Helping People Transform Early-Stage Work Into Sustainable Ventures That Have A Positive And Measurable Social Or Environmental Impact.
Our Partners
The Rally Accelerator Program
Rally's social enterprise accelerator aims to help people transform their early-stage work into sustainable ventures that have positive and measurable social or environmental impact. Twice a year, we invite promising social entrepreneurs who are in the early stages of their work to join our four-month accelerator as Rally Fellows. During the program, Fellows receive mentorship, one-on-one coaching, the opportunity to earn paid and unpaid pilots, and access to critical networks and community designed to help them develop and/or validate their business and social impact model.
Why Apply To Rally?
The early stages of a venture can be fraught with challenges and uncertainties. Navigating these complexities requires a unique blend of experience, knowledge, and a strong network. The Rally program offers participants access to our staff and team's intellectual and social capital. This allows them to avoid common pitfalls, address blind spots, and advance their business and social impact models at the greatest speed. Our ultimate goal is to provide participants with the practical and hands-on coaching and mentorship needed to accelerate their venture's path toward sustainability and measurable positive social or environmental outcomes.
Hands-On And Practical Mentorship And Coaching
A well-crafted business and social impact model is essential for early-stage ventures, providing a roadmap for growth, sustainability, and meaningful impact. These models guide a venture's priorities, strategic decisions, and resource allocation. At Rally, we assist participants in developing and de-risking their business and social impact models through hands-on support, rigorous questioning, sound strategy, and real-world experimentation. Our goal is to equip ventures with the tools they need to achieve both financial success and a positive societal impact.
Business And Social Impact Model Development And Validation
A supportive community is essential for individuals navigating the early stages of a new venture. It provides a network of support, valuable resources, and a sense of belonging during the often challenging journey of building something new. At Rally, participants actively engage in one-on-one and group activities designed to foster meaningful relationships. We aim to help participants discover the temporary and lifelong support, insights, and opportunities needed to fuel not only their personal growth but also the growth of their work.
Meaningful Fellowship
Pilots are crucial for early-stage ventures to validate their offerings, acquire customers, generate revenue, gather data, and attract investors. At Rally, we connect program participants to opportunities that allow them to earn paid and unpaid pilots with our public and private partnerships. These partnerships, such as with The City of Orlando, provide access to real-world testing grounds for innovative solutions that address pressing challenges in areas like connectivity, energy, health and safety, placemaking, mobility, water, waste, and materials.
Pilot Opportunities
Program Commitments And Cost
The Rally program offers a no cost program for individuals who are building early-stage social ventures. If accepted, indivudals are required to commit to the following schedule to participate in the 16-week program:
Week 1: Rally ONE - 2-Day Workshop (Virtual)
Week 2: Venture And Social Impact Model Triage (Virtual)
Week 3-8: Weekly Meetup And Check-Ins (Virtual)
Week 9: Rally TWO - 4 Day Workshops And Experiences (Orlando, Florida)
Week 10-12: Weekly Meetup And Check-Ins (Virtual)
Week 13-14: Weekly Check-Ins (Virtual)
Week 16: Rally THREE - Fellow Showcase (Virtual)
Is Rally The Right Program For You?
Requirements For-Profit Venture Builders
The venture is in the formation to validation stage of its lifecycle (see startup development phases image).
The venture addresses at least one of the 17 United Nations sustainability development goals.
The primary motivation to start the venture was to help solve a social or environmental issue.
The applicant is a US resident or holds a valid US travel, work, or student visa.
Requirements For NonProfit Venture Builders
The venture is in the startup to growth phase of its lifecycle (see nonprofit development phases image).
The venture desires to build a market-facing product/service or wants to apply entrepreneurial principles to donor development.
The applicant is a US resident or holds a valid US travel, work, or student visa.
Answer The Below Questions If You Meet All Of The For-Profit Or NonProfit Requirements
Do you need help with developing a strategy to achieve and measure your venture’s social or environmental impact?
Do you need help with understanding your customer or donors motivations, pain points and goals?
Do you need help developing or refining your venture's business model?
Do you plan to raise a seed round, apply for grant funding or a growth stage accelerator program, such as Echoing Green, Camelback, RedF, or Ycombinator?
If You Answered Yes To All The Questions, Rally Is The Right Fit For You!
Application Timeline And Process
WINTER 2025 PROGRAM DETAILS
Our application timeline is subject to change therefore, please review our up-to-date application timeline below. Additionally, we will always announce date and other need-to-know information changes via emails to candidates.
Applications Period - August 26, 2024 to November 5, 2024
Interview Invites- November 15, 2024
Fellowship Invitation - November 26, 2024
Program Start - January 13, 2025
Program End - April 29, 2025
The Rally application process consists of 2 rounds. After this round, successful candidates will be extended a Fellowship invitation into the next Rally Cohort.
ROUND 1: APPLICATION
The first round requires applicants to submit short answers to questions about their business and social model. Following this round, all candidates will be notified via email of their application status. Applicants that are successful here will be moved to 2.
ROUND 2: INTERVIEW
Applicants are invited to interview with the Rally team and given an opportunity to present their ventures and answer questions from the Rally team that dive deeper into organizational details (such as social mission, team, product/service, and market fit).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What Are Rallys?
A: Rallys are a mandatory part of the program and are designed to provide fellows with in-depth business and social impact model development, learning and experience opportunities, group fellowship, and one-on-one discussions with other fellows, staff, and mentors.
Rally ONE:
Format: Virtual
Focus: Program Kickoff And Workshops
Day 1: New Cohort Welcome, Theory of Change Workshop, And VenturePresentations
Day 2: Social Lean Canvas Model Workshop
Rally TWO:
Format: In-Person (Orlando, Florida)
Focus: Workshops & Experiences
Day 1: Theory of Change Workshop, Experience Activities, And Presentations
Day 2: Social Lean Canvas Model Workshop, Experience Activities, And Presentations
Day 3: Experience Activities And One-On-One Meetings
Rally THREE:
Format: Virtual
Focus: Program Closing And Fellow Showcase (2 Hours)
Fellows will present their ventures to Rally stakeholders, impact investors and granters, corporate, municipal, and nonprofit partners, and the community at large.
Q: Does Rally provide a travel stipend for Rally TWO?
A: For out-of-state Fellows, we pay for airline flights and provide a food stipend and transportation stipend. Additionally, we house all Fellows in apartments during their stay in Orlando.