W.E. Build Business Accelerator Program

W.E. Build is a performance-driven, full-time business accelerator program organized by Build in Tulsa, a nonprofit initiative aimed at fostering Black entrepreneurship and creating equitable ecosystems for business founders with limited access to funding and networks. The program is specifically designed for women entrepreneurs who are already generating revenue and are poised for business growth. It is structured to help these founders develop actionable growth strategies while receiving personal and professional development support. The W.E. Build accelerator is hosted in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and spans a 12-week period from September 2 to November 20, 2026. Each cohort includes up to 10 companies that are in either the emerging or strong product-market fit stage. The program’s goal is to facilitate a 25% revenue growth for participating ventures through customized strategy development, rigorous business training, and operational improvements. The focus is on practical skill-building in areas such as sales generation, ideal customer identification, financial optimization, and repeatable system development. Participants in the program receive a non-dilutive $25,000 business award, meaning they do not need to give up equity in their company to participate. In addition to this financial support, founders benefit from coworking space, conference room access, laptops, connectivity resources, and training in financial modeling. There is also support in the form of housing, childcare, and healthcare stipends, as well as access to mental health counseling and an Entrepreneur-in-Residence for one-on-one mentorship. The program requires that all participating founders be U.S.-based legal entities structured as LLCs, S-Corps, or C-Corps, operating in the tech, tech-enabled, or consumer packaged goods (CPG) space. Participants must also commit to a full-time presence in Tulsa for the duration of the program, with an expected 40-hour work week. While temporary weekend travel is permitted, the program emphasizes the importance of engaging deeply with Tulsa’s entrepreneurial community to maximize the benefits of the accelerator. Applications are currently open and will close on April 10, 2026. There are no stated pre-application requirements such as letters of intent or concept papers. Applications are submitted via the Build in Tulsa platform, though specific submission mechanics such as required upload components or evaluation metrics are not detailed in the source. The program does not accept simultaneous participation in other accelerators, as the time commitment and focus required are considered substantial. Though Build in Tulsa does not take equity in participating ventures, it expects full engagement from its selected founders. The organization does not provide direct housing, but does offer a $1,000 per month housing stipend during the program. The emphasis on scalable businesses and a clear growth mandate, combined with personal and logistical support, positions W.E. Build as a high-impact program for women entrepreneurs ready to scale.

Founders should immerse themselves in Tulsa and dedicate full-time presence to maximize benefit.