The Entrepreneurial Initiative in New York

This week I have been researching organizations around the world that offer discipleship to Christians in business. This has been an exciting process as I discover the work of many faithful people in educating and encouraging business people. I'm going to share about a few very interesting initiatives. Today I will write about the Entrepreneurial Initiative.

The Center for Faith & Work (CFW) was launched in January 2003 by Redeemer Church to mobilize Christians to make a difference for Christ in the marketplace. In April 2005, CFW launched the Entrepreneurship Initiative (Ei), which gathers investors and entrepreneurs interested in helping to start hundreds of gospel-centered organizations (arts, for-profit and non-profit ventures) in and around New York City that would bring the hope of the gospel to all sectors of society. The Ei includes four main aspects: the Ei Network, an Entrepreneurs Fellowship, an annual Forum, and a Business Plan Competition.

The Ei Network is a network of people with skills and experience to mentor, partner, and consult with entrepreneurs. This network is made up of entrepreneurs and experienced business professionals with expertise such as strategy development, business development, finance, marketing & advertising, technology, and law.

The Entrepreneurs Fellowship is a monthly gathering that connects new and experienced entrepreneurs to inspire and support each other. It seeks to help entrepreneurs develop a Christian worldview that guides the products, services, and values of their organizations, and address the challenges and rewards of being an entrepreneur committed to using their venture to transform their city.

The Ei Forum is an annual gathering of investors and entrepreneurs committed to building a movement of innovative, gospel-centered, culture-renewing institutions and ventures. It draws people from churches around the country.

The annual Business Plan Competition, started in 2007, hopes to identify the most promising entrepreneurs and ventures with a high potential for gospel-centered social impact, growth, and sustainability, and provide them with some of the visibility, connections, and resources for them to succeed. The Business Plan Competition seeks to 1) Encourage the development of gospel-centered businesses, social/public services and art ventures, 2) Deepen a Christian theology of entrepreneurship, and 3) Develop a movement of like-minded entrepreneurs and collaborative supporting networks.

Participants in the competition participate in workshops where staff and marketplace leaders work with them to improve their venture idea and their understanding of gospel entrepreneurship. They build relationships with other entrants, entrepreneurs, prospective coaches and advisors in the broader Christian community. The finalists have the opportunity to “pitch” their venture to a panel of judges and an audience of prospective supporters and investors. The winners are announced at the annual Ei Forum and are eligible for “incubation” with CFW staff and volunteers, year-long coaching relationships, free consulting sessions, financial planning advice, and a financial grant or investment of $5,000 to $25,000. The entire process lasts 8 months. In 2010-2011, there were 48 business plans submitted for the Business Plan Competition and 4 winners chosen.

The advantage of the Ei and CFW being connected to Redeemer Church is that the church can provide a solid Biblical foundation for the role of entrepreneurs in cultural renewal and God-glorifying approaches to leadership, serving customers, and benefiting society. Redeemer Church also provides a wide network amongst its 5,000 members in New York and its international reach to be involved in the Ei. For more information about CFW’s Entrepreneurial Initiative, see their video (http://vimeo.com/3765126) or visit www.faithandwork.org.


Would you like to see something like the Entrepreneurial Initiative start up in your city? If so, why?