Information provied by the Terp School
The Trep School® proudly unveils Tricia Teague as part of the inaugural cohort of the Make Startups Executive Fellowship (MSEF) Program. This exclusive initiative, aimed at elevating the impact potential and operational capacity of entrepreneurship support, ecosystem building, and economic development organizations, welcomes Tricia Teague as an entrepreneurial ecosystem-builder from Illinois.
Charting a Course for Excellence: MSEF Executive Fellowship Program Overview
Seeded with a $50,000 grant from the Ecosystem Builder Leadership Network (EBLN) Field Advancement Fund awarded in November 2023, The Make Startups Executive Fellowship is a meticulously crafted six-month intensive program. It is designed to empower executives in their respective fields through two in-person immersions, bi-weekly online training sessions, one-on-one advising, peer coaching, and local field-building initiatives.
Fellows will gain expertise in accessing Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding to support entrepreneurs in their ecosystems. Make Startups will provide training, technical resources, and access to their proprietary CoFounderOS technology platform, enabling leaders to integrate measurement and evaluation plans into their programs. This will showcase the impact of entrepreneurial training on the local economy. The fellowship will also equip participants to advocate for policies supporting entrepreneurial pursuits at local, state, and
About Tricia Teague
Tricia Teague is the founder of The Trep School® and Soar Space Business Center. She is a certified Co-Active Professional Coach, Growth Wheel® Business Advisor, and certified facilitator for multiple entrepreneurial educational curricula. The Trep School® has been awarded funding for multiple programs she’s created, including Trep OnTrack Business Bootcamp and CannaTrep Law & Business.
She is also a servant to the Danville community. She currently serves on the Danville City Council as Ward 4 Alderwoman and Vice-Mayor. Since relocating to Danville in 2012, she has served and/or volunteered with numerous Danville area nonprofit organizations.
Celebrating Vision and Diversity: Meet the Inaugural Cohort
Make Startups proudly introduces the 18 visionaries chosen for the inaugural MSEF Executive Fellowship Program. Each participant, with a minimum of five years of entrepreneurship development experience, embodies a commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship and a dedication to lasting economic impact. We are thrilled to announce Tricia Teague as part of our cohort.
- Naila Jackson (Alabama)
- Lloyd Reshard (Florida)
- Tricia Teague (Illinois)
- Jared Ell, Nikeshia Fomby, Rhonda Ladig, and Marty Mechtenberg (Indiana)
- Larry Horn (Kentucky)
- Cuong Quy Huynh (Michigan)
- Arsh Haque (Oregon)
- Tanya Morris, Tiffany Spraggins, Thomas Webster, and Neferteri Strickland (Pennsylvania)
- Holly Burrow, Darlisa Diltz, and Ren Mitchell (Texas)
- Scott Mosley (Wisconsin)
Fellowship Pillars: A Blueprint for Success
1. Sustainable Ecosystem Building: The program focuses on enabling increased funding and better measurement of outcomes by entrepreneurial support programs at the local, state, and national levels.
2. Inclusive Entrepreneurial Training, Support, & Connections: Emphasis is placed on the role of ecosystem builders and economic developers in creating opportunities for disadvantaged and underrepresented groups in entrepreneurship.
3. Long-Term Economic Impact: The program centers on the potential for job creation, inclusive growth, and generational wealth through entrepreneurship training programs that lead to business success.
Tricia Teague, founder of The Trep School®, shared her excitement about how her participation will impact local entrepreneurs. “We are always thinking about ways we can add to our programming to better assist the entrepreneurs we serve. I know my participation in the Make Startups Executive Fellowship will give our graduates and future program participants access to resources and tools that will be a game changer for them. In turn, as their businesses grow, so will our community. To say I’m excited would be an understatement.”
Grace Belangia, co-founder of Make Startups, expressed her enthusiasm for the program launch, saying, "We are confident this initiative will equip leaders in our field with the tools and resources they need to make a lasting impact for entrepreneurs and their local ecosystems. We are truly excited to launch the Make Startups Executive Fellowship (MSEF) program this spring with plans to scale in the fall of 2024, and we are deeply grateful to both EBLN and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation for their generous support."
national levels.
About The Trep School®:
The Trep School® was founded in 2018 with a mission to help entrepreneurs and business leaders learn, launch, and soar. It specializes in assisting underserved and disadvantaged entrepreneurs with educational curricula and 1-on-1 support. It also provides incubation space through its subsidiary Soar Space Business Center. Through its Trep OnTrack Business Bootcamp, The Trep School® has graduated more than 75 entrepreneurs and invested more than $250,000 in Danville area businesses, which includes $27,500 awarded to date in its Danville Pitch Competition.
About Make Startups:
Make Startups is a dynamic organization committed to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. Through a range of programs and initiatives, Make Startups empowers startups, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem builders to succeed, innovate, and contribute to economic growth.
