Building Communities One Business at a Time

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The ACE Program empowers early-stage entrepreneurs who have faced barriers to opportunity or access—particularly those from historically underrepresented or economically disadvantaged backgrounds—to gain the skills, confidence, and connections needed to grow strong, sustainable businesses.

Through a collaboration between the ÁñÁ«»ÆÊÓÆµ Michael J. Coles College of Business and MUST Ministries, ACE uses entrepreneurship as a pathway to economic mobility, helping individuals transform ideas into thriving ventures that strengthen families and communities.

As a partner of the Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (UPBI) at the University of Notre Dame, ACE is connected to a national network of universities and nonprofits dedicated to advancing inclusive business growth and opportunity.

Every ACE participant shares one thing: a dream. Some are just starting out, others are ready to scale; ALL are driven to create lasting impact. The ACE Program nurtures that drive, offering the knowledge, mentorship, and community every entrepreneur needs to turn vision into reality.

 

ACE Programmatic Approach

The ACE Program is committed to supporting community entrepreneurs through a series of three phases:

The ACE Program is a $5,000-value experience offered to scholarship-eligible participants for just $50.

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Application Period: October 27, 2025 - November 15, 2025

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Contact Us

Dr. T Nichole Phillips
Program Director