Building Cherokee Businesses.
Strengthening Cherokee Futures.
The Cherokee AcceleratHER is a 12-week hybrid fellowship designed to help Cherokee founders launch, grow, and scale venture-ready businesses.
Grounded in culturally rooted entrepreneurship, AcceleratHER combines education, community, coaching,
and capital access to help founders turn bold ideas into sustainable ventures by expanding access to opportunity and closing gaps in entrepreneurship.
Selected Fellows receive a $10,000 non-dilutive seed grant from the Cherokee Nation, plus business coaching, investor and ecosystem connections, and a powerful peer network - all without giving up ownership or equity.
Fellows leave with clear strategies, real traction, and strong pathways to funding, customers, and long-term growth - helping drive inclusive economic impact across Oklahoma and beyond.
The Cherokee AcceleratHER is a 12-week hybrid fellowship designed to help Cherokee founders
launch, grow, and scale venture-ready businesses.
Grounded in culturally rooted entrepreneurship, AcceleratHER combines education, community, coaching,
and capital access to help founders turn bold ideas into sustainable ventures by expanding access to opportunity and closing gaps in entrepreneurship.
Selected Fellows receive a $10,000 non-dilutive seed grant from the Cherokee Nation, plus business coaching, investor and ecosystem connections, and a powerful peer network - all without giving up ownership or equity.
Fellows leave with clear strategies, real traction, and strong pathways to funding, customers, and long-term growth - helping drive inclusive economic impact across Oklahoma and beyond.
Fall 2026 AcceleratHER Applications Open 6/15
- Program Dates: September 8 – December 4, 2026
- Cohort Size: 10 Fellows
- Format: Hybrid curriculum culminating in a LIVE Showcase and Cherokee Culture Day (November 19–20, 2026)
- Curriculum: Customized, founder-led, and business-focused
- Program Director: Lesley Robinson, PhD (Embolden Education)
Fellow Experience
- $10,000 Non-Dilutive Seed Grant awarded by the Cherokee Nation upon successful completion (no equity required)
- Dedicated Support: Cohort accountability partner and customized mentor matching
- In-Person Convenings: Tulsa, OK (Showcase) and Tahlequah, OK
(Cherokee Culture Day), November 19–20, 2026 - Ecosystem Access: Direct connections to founders, funders, and
cross-industry leaders
AcceleratHER is a launchpad for Cherokee founders - designed to equip participants with clear strategy, measurable traction, and direct pathways to funding, customers, and sustained growth. Through a powerful blend of community, culture, and capital, the program advances inclusive economic impact across the Cherokee Nation - and beyond.
“As we continually explore new ways to further the success of the Cherokee Nation and Oklahoma, our tribe stands at the forefront of supporting small family-owned businesses and creating quality jobs within our tribal communities. Native American women represent the lowest rates of business entrepreneurship across all groups. This fellowship is an excellent means of beginning to address such an unacceptable statistic, while also pursuing the longtime mission of the tribe and its businesses of investing in the success of every Cherokee citizen.”
– Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Cherokee Nation Principal Chief
“Native American women often face unique challenges within the business community, including systemic disparities and lack of resources. We stand ready to change that statistic by providing a supportive platform for these talented entrepreneurs."
– Kathy Taylor, program sponsor and Former Dean of UTulsa’s Collins
College of Business
– Kathy Taylor, program sponsor and Former Dean of UTulsa’s Collins College of Business
Get involved
Interested in becoming a sponsor or mentor?
Send us an email!
Interested in becoming a sponsor or mentor? Send us an email!
“AcceleratHER starts with the founder first. This next cohort is intentionally designed to center the voices, journeys, and impact of each founder. We’re building more than businesses - we’re cultivating a community where founders support one another, grow together, and lead with purpose. That’s where real, lasting impact begins.”
- Lesley Robinson, PhD
Director, Cherokee AcceleratHER
Founder & CEO, Embolden Education
