Small Business Accelerator Opportunities for Direct Marketers

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There are 2 business development opportunities for direct marketers hosted by the Local Catch Network.

#1 SAIL Catalyst: This is a reminder that the Local Catch Network is accepting applications for the 2025 Seafood Accelerator and Innovation Lab (SAIL) Catalyst program. SAIL Catalyst is a virtual capacity-building and business development program for U.S. based small to mid-scale seafood businesses participating in direct marketing. 

The program is designed to cultivate a thriving cohort of fishing businesses across the United States. Catalyst participants will receive dedicated, customized business support from service providers who understand the unique needs of smaller-scale seafood producers and harvesters. Program sessions include instruction from experts on subjects such as business structure, taxation, accounting, credit, market development, and more. Weekly virtual training sessions are scheduled from  Feb. 4 - April, 22, 2025 with programming occurring on Tue. & Thu. from 2:00 - 3:30pm ET.  The application process is competitive.  Catalyst typically receives around 40 applications per program cycle with approximately 15 of those businesses selected to join the cohort. 

Interested in becoming a SAIL Catalyst Participant? Please complete the program application by December 15, 2024.  

Want to learn more about Scale Your Local Catch? Register here for the SAIL Catalyst information session on December 5th @ 2:00 pm ET. 

 Application & Program Timeline:

  • November 2 - Application period opens

  • December 5 - SAIL Catalyst info. Session at 2:00pm ET..  This is an opportunity to hear directly from the Catalyst organizers, learn more about the program, and ask questions. A registration link will be made available on the Community Discussions page.

  • December 15 - Application deadline

  • January 13 - Applicants are notified of their application status 

  • February 4, 2025 – April 22, 2025  - Virtual training sessions held every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:00pm - 3:30pm (Eastern Time)

  • November 2025 - In-person gathering at the 2025 Local Seafood Summit (costs covered for cohort)

If you have any questions about the program visit the Local Catch Network website for more details or contact Laughton Elliott-Deangelis  (info@localcatch.org) or Tyson Rasor (trasor@ecotrust.org). 

#2 SAIL Mentorship is a program that focuses on building the capacity and resilience of participating seafood businesses through peer-to-peer mentorship. Mentees not only receive coaching on the operational, finance, marketing, and HR components of their businesses, they also benefit from building their capacity to perform strategic planning, goal setting, and assessment. The 1-year program includes an initial business assessment, an in-person site visit, bi-weekly mentor meetings, quarterly check-ins, and an annual review. This years recipients will also have the opportunity to attend our 2025 Local Seafood Summit!  

Interested in joining the SAIL Mentorship Program? Please complete the program application by January 8, 2025.  

Application & Program Timeline:

  • November 8 - Application period opens

  • January 8 - Application deadline

  • mid-January - Applicants are notified of their application status 

  • March 2025   - Initial in-person site visits are conducted 

  • April 2025 - March 2026 - Bi-weekly mentor sessions / quarterly reviews