Short Summary

Everyone deserves the opportunity to survive and grow, regardless of COVID-19 or inequitable access to resources.

MAKEHERS is a program empowering women in small business disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 in Sacramento through direct investment and advancing their entrepreneurial skills. By chipping in to our 60-day women's small business accelerator with direct funding, you can help directly support the growth of women-owned small businesses in #Sacramento.
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"Women have been particularly hard hit during the pandemic," said program manager Gina Lujan. "There has been so much focus on high-growth startups that we have lost sight of the micro-businesses in our region."

Nationally, 30% of women-owned businesses closed during the pandemic as compared with 17% of men owned businesses. MAKEHERS will empower, guide, and mentor underserved women entrepreneurs with holistic support through the ideation and seed stages of their endeavors.

Through this program, our team is offering direct resources to women entrepreneurs through seed funding, emergency funds and direct support that help women overcome the obstacles they are facing.
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#SacramentoProud #SmallBusinessSacramento

Why we're asking for your help

Hi there, my name is Gina Lujan and I was 21 when I first started my own business out of necessity. I was a young mom, Latina and had to hustle. I know the struggle facing women-owned business owners because I am one. So when the pandemic hit, my heart went to the mothers (and women) called home from the workplace who wanted to start or had to close their own business but were hampered by the global pandemic facing all of us.

• Many small business owners have closed down due to the coronavirus. Women entrepreneurs, in particular, have faced an economic disaster. 
• Individuals also lost their pre-pandemic jobs. Micro-businesses are popping up as an alternative to a 9-5, with many earning a living making at home or reselling on Etsy and Facebook Marketplace. 
• It was an answer and a solution to find a side-hustle. Now we need to help those intrepid entrepreneurs flourish and survive through this crisis.
• By supporting small business, invest in yourself by receiving access to our exclusive perks and partnerships. Donate to women and take classes, or give a membership to a friend.

In addition, small businesses owners have had to pivot due to the crisis. This program also serves them: Supporting women in their business venture, or supporting women who have been forced to reinvent themselves. 

What We Need & What You Get

We need $15,000 for need-based incidentals (from bus passes to laptops) that are roadblocks for women entrepreneurs to support women entrepreneurs fully and holistically.

The MAKEHERS first cohort is already funded to serve 15 people with a $1,000 no strings seed investment for successful participants.

Supporters of the MAKEHERS program will be investing in rebuilding our economy. They will support local small businesses and help re-solidify the American dream for many and come back from one of worst recessions in our country's history equitably and fairly.

In addition, supporters will receive access to:

• Stickers, bags, T-shirts, mugs and other merchandise;
• Inspiring updates on the entrepreneurs' success;
• An opportunity to attend MAKEHERS events and pitch nights;
• Gift Hacker Lab classes and memberships;

Women entrepreneurs in the MAKEHERS program will receive as participants:

• 60-day program offering a holistic business startup curriculum, tech fundamentals for business, marketing and ways to grow during the pandemic;
• Mentorship and peer resources, including wellness and healing circles; 
• Access to shared 24/7 community workspace at Hacker Lab;
• Seed-funding upon successful graduation;
• Access to classes, workshops, tool and equipment at Hacker Lab;
• Navigation to community resources,

This program is already partially funded, so future funds will go to supporting the women, a larger emergency relief fund and future cohorts.

The Impact

3 million women have left the workforce due to the coronavirus.  (since COVID)

Over the past 9 years, at Hacker Lab we've served many of the people facing this crisis. As a community makerspace and workforce development incubator, we've personally mentored thousands of startups in the Sacramento region. 

During the pandemic, our team has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs through direct mentorship with the Sacramento Inclusive Economic Development Center.

Over the past year, we've built capacity through our Pathways program, which offers 8-months of access to our space to ambitious entrepreneurs from underserved communities. In our first pilot program, we helped 43 of 57 participants towards their goals of entering a new field, starting a new business or furthering an existing one, or attending higher education. 

We've found that if you give people the opportunity, they will return the investment tenfold. We've seen people make transformative change in their careers, education and small businesses, launching micro-businesses during the pandemic, learning to code, starting small businesses and selling their first $1,000 of products; and more.

Risks & Challenges

Our hurdles and challenges are that we must meet every entrepreneur where they are at. We may not have all the tools they need to succeed. They will be in different phases. Meeting them where they are at and having enough funds to help them is our core challenge.

However, through giving them access to our tools, as well as our extensive network of government, education and job-industry partners and experts, we are confident we can provide significant support — the seed and soil these entrepreneurs need, today. 

That's why we are pursuing a small-dollar donation campaign, by the people of Sacramento, to help our neighbors who have been hurt disproportionately by the pandemic. 

The more support you can give, the more aid we can provide to these participants.

(supporting also helps with recovery of our economy) (rebuilding and investing) (rebuild Sacramento)

Other Ways You Can Help

Can you help share this campaign with someone who would support it? Let's help women entrepreneurs who need it. 

Please use the Indiegogo share tools to help us make some noise!