[NFBC-Info] FW: Learn about self-employment and start your own business, application date extended until July 22

Sat Jul 16 04:13:44 UTC 2022

From: National Federation of the Blind <webmaster at nfb.org> 
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2022 1:15 PM
To: Joy Stigile <joystigile at gmail.com>
Subject: Learn about self-employment and start your own business

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Entrepreneurism: A Solution to Unemployment and Underemployment of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind has partnered with Synergies Work, an Atlanta nonprofit that supports entrepreneurs with disabilities, to empower blind and low-vision entrepreneurs across the country to launch new businesses and grow existing enterprises through Synergies Work's Idea to Incubation (i2i) Program.  Start your own business!

President Mark Riccobono said in the  <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26650&qid=7374415> partnership announcement, "We seek real, innovative solutions to the over 70 percent unemployment rate of blind people and actively pursue partnerships which create meaningful opportunities to enhance the role of blind entrepreneurs in the dynamic small-business sector of the United States. We're pleased to partner with Synergies Work and Include LLC through the SmartJob impact investing platform to empower the blind to obtain the kinds of employment opportunities that enable them to live the lives they want."

Take advantage of the remote learning opportunities: Synergies Work: i2i Entrepreneurship Program and the Include LLC: How to Raise Money from Venture Capitalists & Angel Investors Program. Both of these applications are open at no cost to entrepreneurial members. We really encourage you to apply without regard to whether you have any prior experience with either subject. Space is limited. Apply today.

Synergies Work: i2i Entrepreneurship Program

The Synergies Work i2i (Idea to Incubation) program is the largest entrepreneurial program in the United States offering mentorship, business education, funding, and an ongoing support to enable individuals with disabilities to launch and grow sustainable businesses.  <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26651&qid=7374415> Check out a short introduction video they created. The application deadline has been extended. Though the website mentions applications are closing July 15th, they have generously agreed to extend the application deadline to next Friday, July 22nd.  <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26652&qid=7374415> Learn more about the Synergies Work i2i program dates, details, and application process. 

Include LLC: How to Raise Money from Venture Capitalists & Angel Investors Program

Do you have a business or even just a business idea and you’re trying to understand how to get money that isn’t just a loan to help grow your business? There is another kind of investor called an equity investor who provides you money for a percentage of your business. Almost every famous startup organization began by fundraising from equity investors. And we’d like to show you how you can too. This course explores how to raise money from equity investors who are more famously called Venture Capitalists and Angel Investors. We’ll start from the beginning and share what they look for when evaluating a business, and how to speak their language so that you can sell them on your great idea.  <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26653&qid=7374415> Sign up now for first two webinars – "Funding your Business – What are your Options?" and "What is Venture Capital & Should I Raise It?"

Read Our Latest Post on Voice of the Nation’s Blind Blog

Long time Federationist, Todd Elzey, wrote about his employment experiences and excitement for the promotion of self-employment opportunities. He said, “I have believed for years that programs are needed to encourage and assist those blind individuals who are interested in running their own businesses…If you’ve ever wanted to start your own business, but felt that you couldn’t, the Synergies Work i2i Entrepreneurship Program just might be the opportunity you need to live the life you want to live as a small business owner.” Read the post, Entrepreneurism: A Solution to Unemployment and Underemployment of the Blind <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26666&qid=7374415> .

Center for Employment Opportunities & SmartJob

As President Riccobono shared in the  <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26654&qid=7374415> 2022 Presidential Report, the National Federation of the Blind works to bridge the gaps leading to unemployment and underemployment among the nation’s blind through our Center for Employment Opportunities initiative. And this year, we were a founding ambassador in the global launch of SmartJob, LLC.

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26655&qid=7374415> SmartJob is a global company dedicated to closing the disability wealth gap by catalyzing employment through innovation. SmartJob serves as a first-of-its-kind social impact consultant and trusted source of market intelligence for donors and investors in the 1 billion+ person global disability market. We scout, source, advise, and support social entrepreneurs and early stage companies that are committed and focused on profound disability impact.

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26656&qid=7374415> Regina "Gina" Kline, who presented at NFB22, founded SmartJob at the end of 2020, building a platform to attract disability deal flow and assembling a 14-person advisory board that brings together skills and lived experience from disability policy, disability advocacy, investing, technology and the impact economy.

Pursue the career you want. If you have questions or feedback, please email employment at nfb.org <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=26657&qid=7374415> .

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National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 

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