Get Ready. Stay Ready.
A high-touch financial accelerator that gets your business organized, funder-ready, and confident about its numbers.
we can help.
From financial confusion to funding-ready.
The Reach East Financial Accelerator is a four-month, high-touch program designed for entrepreneurs running real businesses, but who are not yet ready to pursue the funding they need.
Developed by The Exchange at Beverly Gray and The Foundry, the program pairs focused group instruction with twice-monthly one-on-one work with a financial consultant — organizing your records, making sense of your financial statements, addressing gaps that hold businesses back from funding, and preparing stronger grant and loan applications.
This isn’t a general financial-literacy class, a bookkeeping service, or a webinar you passively watch. It’s an accountability-based accelerator with a clear goal: move you from financially disorganized to funding-ready.
Gain marketing skills and the budget to use them, up to $5,000.
an honest look at where your business stands.
Is This Program For You?
The Reach East Financial Accelerator is built for entrepreneurs and small-business owners on Buffalo’s East Side who are already operating or actively developing a business but need intensive, individualized financial support. The Foundry prioritizes underserved business owners who have had limited access to one-on-one financial guidance.
You may be a strong fit if:
- Your business is located on Buffalo’s East Side, or is majority-owned by or services East Side residents, within the City of Buffalo
- You’re actively operating a business
- Your financial records, systems, or documentation are incomplete or disorganized
- You’ve been denied funding, or you know you’re not yet ready to apply
- You need to get organized before pursuing a grant, loan, or growth capital
- You’re ready to commit fully — attend every session, do the work, and share honestly about your finances (privately).
Minority/Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) status is not required for participation. This program isn’t for people who only want general information and can’t complete the required work.
ten seats. real accountability.
Ready to
Get To Work.
Each cohort is limited to 10 entrepreneurs — intentionally small, so every participant gets individualized guidance, document review, and real accountability. This program prioritizes depth and measurable progress over serving a crowd with light-touch instruction.
During each session, you will learn from local marketing experts. Upon completion, business owners will not only gain the insights and skills needed to grow their businesses but also secure up to $5,000 in funding to jumpstart their marketing strategies. Businesses must be able to commit to every session.
Tailored For Your business.
1. Learn from local marketing pros.
Every workshop will begin with a presentation on a key marketing/communications area of expertise.
2. Work with marketing specialists.
During break-out sessions, engage in independent work led by a matched marketing specialist who can assist you with your most pressing needs, from strategy, design, and content creation to digital communications, public relations, and multimedia.
3. Be guided by an industry mentor.
Support from a seasoned, dedicated industry mentor will be provided every step of the way—with a monthly meeting of the minds, outside of program workshops, to advance your initiatives.
Program Schedule.
Access multi-layered marketing support.
Access four months of structured financial support.
Program Format:
Orientation Date announced soon
Group Sessions: One group session near the end of each of the first three months. Dates announced soon.
- Individual Meetings — Two one-on-one meetings with your financial consultant each month, scheduled directly with you.
- Month 4 — Individualized application support and sustainability planning.
Closeout & Final Review Date announced soon
