Xcelerate Women

Mission

Xcelerate helps women business owners overcome systemic inequities to create economic power, build generational wealth, and positively impact their communities.

Bottom Line for Portland

At Xcelerate, we’re changing the face of success in business to be more authentic, inclusive, and sustainable. In 2023, we proudly provided equitable access to coaching, peer mentorship, and growth education for 325+ women and gender expansive business owners in the Portland Metro area. Since 2017, we’ve helped more than 1,200 historically marginalized business owners step into their confidence as leaders.

Quote

“I am so grateful for the access to high quality and low cost resources that are tailored to my specific needs. I would recommend Xclererate to any woman-owned business looking to delve into important topics to build and sustain growth. Thank you!” - Health & Wellness business owner and participant of our coaching program

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At Xcelerate, we proudly reflect the diverse community we serve: 96% of our team, coaches, and board members are women or nonbinary, 52% are women of color, and 18% bring bilingual and bicultural perspectives. We go beyond just numbers—we're committed to lifting up under-resourced business owners by funding extra support, removing financial barriers, and making sure every voice is heard. We believe in paying our BIPOC and bilingual coaches fairly for the incredible value they bring and offering sliding scale options so our programs are accessible to all.

Incentives

The first $1,000 in donations in November will be matched by Hayes Consulting & Coaching.

The first $1,000 in donations in December will be matched by Sokol Larkin.

All donors who give between Nov. 1 - Dec. 31 will be automatically entered to win the “XCELERATE BUSINESS CLASS PACKAGE” which includes: 1-Roundtrip Alaska Airlines Flight with no blackout dates, a three-month Open Desk Membership to VIDA Coworking, designed to Make Life/Work in Portland and Beaverton, a one-year Strategic Marketing Membership from Women Conquer Business, and 2-hours of virtual assistance from Virtual Assistant Bunny, LLC. *The sweepstakes begins at 12:00 am, Nov 1 and ends at 11:59 pm, Dec. 31. The winner will be selected in a random drawing conducted on Jan 6. Xcelerate will notify the winner immediately after the drawing, and announce the winner on social media by identifying them by first name and last initial only. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. To enter, donate to Xcelerate Women via our Give!Guide page between November 1 and December 31. Any and all taxes on prizes, including but not limited to Federal income taxes, are the responsibility of the winner.

All donors who give between Nov. 29 (Black Friday) - Dec. 3 (Giving Tuesday) will be automatically entered to win the “SHOP LOCAL PACKAGE.” One Grand Prize Winner will receive: $75 GC to The Yo Store, $100 GC to Way of Being, $50 GC to Revive Athletics, $300 GC to Malka Diamonds⁠, $50 GC to Happy Anyway⁠, and a $75 GC to Makerspace Sellwood⁠. 10 Runner-Up Winners will receive:⁠ a $25 GC to Baan de Sol or Soluna Collective.⁠ *The sweepstakes begins at 12:00 am, Nov 29 and ends at 11:59 pm, Dec. 3. The winner will be selected in a random drawing conducted on Dec 4. Xcelerate will notify the winner immediately after the drawing, and announce the winner on social media by identifying them by first name and last initial only. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. To enter, donate to Xcelerate Women via our Give!Guide page between November 29 and December 3. Any and all taxes on prizes, including but not limited to Federal income taxes, are the responsibility of the winner.
⁠

Partner(s)

BUSINESS PARTNERS

Hayes Consulting and Coaching is a Minority & Woman Owned Business Management Agency based in the Portland Metro area. They serve businesses, non profits, and individuals nationwide. Ronesha Hayes, founder of Hayes Consulting & Coaching, is Xcelerate's board Secretary.

Sokol Larkin, a boutique law firm located in Portland, Oregon, has earned its reputation as one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier firms in the areas of construction and design law, surety law, and business, commercial and real estate matters.

VIDA Coworking is a workspace and community designed to make life work for their members in order to create ease, joy and fulfillment in their personal and professional lives. Founder & CEO of VIDA Coworking, Melanie Marconi, is Xcelerate's Board Chair.

Women Conquer Business provides confidence-boosting, ethical digital marketing coaching and strategies based on your biggest business goals. Jen McFarland, founder of Women Conquer Business is also a marketing coach with Xcelerate Women.

At Alaska Airlines, care means employing the best people, offering more nonstop West Coast flights than any other airline, having the most generous loyalty program, committing to sustainable practices, and going the extra mile for every guest, every day.

Originally from Mexico City, Estefania Rivera, is now a Portland-based designer. She is a creative powerhouse who has been brought on by dozens of nonprofits to perfect their visual storytelling methods. Estefania brings a unique point of view, expert skill set, and over a decade of experience to brand strategy, design, and web development. 

Virtual Assistant Bunny, LLC is a queer and woman-owned business dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ and inclusive professionals. 

Portland retailers who donated gift card incentives & prizes: The Yo Store, Way of Being, Revive Athletics, Malka Diamonds, Happy Anyway, Makerspace Sellwood, Baan de Sol, Soluna Collective, Experimental Vintage, Woonwinkel, She Bop

NONPROFIT PARTNERS

Adelante Mujeres provides holistic education and empowerment opportunities to Latine women and their families to ensure full participation and active leadership in the community. Visit & support them on Give!Guide here! 

Community Doula Alliance creates an exceptional generation of professional doulas, particularly Black, Indigenous, Latino/a/x, Asian and other racially and linguistically diverse, underrepresented doulas, who can enter the workforce with sustainable careers, improve maternal and infant health outcomes, and meet the ever-changing needs of birthing and postpartum people. Visit & support them on Give!Guide here!

ELSO, Inc. is a nationally recognized Black and Female-led organization that creates innovative Liberatory Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Environment, and Design (STEAMED) education programs, paid internships, and career development that provide Black and Brown youth from K-adulthood unique opportunities to Experience Life Science Outdoors. Visit & support them on Give!Guide here!

FinAbility empowers survivors of domestic violence and their families to build the financial security needed to permanently break free from the cycle of abuse, live free from violence, and thrive. Visit & support them on Give!Guide here!

Kickstand Comedy is an all-inclusive space for Portland’s comedy scene to perform, collaborate, and learn. Visit & support them on Give!Guide here!

Milk Crate Kitchen is overcoming barriers to food security by cooking and delivering cost-free family meals to those in need, no questions asked. Visit & support them on Give!Guide here!

Oregon Justice Resource Center promotes civil rights and improves legal representation for communities that have often been underserved in the past: people living in poverty and people of color among them. Visit & support them on Give!Guide here!

The Cupcake Girls provides agenda-free community education, case management, holistic resources, and referral services for sex trafficking prevention and aftercare, and to those involved in the adult entertainment industry. Visit & support them on Give!Guide here!