Georgia State University’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Institute (ENI) has announced the opening of applications for Main Street Foundry, the next evolution of its nationally recognized entrepreneurship program. Formerly known as the Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed Fund, the program has been renamed to better reflect its role as a comprehensive accelerator designed to support early-stage entrepreneurs beyond capital alone. 

Main Street Foundry is a four-month accelerator designed to support founders at multiple points along their entrepreneurial journey through ENI’s PAWS framework— Prepare, Actualize, Work and Scale. This expanded model ensures that entrepreneurs receive tailored programming, resources, and mentorship aligned with their specific stage of business development, recognizing that founders enter the ecosystem with varying levels of readiness, traction and operational maturity.

Through the PAWS framework, participants are matched with customized pathways that may include foundational education and validation support, product and customer discovery, operational and revenue-generation strategies, or early scaling and growth planning. This approach allows Main Street Foundry to serve entrepreneurs more effectively by meeting them where they are and helping them progress with intentionality and clarity.

Since launching in 2019, the program has supported more than 125 founders and 90 companies, earning national recognition for its inclusive, high-impact approach to entrepreneurship education. Past accolades include awards from the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA), the Deshpande Symposium for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Higher Education, and the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC).

Participants in Main Street Foundry engage in a curated accelerator experience that includes targeted workshops, one-on-one coaching with subject matter experts, mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and access to ENI’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence. The program culminates in a signature Demo Day that showcases participant ventures through a public business expo, pitch presentations and ecosystem networking.

“Main Street Foundry represents the maturation of a program that has always been about more than funding,” said Dr. Joyelle “Joy” Harris, Executive Officer for Entrepreneurship at Georgia State University and Director of ENI. “This accelerator is about equipping early-stage founders with the knowledge, confidence, and networks they need to build sustainable businesses and navigate the realities of entrepreneurship.”

Applications for the upcoming cohort are open until Friday, Jan. 30. Interested founders are encouraged to attend upcoming information sessions to learn more about eligibility, program structure, and expectations.

For more information about the Main Street Foundry or to apply, visit https://eni.gsu.edu/msesf/.