Funding

Free

Program dates

TBA

Entrepreneurship•Remote

Miller Center Accelerator

Miller Center for Global Impact, Santa Clara University

Application Deadline

October 16, 2026

Official Page

The Miller Center Accelerator is a six-month virtual programme for leaders of social enterprises that are ready to scale. It is run by Miller Center for Global Impact, a Santa Clara University Center of Distinction that has worked in social entrepreneurship for more than 25 years. Each enterprise is paired with two executive mentors who guide it through a customised curriculum toward a long-range impact strategy, a business plan and a funding pitch. The programme is aimed at enterprises serving people living in poverty, with a deliberate focus on women’s economic power, climate resilience, or both. Participation is free and the next cohort begins in January 2027.

Benefits & funding

  • 180 hours of executive mentoring, delivered by two mentors drawn from a network of more than 500 executives.
  • A mentor-guided curriculum customised to the enterprise, building a long-range impact strategy, a business plan and a funding pitch.
  • Leadership coaching alongside the business work.
  • Six months of structured support, fully virtual, built around weekly one-hour mentor calls.
  • No participation fee.
  • Graduates join Miller Center’s entrepreneur network; Miller Center Capital offers debt financing to enterprises that have come through its programmes.

Eligibility

  • The applicant is a senior leader of the enterprise, such as chief executive, executive director or managing director.
  • Fluent in English or Spanish.
  • Consistent internet access and working proficiency in Excel.
  • Able to commit for the full six months: a weekly one-hour mentor call plus a few hours of work each week.
  • The enterprise works for the benefit of people living in poverty and addresses at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal.
  • The enterprise intentionally supports women’s economic power, climate resilience, or the intersection of the two, and intends to scale well beyond its current operations.
  • Operating for at least one year and already delivering products or services to customers.
  • At least USD 50,000 (or the local-currency equivalent) in annual earned income, and not wholly dependent on grants or donations.
  • A working financial model forecasting cash flow, balance sheet and income statement.
  • At least three full-time staff or the equivalent, and at least three months of cash runway.
  • No nationality or country requirement for the main accelerator; some of Miller Center’s separate programmes are limited to specific countries.

Can you apply?

Open to all applicants

No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.

We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.

Application process

  1. 1
    Check the leader and enterprise criteria published on the programme page.
  2. 2
    Complete the online application form; applications submitted by 31 August 2026 are reviewed in the early round.
  3. 3
    Early-round applicants receive a decision in late September 2026.
  4. 4
    Remaining applications close on 16 October 2026.
  5. 5
    All applicants are notified by 20 November 2026, and the selected cohort starts in January 2027.

Program timeline

  1. Early application deadline

    August 31, 2026

  2. Early decisions announced

    Late September 2026

  3. Regular application deadline

    October 16, 2026

  4. All applicants notified

    November 20, 2026

  5. Cohort begins its six months

    January 2027