Applications for Program Accepted September 14 through October 28 

ST. LOUIS (July 28, 2016) – Jewish Federation of St. Louis is launching a unique partnership with the global Jewish accelerator group PresenTense to form JFACE, a six-month St. Louis-based accelerator program that will target issues in the Jewish community.  JFACE, which stands for Jewish Federation of St. Louis Accelerating Community Entrepreneurs, seeks to assist social entrepreneurs with developing concepts or ventures for solving St. Louis Jewish community challenges. 

The program will kick off with an Idea Slam planned for September 14, and will accept applications September 14 – October 28.  After a round of speed interviews, JFACE will announce the selection of 12 to 15 JFACE Innovators in December.  In 2017, Innovators will participate in seminars, one-on-one coaching and mentorship, and have the opportunity to apply for a small amount of prototype funding from Jewish Federation of St. Louis.  Six Innovators will have the opportunity to share a co-working office space at the CIC-STL in St. Louis’ Cortex Innovation District.

The program will culminate in the JFACE Launch Night in June 2017, a final celebration of innovation when the Innovators will pitch and present their ventures to the St. Louis community.

“The idea for this accelerator grew out of Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ 2014 community study, which identified challenges in the St. Louis Jewish community,” said Emily Bornstein, with Jewish Federation of St. Louis.  “The study found issues such as a significant portion of our community struggle financially, there is a geographic divide amongst more and less engaged Jewish households, and the community must do better when working to engage young families.  We’re asking our Innovators to put their creative minds to beginning the task of solving these challenges.”

The program will accept applications for the following:

• Founders: You already have an idea to launch your own new Jewish venture or early stage initiative and want to combine your entrepreneurial passion with the help of PresenTense to get it going. The venture must be in idea or early stage.

• Changemakers: You do not have an idea yet, but you’re a problem solver who wants to work on areas that the Jewish Federation of St. Louis has identified as some of the priority challenges facing the St. Louis Jewish community.

PresenTense is an international organization that equips passionate people with the entrepreneurial skills and support networks needed to further their community-minded ventures.  PresenTense CEO Naomi Korb Weiss says of the partnership, “The Jewish Federation of St. Louis is a visionary partner and we are thrilled to welcome them to our international network of accelerators. By aligning their investment in passionate changemakers with the identified needs in their community and deploying our unique community-based accelerator model, the Federation is ensuring a strong and entrepreneurial leadership pipeline that is committed to addressing core local needs and building a vibrant Jewish community for years to come.”

“Jewish Federation of St. Louis has a unique role in the St. Louis region: to mobilize the Jewish community and its human and financial resources to preserve and enhance Jewish life in St. Louis, in Israel and around the world,” Bornstein continued. “Stimulating, incubating and supporting Jewish innovators and Jewish innovation builds community, develops leaders and creates a culture that embraces risk and innovation to enhance the Jewish community.”

Innovators, entrepreneurs, creative and passionate people, and strategic thinkers are invited to learn more and apply at JFedSTL.org/JFACE.

About Jewish Federation of St. Louis

 Jewish Federation of St. Louis is the Jewish community’s central philanthropic, planning and community-building organization. Founded in 1901, it is one of the region’s most respected and effective nonprofit organizations. Jewish Federation of St. Louis is committed to the ongoing development and enhancement of a thriving Jewish community through a family of more than 60 local, national and international agencies, programs, services and innovative projects.  Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ annual campaign and ongoing planned giving opportunities raise funds necessary to provide services to engage both young families with children and young adults, support Jewish learning, educate and advocate for a strong Israel and safe Jewish world, and provide a safety net for vulnerable Jews. Find out more at JFedSTL.org.  Jewish Federation of St. Louis is a proud member of the United Way and a Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity.