Cherokee AcceleratHER Fellowship

Cherokee AcceleratHER Fellowship is sponsored by University of Tulsa's Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) and the Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee AcceleratHER Fellowship supports Native American women entrepreneurs.

Cherokee AcceleratHER – Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship Building Cherokee Businesses. Strengthening Cherokee Futures. Launched in 2023, the Cherokee AcceleratHER Fellowship supports Native American entrepreneurs, one of the most underrepresented groups of founders.

Co-created by UTulsa’s CIE and the Cherokee Nation, with foundational support from Kathy Taylor, the Fellowship is a 12-week hybrid accelerator that blends entrepreneurial leadership with cultural reconnection, affirming identity as a strength. Fall 2026 AcceleratHER Applications NOW Open THROUGH 8/15 Applications Now Open Through 8/15 APPLY NOW for the Fall 2026 Cherokee AcceleratHER Fellowship at The University of Tulsa.

Fall 2026 AcceleratHER APPLICATION Please visit Embolden Education’s website for more information about the AcceleratHER Fellowship program. Stay out up to date with the AcceleratHER Fellowship. Fill out this form to receive Fellowship updates and more!

The Cherokee AcceleratHER is a 12-week hybrid fellowship designed to help Cherokee founder s launch, grow, and scale venture-ready businesses. Grounded in culturally rooted entrepreneurship, AcceleratHER combines education, community, coaching, and capital access to help founders turn bold ideas into sustainable ventures by expanding access to opportunity and closing gaps in entrepreneurship.

Selected Fellows receive a $10,000 non-dilutive seed grant from the Cherokee Nation, plus business coaching, investor and ecosystem connections, and a powerful peer network – all without giving up ownership or equity.

Duration: 12 weeks / 3 months Format: Hybrid curriculum culminating in a LIVE Showcase and Cherokee Culture Day Timeline: September – December 2026 Program Facilitator: Lesley Robinson, PhD // Embolden Education For more information: https://emboldeneducation. org/accelerather accelerather@emboldeneducation.

org Across two cohorts to date, AcceleratHER has awarded $150,000 in non-dilutive capital, delivered measurable gains in financial confidence, leadership clarity, and innovation skills, and reached Cherokee founders across 32 states in the U.S. At the end of the program, Fellows receive $10,000 seed grants, personalized mentorship, and a strengths-based curriculum.

Community partners power the Fellowship, including StitchCrew (2023), the ayana Foundation (2024), and Embolden Education (2025 & 2026). It is sustained through continued investment from the Cherokee Nation and an endowed gift from Kathy Taylor, former Mayor of Tulsa and former Dean at the University of Tulsa. The AcceleratHER curriculum centers both the business and the being of entrepreneurship.

Delivered through virtual sessions, weekly challenges, peer roundtables, and in-person immersions, the Fellowship is structured into four core modules: 1) Entrepreneurial Identity & Leadership; 2) Business Fundamentals & Financial Empowerment; 3) Brand, Community, & Legacy Building; and 4) Cultural Immersion in Tahlequah, Oklahoma (Cherokee Nation HQ) and the Showcase at The University of Tulsa.

Fall 2024 AcceleratHER Fellows Palmer Construction & Marine Company Prime Craftsmanship Tiny Homes Interested in becoming a sponsor or mentor? explore UTULSA accelerators “As we continually explore new ways to further the success of the Cherokee Nation and Oklahoma, our tribe stands at the forefront of supporting small family-owned businesses and creating quality jobs within our tribal communities.

Native American women represent the lowest rates of business entrepreneurship across all groups. This fellowship is an excellent means of beginning to address such an unacceptable statistic, while also pursuing the longtime mission of the tribe and its businesses of investing in the success of every Cherokee citizen.

” – Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Cherokee Nation Principal Chief “Native American women often face unique challenges within the business community, including systemic disparities and lack of resources. We stand ready to change that statistic by providing a supportive platform for these talented entrepreneurs.

” Former Dean, UTulsa Collins College of Business “The Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship is committed to developing entrepreneurial programs that benefit our students and the broader communities we serve. AcceleratHER is a great example of a program that benefits founders, the Cherokee Nation and has an economic impact in Tulsa, Oklahoma and beyond.

AcceleratHER serves as a national model demonstrating how universities can bring together donors and community partners to build programs that drive significant societal and economic impact. “ Assistant Vice President, Innovation & Entrepreneurship “AcceleratHER starts with the founder first. This next cohort is intentionally designed to center the voices, journeys, and impact of each founder.

We’re building more than businesses – we’re cultivating a community where founders support one another, grow together, and lead with purpose. That’s where real, lasting impact begins. ” of resources.

We stand ready to change that statistic by providing a supportive platform for these talented entrepreneurs. ” Director, Cherokee AcceleratHER Founder & CEO, Embolden Education