EforAll adds Spanish language pitch competition

LONGMONT — Longmont Entrepreneurship for All, a non-profit organization that provides resources and education to small business owners, is expanding its services for Spanish-speakers.

The effort is called EparaTodos, which translates to EforAll in English. EforAll is a twice-a-year accelerator program and pitch contest; it will be replicated with Spanish-speaking mentors. Its first Spanish-language pitch contest is slated for Oct. 22, and applications are open until Oct. 9. The accelerator is accepting applications until Nov. 9 and will begin in early 2021.

“We want to make sure that we’re looking at entrepreneurship through an equity lens,”  said Harris Rollinger, executive director for EforAll Longmont. “And one of the ways to ensure that we’re reaching our goals, and that we’re providing equal opportunity and advancing equity, is to make sure that we’re knocking down language barriers.” 

The Massachusetts-based organization’s mission is to invest in entrepreneurs in underserved and overlooked communities, he said. It has eight chapters, or communities, including Longmont.

The Longmont community, which opened in April 2019, is its first expansion outside of Massachusetts. EforAll chose the city because it’s close to Boulder and Denver but doesn’t have as concentrated investments in new businesses, Rollinger said.

A driving factor for implementing EParaTodo in Longmont is because of its Hispanic and LatinX population, Rollinger said. According to the 2019 U.S. Census Bureau, about a quarter of Longmont’s population is Latino or Hispanic.

The program is funded in part by a $150,000 donation from the Katz Amsterdam Charitable Trust and Foundation. The foundation is founded by Rob Katz, Vail Resorts Inc. CEO, and Elana Amsterdam, a wellness cooking author and founder of Elana’s Pantry.

Rollinger said that some of Vail Resorts staff plan to mentor in the accelerator program.

The Latino Chamber of Boulder County, Longmont Economic Development Partnership and Community Foundation Serving Boulder County are also partnering with EforAll Longmont, Rollinger said.

Both the English and Spanish accelerators accept up to 15 businesses and nonprofits, with three volunteer mentors assigned to each one. Potentially needing up to 45 volunteers, EforAll is currently looking for more Spanish-speaking mentors.

The accelerator is a year-long program that provides free access to professional networking and business training. Each entrepreneur has the opportunity to win seed money each quarter.

Though EforAll works with businesses and non-profit organizations in different industries, its focus is on local service, food and retail businesses rather than tech startups. It trusts the Longmont and Boulder Valley residents to decide what businesses the community wants and needs, Rollinger said.

“I think that there’s a real spotlight being shined right now on small business and the role that it plays in not just job creation and helping people make money and live but also in terms of community fabric,” he said.

The EparaTodos pitch contest will be virtual this year. A team of volunteers will review applications and select six ideas to pitch at the event. Another entrepreneur will be picked by random to pitch, and another will be an audience-choice.

Rollinger said that all applicants will receive feedback, regardless of making it into the event or not.

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