ELEVATE – Executive Education

The Coalition’s Executive Leadership Education Venture Advancing Talented Entrepreneurs (ELEVATE) Program provides best-in-class training to small businesses located in DC and the surrounding metropolitan area. Through ELEVATE, District-based small business owners work to acquire new skills that allow them to more effectively and efficiently manage their business, products, and services, as well as increase revenue and employment.

ELEVATE is the only executive education program in DC that is backed by a university partner. The 3-month ELEVATE curriculum, developed by the George Washington School of Business (GWSB) Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence, is led by GWSB faculty members.

The ELEVATE curriculum is tailored to enhance and cultivate new skills enabling small businesses to compete in the private, institutional, and government procurement sectors. Small business owners completing ELEVATE will leave the program with a newfound clarity and dynamism that will catapult their business to the next level.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR ELEVATE COHORT VI
We are excited to officially launch Cohort VI of the ELEVATE Executive Education Program! ELEVATE Cohort VI is designed specifically to ignite, empower, and support the next generation of local entrepreneurial leaders. Cohort VI will focus on building the foundational strengths of emergent small businesses and their owners, working to transition them from survival mode to a place of growth and profitability. ELEVATE Cohort VI will convene every other Saturday from March 28 to June 20, 2026.
The Coalition is accepting applications for ELEVATE Cohort VI now through Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at 11:59 PM, and interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis.
View Eligibility Apply Now! Download Info Sheet

Program Overview

Curriculum Pillars

Leadership

Growth

Professionalism

Sustainability

 

The ELEVATE curriculum is designed to help small business owners and entrepreneurs:
  1. Succinctly and critically analyze and evaluate various business opportunities
  2. Develop an entrepreneurial mindset to help create a digital corporate strategy
  3. Comprehend the complex roles of entrepreneurship, leadership, and management throughout the development of organizational strategies
  4. Recognize new opportunities for introducing innovation in wide-ranging organizational settings
  5. Develop a strategy for contracting and procurement with anchor institutions and corporations
  6. Understand various financial valuations of your firm

Eligibility & Criteria

Eligibility
  • Located in the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area (DMV)
  • Must be a registered business and located in the District of Columbia
  • Preference given to Early-Stage local small businesses
Selection Criteria

Must meet at least TWO of the below criteria:

  • In business for at least three years
  • Maximum of three full- or part-time employees
  • Annual revenue of at least $150,000 – $250,000

Cohort VI

ELEVATE Cohort VI is designed specifically to ignite, empower, and support the next generation of local entrepreneurial leaders. Cohort VI will focus on building the foundational strengths of emergent small businesses and their owners, working to transition them from survival mode to a place of growth and profitability. Through best-in-class instruction, ELEVATE will help participants develop and implement business strategies that will generate significant revenue streams while also creating meaningful employment opportunities within their communities.

Through ELEVATE, participants will acquire the tools and knowledge needed to scale their operations, achieve financial sustainability, and maximize their positive social and environmental impact through tailored resources, expert mentorship, and strategic networking opportunities. This initiative strives to advance (or catapult) the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders.

ELEVATE Cohort VI will convene every other Saturday from March 28 to June 20, 2026. 

Apply

Are you eligible? If so, get ready to apply by following these simple steps below:

  • Step 1: Record your 3 to 5-minute video essay
  • Step 2: Complete your online application
  • Step 3: Upload your photo and the YouTube URL to your pre-recorded 3 to 5-minute video essay
  • Step 4: Provide one business reference
 Still have Questions? Join us for the ELEVATE Cohort VI Virtual Info Session.

Thursday, February 5th at 11:00am
via Zoom

Apply Now Register for Info Session
Benefits to Small Business Owners

Upon completion of the program, ELEVATE students will be able to:

  1. Comprehend the complex roles of entrepreneurship, leadership, and management throughout the development of organizational strategies.
  2. Recognize new opportunities for introducing innovation in wide-ranging organizational settings
  3. Enhance their competitive advantage to compete in the private, institutional, and government procurement sectors
  4. Refine or sharpen the business’ corporate strategy
  5. Receive certification from George Washington University School of Business

Program Sponsors & Partners

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Stay in touch with The Coalition news & events by subscribing to our free e-newsletter.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.