Founders First CDC is awarding a total of $100,000 in free grants for 30 diverse-led businesses in Southern California. Founders First CDC is a non-profit organization that provides growth capital, strategic expansion programs, coaching and resources to diverse-led businesses to help them achieve $10M in revenues and beyond.

So far the organization has served 400+ companies, approved $21 Million in funding, and helped create 300+ jobs in the companies it backed. For the SoCal program, the application deadline is November 30, 2021. You can go through the FAQs to determine eligibility or send an email to [email protected] if you have any specific questions.

Founders First CDC

The U.S., Founders First CDC helps apply for a grant that you can use to grow your business (purchase, fix, or enhance equipment necessary or to help you manage your growth and scale for the future). It also offers the following programs on a regular basis.

Key Questions about CDC’s $100K Grants

Who’s eligible?

• Diverse-led company founders (including people of color, women, veterans, and LGBTQ leaders) with more than 2 employees.

Where do the grants come from?

• This effort is funded by $1 million available through CDC’s Job Creators Quest grant program at Founders First CDC. Organizations including Rockefeller Foundation, Surdna Foundation and Kaufmann Foundation have helped Founder’s 1ST CDC raise funds for these grants.

Accelerator scholarships included

• Founders First has helped nearly 500 small businesses grow 25% year over year, receive $21 million in funding, and create over 300 jobs.
• Each grant comes with a scholarship to one of the organization’s management accelerator programs (image above) to help you chart your growth path to $5 million in revenue.

Structure of SoCal Grants

Per details by Founders First CDC, a total of $100,000 will be awarded to 30 small businesses.

• $10,000 grant
• $4,000 grant
• $2,500 grants
• $1,000 grants.

You will also receive a tuition scholarship for for one of Founders First CDC’s business accelerator programs.

Some of the success stories listed here will help you envision what your company may be able to achieve through these grants.

Author: Sharjeel

Sharjeel joined Startempire Wire as emerging technologies editor. Earlier, he worked at Silicon Canals, a leading English language technology media source for the Benelux and wider Europe. He covered the European technology and startup ecosystem digging into latest funding rounds of startups.