Aspiring Community Entrepreneurs (ACE) Certificate

Who Should Apply to This Program

San Francisco Bay University’s Aspiring Community Entrepreneur (ACE) Certificate Program is a fully funded opportunity designed to support early-stage startups in the Bay Area. Offered at no cost to applicants, this program empowers entrepreneurs whose ventures have the potential to create a meaningful impact on the San Francisco Bay Area community. The ACE program is geared to support women from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. However, all Bay Area residents are welcome to apply.

The ACE certificate supports ventures that

1. reinvest in their communities, leading to improved infrastructure, education, or services;
2. address systemic inequities and/or promote a more inclusive economy;
3. preserve and promote cultural heritage and traditions through cultural products and/or services;
4. promote job creation within their community, contributing to lower unemployment rates and more stable local economies.

Eligibility Criteria

Ten participants will be selected for the cohort; those not selected are welcome to reapply for the following round. Selection will be based on meeting the eligibility criteria described below. All shortlisted candidates will have a 1:1 interview and a selection committee will determine the final 10 participants who will be part of ACE Cohort 1. Candidates approved for this first cohort will be informed by email no later than March 24, 2025 and will be given 24 hours to confirm their acceptance to the program by responding to the email to be formally approved for the program.

• Applicant must be a Bay Area resident.

• Applicant must have a business founded (or to be founded) in one of the following counties: 

  Alameda	Contra Costa	Marin
  Napa	San Francisco	San Mateo
  Santa Clara	Solano	Sonoma

• Applicant must be in the early stages of startup development (ideation, pre-revenue, or early operational stage). 
• Applicant must be available to attend in-person classes in Fremont, California from 5:30-8:30 pm on the following Thursdays in 2025: April 10, April 17, May 15, June 19, July 17, Aug 14, Sept 18.
• Applicant must be available for pitch contest and program completion celebration on Saturday, Oct 18, 10:00am-Noon. A celebratory luncheon to follow.
• The new venture must demonstrate potential for creating a positive impact on the Bay Area community, such as for example, through jobs created, revenue generated, and program outcomes.

• The new venture's mission and purpose must focus on one or more of the following areas:

  Social Impact
  Ventures that are created to help solve big social or environmental problems. These new ventures find creative ways to make a difference in areas like education, healthcare, job opportunities, the environment, and human rights.

  Health & Wellness
  A health and wellness startup focuses on improving people’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. These ventures use technology, research, and new ideas to make healthcare easier to access, prevent illness, and help people live healthier lives.

  Sustainability/Climate Action
  A sustainability or climate action startup works to protect the planet and fight climate change. These ventures create new ways to reduce pollution, save energy, and use natural resources wisely, helping both people and the environment.

  Studio Arts/Performing Arts
  A studio or performing arts startup brings creativity to life in areas like painting, music, theater, dance, film, and digital media. These ventures use new technology and creative ideas to make art easier to create, share, and enjoy.