Words have the power to connect us.
Here are the words we use and what they mean to us. We’d like to hear the words you are using, too, and what they mean to you.
Accelerator – an accelerator is a program (online or in person) that helps businesses grow.
ATDC – The Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) is Georgia’s technology business incubator, helping entrepreneurs throughout the state. Located in Atlanta at Georgia Tech with programming around the state, the ATDC offers a unique blend of coaching, curriculum, community, and connections – not just to Georgia Tech and its resources, but also to capital and customers. ATDC helps Georgia startups at various stages navigate the choppy waters of taking an idea from concept to product prototype to launch and scale.
BIPOC -Black, Indigenous and People of Color.
BIPOC-BE – a business enterprise that is owned by Black, Indigenous or People of Color. We have described this type of business as a MBE, a minority business enterprise.
Businesses at all stages – we help BIPOC-owned business at all stages, from small to large, new to mature, in all kinds of industries. Our strengths include working with growth businesses, and those that are technology-enabled or technology-based.
Capacity building – this is phrase used by economic development professionals to describe helping a business by teaching skills or providing resources. “Give a man a fish and you f feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”)
Catalyst – a person who makes things happen.
City center – the center of a densely populated city. Some people say inner city, but we prefer city center. Under this program we are working in cities with a population of more than 150,000.
Community of practice – group of people who share a common concern, a set of problems, or an interest in a topic and who come together to fulfill both individual and group goals.
Co-working space – a space in which entrepreneurs or workers of different companies share an office space.
Ecosystem builder – a person who connects people and resources within a community or ecosystem to help it grow and thrive. Read more here.
Entrepreneurs – a person who is starting a new business or initiative, often with limited resources.
Entrepreneurship Support Organizations – ESOs include incubators, accelerators, co-working spaces, campus entrepreneurship centers, small business assistance centers and much more.
HBCU – a Historically Black College or University
Incubator – an incubator is a program (online or in person) that helps entrepreneurs start businesses.
MBDA – The U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is the only federal agency solely dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of minority business enterprises. This agency is the federal sponsor for this pilot program.
MBE – Minority Business Enterprise
MSI – a Minority Serving Institution, as defined by the U.S. Department of Education, is an institution of higher education enrolling populations with significant percentages of undergraduate minority students.
The region – This pilot program covers eight states, including Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
What other words should we include?