A statewide business accelerator designed for underrepresented entrepreneurs is launching its third cohort next week. The program has already helped dozens of small business owners — including those transitioning from incarceration — gain support.
Impact AZ 2025, a 9-month accelerator backed by the Black Chamber of Arizona, kicks off its third cohort on July 8 in Phoenix.
This year’s class includes 23 diverse entrepreneurs who received full scholarships to participate thanks to $100,000 in sponsor funding. The program focuses on building long-term business growth.
Vincent Valenzuela, a 2024 graduate, spent 14 years in prison before getting help to launch his business through the accelerator.
“It was exactly what I was looking for. For me, to transition from incarceration, to a functioning member to society, to now, a good businessman,” he said.
The chamber says the program has helped graduates secure more than $5 million in contracts since 2022.
