MORTAR Entrepreneurship Academy

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About MORTAR

With a colorful, painful, diverse, and inspiring history, Akron has historically offered growth and opportunity for aspiring business owners and entrepreneurs for generations. As the center of African-American culture in Akron during the mid-20th century, Howard Street was home to many of the city’s black-owned businesses and entertainment establishments. This prominent business district provided an atmosphere of hope & prosperity in which minority-owned businesses could thrive.

Thanks to the city’s commitment to reproducing the successes of areas like Howard Street throughout the city, Akron is primed to foster a culture of equitable growth that drives the local economy. The “Rubber City” is bouncing back, and MORTAR is grateful for an opportunity to play a part in continuing to build the legacy of amazing Black-Owned businesses in the region.

Since 2025, Akron Urban League has partnered with our team to present the MORTAR Entrepreneurship Academy. This will be piloted in two 8-week cohort-based programs for local entrepreneurs who are ready to start or scale their enterprises, adding to the local economy, and the continued legacy of Black-Owned businesses in Akron, Ohio.

MORTAR Spotlight

Our Academy

The MORTAR Entrepreneurship Academy in Akron is an eight-week course designed for those who are starting or growing their businesses. It will challenge you. It will inspire you. It will force you to confront your limitations and help you identify and develop your strengths. You will be exposed to new information and you will be reminded of what you already know. You will be asked to work hard inside and outside of class. You will be asked to think abstractly; to imagine something that does not yet exist. You will be asked to think concretely; to work with data and information and to make decisions about your business. But most of all, you will be asked to make some REAL decisions. If at any point you decide that this entrepreneurial journey isn’t for you—come and talk to us. Chances are we can talk you off of the ledge;, but if you choose to walk away, understand that everything you’ve learned will still help you on your journey to wherever you’re headed.

Program Flow

Before taking flight, even before stepping onto the plane, a pilot consults her preflight checklist. This is to ensure that when she’s soaring 30,000 feet above the clouds, nothing surprises her, nothing throws her off her course. Read below to get a taste of a typical class and the week-by-week outline.

Elements of a MORTAR Entrepreneurship Academy Session
 

  • Meets Weekly For Three Hours
  • ‘Putting In Work’ Outside Of Class
  • Guest Speakers
  • Weekly Meetings With Mentors
  • Activities
  • Videos
  • Reflection
  • Celebrating Success And Learning From Failure
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Week By Week

  • Orientation:

    Get your books, meet your facilitators, connect with your peers in the cohort, and familiarize yourself with the structure and expectations for the upcoming classes.

  • Weeks 1-2 : Foundations

    The first part of the MASTERS curriculum focuses on setting a strong foundation for you as an entrepreneur, helping you understand yourself, your current situation, and your readiness to pursue your business goals.

  • Weeks 3-4 : The Core

    We delve into the essential technical aspects of launching or expanding a business, focusing on what we call The CORE - This phase explores key business fundamentals: Branding and Networking, Sales and Distribution, Competitive Analysis, Cost Structure, and Storytelling.

  • Weeks 5-6 : Really Real

    Learn how to apply what has been learned in this course to real-life situations.

  • Weeks 7-8 : Beyond Mortar Entrepreneurial Academy

    Exploring life beyond this course. Embracing the art of storytelling, crafting compelling pitches, and forging ahead with goal-setting and planning for the future.

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