2025 Dream Accelerator Program Application

ABOUT DREAM ACCELERATOR PROGRAM 

The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) is excited to announce that we will be accepting applications for the 2025 Dream Accelerator Program, starting April 14, 2025. 

The Dream Accelerator Program is a cohort-based training program for microbusinesses in Ward 7 and 8 culminating into the Dream Pitch Competition. The Dream Pitch Competition is an opportunity for participants to pitch their business to a panel of judges, showcasing the knowledge gained through the program resulting in a pitch award between $2000 to $7500.  Microbusinesses accepted into this competitive program will receive business development training across several topic areas, including:

• Business Pitch
• Financial Projections and Financial Management
• Marketing & Branding
• Peer Mentorship

Program eligible microbusinesses must have fewer than five (5) employees, the business must be located in Ward 7 or 8 and the applicant must be a Ward 7 or 8 resident owning 51% or more of the business. This program is only for For-Profit businesses. Applicants must be the business owner. Participants in the 2024 Dream Pitch Program who received a pitch award and selected participants in the 2024 We Aspire Program are not eligible.

See the entire OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS available for download on the DSLBD website at https://dslbd.dc.gov/dreampitch.

Applicants are encouraged to read the OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS entirely before applying.

HOW TO USE THIS APPLICATION SYSTEM

The Alchemer system is a survey application system DSLBD is using to collect applications for Dream Accelerator Program. 

Save and return. 
The system includes an option to save your application and return to it before you submit. Once you start on page 2 of the system, you will see the option to create a log in and save at the top of the screen.

Editing a submitted application.
For applicants who submit prior to a pre-eligibility review deadline as listed in the program OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS, the option to edit a submitted application will be possible through the confirmation of submission email. Applicants with required corrections to eligible will be sent a reminder of the instructions provided on the submission confirmation email.

Submitting multiple applications.
Applicants may submit multiple applications. Per the program OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS, DSLBD will reject all but the most recent submitted application if an applicant submits multiple applications.

QUESTIONS ABOUT DREAM ACCELERATOR PROGRAM 

Info Sessions: DSLBD is offering multiple information sessions to support applicants in understanding the Dream Accelerator Program process and the Official Instructions. This is also an opportunity to directly ask questions live. Register for an information session below: 

Thursday 11 am April 17, 2025 Virtual Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

Thursday April 24, 2025 In-person Ward 8 (location and link TBD)

Monday 1:30 pm April 28, 2025 Virtual Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

Thursday May 1, 2025 In-person Ward 7 (location and link TBD) 

DSLBD is not accepting questions via phone calls, please email inno.ed@dc.gov for program and/or application questions.  

PRE-ELIGIBILITY REVIEW PERIODS 

DSLBD will provide two (2) Pre-Eligibility Review Periods for applicants who complete eligibility documentation requirements by or before the published Pre-Eligibility Review deadlines. Applicants will receive a courtesy review on their eligibility for the Dream Accelerator Program on a rolling basis, however DSLBD will not provide determination of the applicant's competitive section responses.  

Tuesday April 24, 2025 at 2 pm eastern

Thursday May 8, 2025 at 2 pm eastern