UpLift Cohort B 2025 | Eligibility Screen

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Thank you for your interest in applying to UpLift: Cohort B 2025. 

UpStart aspires to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem that embodies and drives toward greater diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.  Our commitment to diversity in programming can be found here.

Eligibility Screen Information: 

Eligibility Screen Close: Monday, August 11 at 11:59 PM PT

Information Session: Tuesday, July 29 at 2:00 PM ET. Register here.

Program Information: Access program dates, fees and an overview of the program on our website.

UpStart is committed to being fully inclusive in our process. Please see below for instructions on how to submit video messages in place of written responses. Any further accommodation requests can be sent to accessibility@upstartlab.org.


To prepare for this eligibility screen:

    1. Set aside approximately 1-1.5 hours to complete this screen. Our intention is for you to use documents that you already have. We do not expect you to create new documents for this process.
    2. Review the venture eligibility criteria to better understand how your submission will be reviewed.
    3. Preview the eligibility screen questions.
    4. Video submissions are allowed in place of any long-form written response. To submit a video:
      1. Record Your Video: Use any platform of your choice to record your response (e.g., Vimeo, Zoom, Google Meet).
      2. Save and Share: Save the video in a way that it can be accessed via a URL by someone outside of your organization.
      3. Paste the URL: Insert the link to your video directly into the corresponding text box for your answer.
      4. For technical support saving and/or sharing videos as a URL, please contact Allison Diamond, Data Manager.
Contact Information
Program Participation
Question #1: Venture Background
In order to help UpStart better understand your work, please share any of the following that your venture has articulated.  

Note: These statements are not being evaluated.  They merely provide background towards the work that you do and how you contribute to the Jewish community.  If you do not have one of these statements prepared, do not feel the need to draft one.



Question #2 and #3: UpStarter Network Alignment
UpStart has hypothesized that a “thriving Jewish community” exhibits the characteristics outlined in this framework. When it comes to investing in ideas that support our goal of working towards a Thriving Jewish Community, we seek those who attempt to fill gaps in their communities related to this framework. No venture is expected to work towards all nine practices listed in the framework, however, UpStart values work that attempts to fill community gaps in ways that others do not. The practices are meant to be expansive enough that any organization can see itself and articulate how its work lives on this list Since acceptance into this program also grants access to the UpStarter Network, the questions below help UpStart assess a venture's contribution to its community and, more specifically, whether the venture is viable for ongoing support from the UpStarter Network. NOTE: If your venture is an existing UpStarter Network member you will bypass this section of the eligibility screen. If you are unsure if your venture is an existing Network member, please reach out to programs@upstartlab.org.
Question #2
In reviewing the nine practices listed in the framework, identify the two (2) that your work most strategically seeks to support in your community. In a response of 250-300 words, or through a video of 1.5-2 minutes, please describe: a. The gap that exists in that area of practice, specifically for your community. b. The distinct role your venture plays, or the distinct way that your venture aims to fill that gap.


Evaluation Criteria: (For each selected practice)
  • Venture provides at least one (1) concrete example of what is missing within their community, related to the chosen practice
  • Venture provides concrete examples of their offerings and role within the community, related to that practice
  • Venture articulates how their contributions are additive and necessary in addressing a gap
Question #3

Evaluation Criteria:
  • Venture provides at least two (2) concrete, meaningful examples of practices they take to ensure that they are creating an inclusive and welcoming environment.
  • Venture articulates the positive impact these practices have on their community members.
Definitions:

Belonging: A feeling, a sense, an affinity toward a place or group of people. When one has a sense of security, support, acceptance and a part of flourishing Jewish communities that are engaged, educated, welcoming, inclusive, safe, active, healthy, caring and connected. In order for people to feel like they belong, the environment (in this case the workplace) needs to be set up to be an equitable, diverse and inclusive place.


Inclusion: the intentional, ongoing effort to ensure that every individual from all backgrounds is able to fully participate in all aspects of a community or workplace. Inclusion does not mean to be welcoming but to ensure that decisions are not made on behalf of groups without the representation of those groups at the table making the decisions together. Inclusivity and loving those who are different from you is the 431st of the 613 commandments. Ahavat HaGer, Loving those who are different from you! And a biblical mandate to be One nation under God, that no person should be a god over others, and to Love your neighbor like yourself (Leviticus)
Question #4: Value/Growth Strategy
Please articulate and share evidence of your value proposition (ie: what’s unique about what you provide). 


You may upload up to 2 separate attachments in the form of PDFs. Add additional files by  clicking "Add another response" below.
At Early Stage, UpStart understands the following to be true:
  • Venture has at least 1 form of evidence indicating they have checked their understanding of value with their constituents
  • Venture has an awareness of others in the field with similar or related offerings
Question #5: Impact/Needs of the Audience
Please share evidence indicating how you know that what you offer is meeting a community need.

You may upload up to 2 separate attachments in the form of PDFs. Add additional files by  clicking "Add another response" below.
At Early Stage, UpStart understands the following to be true:
  • The venture is beginning to articulate the importance of regularly examining community needs for the sake of evaluating its impact
  • The venture is preparing to use basic surveys to understand the satisfaction of participants
Question #6: Revenue Model
Please share evidence that your venture is at or nearing financial stability for early stage. (See stage criteria below for an explanation of Early Stage financial stability.) a. Fill in the following fields:
Numerical amount only, no symbols
Numerical amount only, no symbols
Numerical amount only, no symbols
Numerical amount only, no symbols

You may upload up to 3 separate attachments in the form of PDFs. Add additional files by  clicking "Add another response" below.
At Early Stage, UpStart understands the following to be true:
  • The venture has received its first grant/contract at an amount that can enable it to grow programs and/or plan for the future.
  • The venture can cover expenses for one full offering cycle, or nearly one full offering cycle, through a combination of the following:
    • Cash reserves
    • Revenue
    • List of grants/contracts signed or secured
Question #7: Team/Leadership (1/2)
Please share evidence that your venture has sufficient people and leadership to support the work at this stage. a. Fill out the following:
Full-Time Staff Member

You may upload up to 2 separate attachments in the form of PDFs. Add additional files by  clicking "Add another response" below.
At Early Stage, UpStart understands the following to be true:
  • The venture leader takes on a significant portion of the work to move the venture forward
  • The venture has more than one staff person doing the work of the organization
    • Staff do not have to be full-time
  • The venture staff hold responsibilities across multiple functions of the work

Question #8: Team/Leadership (2/2)

At Early Stage, UpStart understands the following to be true:
  • The venture is considering developing an official board or advisory board
  • The venture has some grouping of people who are “advising” the work
Question #9
Venture Information
The following questions ask about your venture. This helps us to understand whether our programs and events are effective for our venture audience.
Venture Headquarters
If your venture has multiple satellite locations, please select where your headquarters are located.

Example: USA
Example: Midwest
Example: Illinois
Example: Chicago, Illinois



Individual Information

This section asks some questions about you personally. This helps us to understand whether our programs and events are effective for all participants.

Identity
Completion of this section is optional and does not impact our decision on your selection. We use this information to understand whether our programs and events are effective for all participants (and to understand and plan when our programming falls short). This information will be confidential and used for general reporting purposes without identifying individual responses.



Geography
UpStart would like to understand whether you are located in the same place as your venture headquarters. Please fill out the following based on your home location.
Professional Information

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