept apps through Oct. 12.

Michael Butler is a 2020-2022 corps member for Report for America, an initiative of The Groundtruth Project that pairs young journalists with local newsrooms. This position is supported by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism.