Project DEEP primarily serves entrepreneurs who identify as women and BIPOC by providing accessible immersive education and by resourcing leading community partners to provide technical assistance such as growth training to these entrepreneurs. It secondarily targets members of the innovation economy, providing education, resources, and community building to equip a new class of intentional investors.
The project builds on earlier work focused on Utah’s economy, including a landscape report that identified technical assistance, funding access, and accessible education as key needs for women and BIPOC entrepreneurs in Utah. While Utah has a strong economy demonstrating persistent growth, underrepresented groups do not enjoy equal access to Utah’s innovation opportunities.
The Center will measure the impact of this program to provide proof of concept for replication to fuel diversity in innovation across the country, leveraging data science, community engagement, innovative finance, and impact storytelling.