Artisan Accelerator: A 360° Program For High-Potential Artisan Businesses
Nest has emerged as a preeminent accelerator of artisan businesses, helping high-potential social enterprises around the world scale their growth and impact.
Do you have questions about the application process? Click here for a list of our most frequently asked questions and answers.
Program Goals
Artisan Accelerator is an intensive 360° program providing high-potential businesses from the Nest Guild with the support they need to become vital players in the international marketplace for home and fashion design.
Each year, participating businesses receive a suite of targeted programming—from dedicated consulting services from Nest’s expert network to online and offline market access opportunities.
Since 2018, Artisan Accelerator has reached
360° Programming
Each year, participating businesses join a cohort of like-minded enterprises from around the world who receive targeted capacity building, 1:1 mentorship and consulting and market access opportunities. Through merchandising support, businesses are presented to Nest’s brand partners and also showcased on select digital commerce platforms.
Additionally, a select number of businesses in the program will participate in Nest’s Ethical Handcraft Program, and gain an opportunity to earn the Nest Seal of Ethical Handcraft.
Our Strategy
Since 2018, Artisan Accelerator has helped participating businesses increase their market access by 34% and generated over $1.4MM in new revenue, directly attributable to business’ participation in the program.
Businesses in Artisan Accelerator have outpaced global small businesses in revenue growth and sustainability. According to data from Goldfale Consulting, only 52% of small businesses saw growth in 2018 with 36% staying constant, compared to 70% of Artisan Accelerator businesses growing with 20% staying constant after their first year in the program.
The Nest Expert Network
Participants in Artisan Accelerator receive targeted pro-bono consultancies and mentorship from members of the Nest Expert Network. A trusted and skilled group of industry professionals, members of the Nest Expert Network volunteer their time and expertise to businesses in the Nest Guild, with a focus on those in Artisan Accelerator.
Businesses are matched with experts based on their specific needs which are identified through Nest’s Strategic Growth Assessment. Experts work closely with businesses remotely and on-site to advance key business objectives.
Meet the Nest Expert Network
What Participants Are Saying
“The Fellowship experience with Nest as an Artisan accelerator cohort member is game-changing! The access to expertise in particular aspects of the business that we were having trouble with allowed us to focus on solutions through re-education, discussion, and planning. The lessons are so numerous that I am still letting them marinate in my consciousness. For sure, these will influence the way I run my business and engage with customers and artisans alike in the next twenty years.”
Jennifer Lo
Managing Director
Larone Crafts
“All parts of the accelerator have been tremendously useful for us and our team. One example is the analysis and overhaul of our merchandising—filling gaps and creating a solid SKU system which allows us to monitor and analyze our sales and stock data much more closely—revealing many new insights such as what materials are less popular than we thought and which products really are our main cost and profit drivers.”
Bertram Flesch
Chief Operating Officer
SukkhaCitta
Impact
Accelerator News
