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NextFab’s Artisan Accelerator is a 13-week program designed to provide current and aspiring creative entrepreneurs who make physical products with business education, access to resources, and community support to build viable businesses. This program will be accepting 15 applicants (priority given to historically disadvantaged communities) for the 2026 cohort. Applicants must qualify as a micro-enterprise (5 or fewer employees) and be classified as a low-to-moderate income household per Department of Commerce guidelines.
Accepted participants will receive:
This program is ideal for creative entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their business. This program can help if you’re new to running a business, feeling overwhelmed, and/or struggling to balance creativity with day-to-day tasks. Participants who get the most out of this program typically:
This program is free to apply to, and if selected, all costs are covered through the Department of Commerce BTAP grant. Application deadline Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026, at 11:59 pm.
The Artisan Accelerator is open to applicants whose business address, either brick-and-mortar or home-based, must be located within Philadelphia city limits, and will be a hybrid of virtual and in-person. Some travel to the NextFab makerspace is required. Applicants must qualify as micro-enterprises (5 or fewer employees) and be classified as low-to-moderate income households per Department of Commerce guidelines (for single households, making less than $25,100 and $83,562). This program includes a limited Facilitation Fund to aid in accessing services such as childcare, transportation, technology, and equipment.
Application Timeline: Applications open: Wednesday, June 17th Info Session: Tuesday, July 7th, 6:00 – 8:00 pm (In Person at NextFab) Application deadline: Wednesday, July 22nd at 11:59 pm Participant Selection Notifications: Tuesday, August 11th Program Begins: Tuesday, September 15th
For additional questions, please reach out to us at artisan@nextfab.com.
September 15th – November 12th, 2026 & January 19th – February 18th, 2027 Tuesdays & Thursdays 10 am – 12 pm During the 13 weeks, this program will meet twice a week for 2 hours, with a majority of sessions hosted in person. All in-person sessions will take place at 1800 North American St, Philadelphia, PA 19122. This program pauses from November 13th, 2026, to January 18th, 2027, to allow for a holiday season break. The final section of the program runs until February 5th, 2026, and is designed with time to apply what you have learned.
In this section of the program, we will cover:
Goal Setting: September 15th – September 17th, 2026 Kick off the accelerator by taking a step back to articulate what you are building and why. We will start with a panel of diverse business owners sharing how they structure their businesses. Then, this session will turn over to them to develop their future vision through storytelling and illustration, and refine the core values that drive them.
Business Model: September 22nd – October 8th, 2026 Meet with business educators in group sessions to define your business goals and create a business model. You will learn to analyze your cost structure and build out a financial dashboard to help you make informed strategic decisions. Attend sessions held by professionals in bookkeeping and accounting, legal, and insurance to learn how to set up your business for success while balancing creative work.
Product Development: October 13th – October 27th, 2026 Learn the process of developing excellent physical goods while refining your unique design style, process, and brand. This portion of the program will teach you to think critically about your current and future product lines, identify exactly who your audience is, and provide structured, hands-on time to maximize your production efficiency under the direct guidance of NextFab’s technical staff.
Operations: October 29th – November 12th, 2026 Streamline your creative practice and establish a legally sound foundation for your business. This session of the program answers the critical question: What happens to your product after you make it? You will explore the essentials of packaging, retail merchandising, and fulfillment logistics, alongside the practical steps required to confidently scale through hiring, contracting, or outsourcing. Additionally, industry experts will guide you through the vital pillars of small business operations: legal compliance, insurance basics, bookkeeping, and tax planning. These sessions wrap up with a hands-on review session designed to translate these operational breakthroughs into a prioritized, strategic timeline for your business.
Please note that our program will observe a Winter Break from November 13, 2026, to January 18, 2027. This break is designed to provide participants with ample time to engage in winter markets, capitalize on holiday selling opportunities, and enjoy their holidays.
Marketing and Sales: January 19th – February 4th, 2027 Build on your business foundations to expand sales and take advantage of opportunities. You will develop a sales and marketing strategy alongside a marketing expert, crafting your brand identity, digital funnels, and finding your ideal customers. Participants will have a final product photoshoot to document their progress and tell their story.
Capital Readiness: February 9th – February 18th, 2027 Prepare your business for sustainable financial growth and explore the funding opportunities available to you. These sessions teach you exactly what it means to be “capital ready.” You will audit your business growth goals to understand what is achievable from a financial perspective and identify which funding routes, such as grants, loans, or investments, are the right fit for your business. You will additionally learn about specialized funding programs available for small businesses in Philadelphia, before wrapping up with a final business planning and strategy, where you will refine your micro-goals and prioritize those actions into a strategic timeline.
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