Seed Funding
SPARK Your DREAMS
WE ARE CURRENTLY OFFERING $1.5 MILLION
FOR IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEURS IN CALIFORNIA THROUGH OUR SEED INITIATIVE
Grant Count
Total Money Awarded
SEED Eligibility
Through the SEED initiative, we are offering funding to California residents who are starting or growing a business in California.
SEED applicants must identify with one of the following:
-Non U.S. citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders). This includes undocumented individuals, and individuals who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
-Limited English proficiency, regardless of immigration or citizenship status.
We will consider applications for businesses that address a variety of needs, target diverse populations, and employ different strategies. We will also consider new business ideas that include a detailed business plan and budget. Applicants can engage in any of the following types of business: a sole proprietor, independent contractor, 1099 employee, C-corporation, S-corporation, cooperative, limited liability company, partnership, or limited partnership.
Read our SEED FAQs to learn more.
We offer two different types of one-time, non-renewable grants:
Developing Business Owner Grants ($5,000): Grants to individuals starting or growing a business with annual gross business revenue less than $100,000 in the 2021 or 2022 taxable year.
Mature Business Owner Grants ($10,000): Grants to individuals growing a business with annual gross business revenue more than $100,000 up to $1,000,000 in the 2022 taxable year.
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Key Dates:
May 08, 2023 Priority Deadline
May 15, 2023 Complete Spark Entrepreneurship Curriculum by 11:59 pm (Updated)
May 19, 2023 Submit Application by 5:00 pm (Updated)
September 5, 2023 Notification of award (tentative)
September 30, 2023 Disbursement of funds to selected grantees (tentative)
November 30, 2023 Deadline to spend funds and submit evidence (tentative)
Phase 1
Before applicants are considered to move to Phase 2 of the application process, the SEED team will conduct an in-depth review of the business plan, budget and grant application to assess if eligibility criteria was met. The neutral grant selection committee will then carefully review the grant application materials to assess the viability and sustainability of the business, as well as readiness to launch or scale a business.
Create an Account
1. Create an account (The deadline to Enroll and Complete the Curriculum is Past - Due - NO New Accounts are being created at the moment) Â
There are 2 steps to this process:
- Create your login information. Take note of your email address and make sure the same one is being used for anything Spark related.
- Register for the training. This 3-minute form simply asks for demographic information for data tracking purposes.
Enroll in the Spark Entrepreneurship Course
2. Once the account has been created you will receive an email with a link to the Curriculum for you to start.Â
Graduate from the Spark Entrepreneurship Course
3. Graduate from the Spark Entrepreneurship Course. Submit the Business Quiz in Course 6 of the Entrepreneurship Course and receive your Certificate.
Wait between 2 - 3 days to receive a response from one of our Entrepreneurship Specialists with feedback on your business quiz.
If your business quiz is approved you will receive a link to the grant application. If your business plan is not approved you will be asked to retake it.
Complete the SEED GrantApplication (Due May 15th)
- 4. You will need to provide:
- Information about your business or business idea
- A detailed grant budget
- You will be asked to upload:
- A copy of your ID that shows proof of residence in California
- A financial statement of your existing business (if you have one)
**If all eligibility requirements have been met.
Phase 2
Participate in a SEED grant orientation
During this orientation you will learn how the spend the SEED fund appropriately and how to complete the reporting requirements for the state of California
Complete a detailed Expense Report
This report will outline in detail how you plan to use the SEED funds if awarded
Phase 3
Award Stage
SEED funding is provided by the state of California and funds must be used to start or grow a business. With that in mind, we have the following expectations for selected SEED grantees:
- Grantees will be required to spend the funds according to the terms outlined in the Grant Award Letter
- Grantees will complete a detailed expense form and provide receipts for the use of funds
- Grantees will participate in program evaluation and data collection as requested by Immigrants Rising
- Grantees will participate in learning and reflection sessions that will provide valuable opportunities to upskill and network among grantees
Get Inspired
Entrepreneurship is a possibility for anyone! Meet immigrant entrepreneurs across the country who are fulfilling their dreams.
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There are going to be some tough questions we are all going to have to answer on our journeys, but stepping out of the comfort zone is part of this.
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My entrepreneurship was born out of two things: necessity — because I couldn’t get hired and needed to do something on my own — and passion for my art.
Cris Mercado
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Growing a business gave me what status took away for so long: Financial security, a decent place to live, and a sense that my talent is treasured. Entrepreneurship became my empowerment, and I’m one of many examples that being paperless does not mean you’re powerless.
DJ Sizzle
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As undocumented immigrants, many of us have inherited the entrepreneurial spirit often times, not by choice but out of necessity. The art of the #UndocuHustle is being able to recognize the value in opportunities where others do not.
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There will always be obstacles. The moment we overcome an obstacle, another awaits. Reconciling this truth early, creates opportunities to solve problems before they arise. This is us and this is how we live everyday. Might as well make money doing it.
Eun-Jeong Park
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As a newly single mom, I needed to find a job where I could work remotely from home while taking care of my daughter. After contemplating my limited options, I started my online accessory store. I was overwhelmed at first because I had to manage my business from beginning to end all by myself. But now, I feel empowered because there are people who love my accessories. I hope my business grows, so that I can hire people who share my passion.
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I knew that if I ever had an opportunity, like this one, to connect with an organization that cared about mobile vendors I would be first in line to support my people. We still face discrimination, but we know our rights now. We know we deserve dignity and respect.
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Before we started the program we didn't know we could start our own business with an ITIN. The program was a perfect fit because we were looking to take the next steps to establish our business.
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Being an undocumented entrepreneur presents a lot of challenges and barriers to access. However, there are also many different workarounds and ways to be able to live and sustain yourself. I hope that my experience will help others take those steps.
Kai Martin
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The drive and the hustle just became natural to me. I was determined never to sit still and never say I couldn't do it, because I know I can always find something to do.
Luis Quiroz
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Success is much more than money. Success means you accomplished something you set out to do. You can’t necessarily put a dollar figure on success, and doing so is a disservice to your daily accomplishments.
Marcos Nieves
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La Producción started as a vision for a production company run by undocumented filmmakers. Now, we are bringing on even more undocumented creatives to play key roles in our projects.
Maria Mendez
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Now I say I'm an entrepreneur, because that's what I am.
Norma Castañeda
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As immigrants we’ve been resilient our whole lives and that creates persistence that we bring along with us to the business world. You bring that resilience from your immigration status, and you have the mentality that, yes, I can do it. It’s going to take a while, but it’s possible.
Reyna & Ofelia
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My mom is my business partner, being migrant entrepreneurs means fully trusting our vision and gifts that we provide to our community. Through our work, we honor and celebrate women cooks like my mother, brown, Indigenous and chingonas who migrate with knowledge and recipes. Being a business owner and having access to resources in a country that denies us from our existence is an everyday reality in the kitchen for us. Our patrons who find joy, healing and nourishment in our traditional dishes give us our strength to thrive.
Reyna Montoya
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I truly believe it takes a village to create change, yet it also takes vision, heart, and hustle to transform an idea into a reality. Social entrepreneurship has allowed me to heal and create my own journey regardless of my immigration status. I deeply believe our undocumented and mixed status community can be the storytellers and strategists of our own lives.
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Use your story as a weapon to conquer the world.