Empowering Minority Entrepreneurs: The Success of Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s Drive Minority Business Accelerator Program

The Baton Rouge Area Chamber recently completed its Drive Minority Business Accelerator for the second year, sponsored by ExxonMobil. Eleven business owners graduated from the program, which collectively represents approximately $26.3 million in annual revenue. The accelerator program is designed specifically for minority small business owners and utilizes Interise’s Streetwise MBA curriculum to provide them with tools for advancing their businesses in areas such as operations, financial management, marketing, and sales.

The hands-on, cohort-based program aims to equip minority business owners with the knowledge, resources, and networks necessary for their businesses to grow and scale. The graduates of the 2024 cohort include a diverse group of business owners from various industries, showcasing the program’s effectiveness in nurturing minority entrepreneurship. Looking ahead, applications for the 2025 cohort will open in September. Minority-owned businesses with a minimum of $500,000 in annual revenue in the past five years and at least three full-time employees are encouraged to apply. The program is set to begin in January, offering another group of minority business owners the opportunity to enhance their skills and grow their businesses under the guidance of industry experts.