LISC Digital Growth Accelerator

Join our mission to help 100,000 small businesses achieve 2X growth

Closing the wealth gap in underserved communities

The LISC Digital Growth Accelerator is a 7-week program driven by LISC and powered by IXL Center, designed to support cohorts of 30 underrepresented and underserved small businesses to strengthen their core business, explore new growth opportunities, and double their revenue.

Businesses are paired with teams of graduate students who collaborate to develop the best solutions and action plans, under the guidance of experienced IXL mentors, to achieve the program's outcomes.

Program Overview: Transforming Businesses in 7 Weeks

Our structured 7-week program is designed to achieve three key outcomes:

Improve Current Business

Create New Offerings

Drive Results

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Strenghthen SME core operations and strategies

Expand business activities, create new streams of revenue, and build new capabilities

Develop and implement clear and strategic action plans for business growth

Small Businesses collaborate closely with volunteer graduate teams and experienced mentors throughout the program

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Small Businesses

SMEs from different sectors join cohorts of 30 or more businesses and actively engage with student teams and other businesses to provide insights into their business and industry, collaborating to drive tailor-made strategic actions and achieve impactful results

Volunteer Student Teams

University teams of 3-5 students, trained in a proven methodology and mentored by IXL consultants, collaborate closely with SMEs to achieve results using cutting-edge software, competing to deliver world-class action plans and solutions

Student Application Form

Expert Mentors & Guides

Experienced consultants assist student teams in driving fast and efficient execution through proven consulting and innovation techniques and approaches, aiming for bigger and bolder results

Small business owners share their reflections about the program

Participants from the 2024 cohort describe the program in three words, share their favorite aspects, and provide recommendations for future participants

Program Pilot to Expansion: Driving Impact Globally for the Past 5 years

Originating as a successful pilot initiative during COVID-19, the Accelerator has supported over 250 small businesses across diverse locations and has established partnerships with various organizations beyond LISC

The program organizers partnered to leverage LISC’s economic development expertise with IXL Center’s consulting and innovation experience

Economic Development Experts

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is a nonprofit organization that helps forge resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity through investment in residents, communities and enterprises

Consulting & Innovation Experts

IXL Center, headquartered in Cambridge, is a leading innovation management consulting firm, delivering top-tier training, consulting, and education services globally to drive business growth

Other organizations seeking to drive social impact have replicated the program in their own markets, in partnership with IXL Center

Highlights of the past programs reflect business growth and transformation

LISC Digital Growth Accelerator, 2024

LISC Massachusetts, funded by the United States Small Business Administration, supported a program for 28 small businesses in Massachusetts, where 78 students competed to drive growth for companies in professional services, personal services, food and beverage, and retail.

Somerville SME Growth Accelerator, 2024

The Brazilian Community Heritage Foundation and the Somerville City adapted the Accelerator program, founded by the ARPA Fund, to revitalize plans for Magoun Square and Winter Hill, supporting 15 underrepresented SMEs, mainly restaurants, hair salons, and retail stores.

LISC Digital Growth Accelerator, 2023

The LISC Massachusetts and LISC Greater Newark offices united forces to support 37 childcare providers in implementing the Accelerator Program. Sponsored by P&G and Symetra, this industry-specific cohort tackled issues like under-enrollment, inefficient operations, and limited revenue.

Participant Testimonials strengthen our commitment to social impact

The Impact of the LISC Digital Growth Accelerator program on small businesses

Small businesses from the childcare cohort share the relevance of the program to their business journey

Start a conversation with us today and drive growth in your community!

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