The Birmingham Business Alliance proudly announces Naila Jackson has been chosen for the inaugural cohort of the Make Startups Executive Fellowship (MSEF) Program, as one of 18 esteemed individuals selected nationwide from startup ecosystems. This exclusive initiative is aimed at elevating the impact potential and operational capacity of entrepreneurship support, ecosystem building and economic development organizations.
Seeded with a $50,000 grant from the Ecosystem Builder Leadership Network (EBLN) Field Advancement Fund awarded in November 2023, the Make Startups Executive Fellowship is a meticulously crafted six-month intensive program. It is designed to empower selected executives in their respective fields through two in-person immersions, bi-weekly online training sessions, one-on-one advising, peer coaching and local field-building initiatives.
The Make Startups Executive Fellowship Program proudly welcomes its select group of seasoned leaders, including Alabama's own Naila Jackson, representing a diverse array of states such as Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. These individuals are recognized for their considerable expertise—each possessing a minimum of five years in entrepreneurship development, a proven commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship and a shared vision for lasting economic impact. The fellowship, at its core, seeks to empower fellows with the know-how to leverage Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding, ensuring entrepreneurs within their communities have robust support.
“Naila’s participation reflects our commitment to fostering local entrepreneurial excellence and driving innovation within the Greater Birmingham Region.”
Participants will benefit from comprehensive training, technical resources and access to the CoFounderOS technology platform provided by Make Startups, fostering an environment where measurement and evaluation of program impact on the local economy is seamlessly integrated. Furthermore, the fellowship is designed to hone fellows' abilities to champion entrepreneurial-friendly policies across various governance levels.
Key areas of focus for the fellowship include sustainable ecosystem building, inclusive entrepreneurial training, highlighting the importance of creating entrepreneurial opportunities for historically disadvantaged and underrepresented communities; and long-term economic impact, with an eye toward fostering job creation, inclusive growth and generational wealth via entrepreneurship training that leads to tangible business success.
“Naila's participation reflects our commitment to fostering local entrepreneurial excellence and driving innovation within the Greater Birmingham Region,” said Steve Ammons, BBA’s President and CEO. "Her involvement is a part of BBA’s dedication to nurturing a robust small business ecosystem, which is fundamental to our region's economic vitality and growth."
In a national release, Grace Belangia, co-founder of Make Startups, expressed her enthusiasm for the program launch, saying, "We are confident this initiative will equip leaders in our field with the tools and resources they need to make a lasting impact for entrepreneurs and their local ecosystems. We are truly excited to launch the Make Startups Executive Fellowship (MSEF) program this spring with plans to scale in the fall of 2024, and we are deeply grateful to both EBLN and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation for their generous support."
About Make Startups:
Make Startups is a dynamic organization committed to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. Through a range of programs and initiatives, Make Startups empowers startups, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem builders to succeed, innovate and contribute to economic growth. To learn more, visit https://www.makestartups.com