Nashville Nonprofit Empowers Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

The Entrepreneur Center's scholarship program helps young women launch their business dreams.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 6:44am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A Nashville-based nonprofit called The Entrepreneur Center is providing scholarships and mentorship to help young women in the city develop their business ideas and launch their own companies. The program aims to empower the next generation of female founders and address the gender gap in entrepreneurship.

Why it matters

Entrepreneurship is a key driver of economic growth, but women continue to face significant barriers to starting and scaling their own businesses. Programs like this one in Nashville seek to level the playing field and provide more opportunities for young women to gain the skills, funding, and support needed to turn their business ideas into reality.

The details

The Entrepreneur Center's scholarship program offers recipients access to the nonprofit's 12-week accelerator course, which covers topics like business planning, marketing, and fundraising. Participants also receive one-on-one mentorship from successful local entrepreneurs. The program particularly targets young women from underserved communities in the Nashville area.

  • The Entrepreneur Center launched its scholarship program in 2024.
  • The latest cohort of scholarship recipients graduated from the accelerator course in March 2026.

The players

The Entrepreneur Center

A Nashville-based nonprofit that provides education, mentorship, and resources to help aspiring entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses.

Jasmine Rodriguez

A 24-year-old Nashville resident and recent graduate of The Entrepreneur Center's scholarship program, who is now launching her own sustainable fashion startup.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The Entrepreneur Center's program gave me the confidence and practical skills I needed to turn my business idea into a reality. I'm grateful for the mentorship and support I received.”

— Jasmine Rodriguez, Entrepreneur Center Scholarship Recipient

What’s next

The Entrepreneur Center plans to expand its scholarship program to reach more young women in the Nashville area in the coming years.

The takeaway

Initiatives like The Entrepreneur Center's scholarship program are crucial for empowering the next generation of female founders and addressing the persistent gender gap in entrepreneurship.