Joining an accelerator program can be hard work. The good news: you don’t have to work alone.
Leigh Holcomb’s career coaching business is in its early days, some of which she spent as part of the second cohort of entrepreneurs in GVL Starts. The program gets founders trained and connected in order to act on their big ideas.
“I think most people, including myself, underestimate how long it’s going to take you to complete some of these homework assignments,” Holcomb says.
She quickly realized she’d need help to meet design and social media expectations. And even as an experienced professor and public speaker, she worked to master the nuances of presenting on video.
In the end, Holcomb didn’t have the slickest pitch deck or the best videos, but she was energized by being around other innovators. They shared her challenges and her level of commitment. The group began regular meetups right after their GVL Starts graduation in April to keep sharing knowledge, connections, resources, and accountability.
That follow up is everything.
“As you look at your next phase of life, the people you have been hanging out with may not be the ones that can get you to the next level,” Holcomb says. “We’re gonna show up for each other. When people launch their business, as a group, GVL Starts Cohort Two is going to show up.”