Runway to Revenue Accelerator: Funding & Growth
Quick answer: The 15 Percent Pledge Runway to Revenue Accelerator Grant is the common search name for the Runway to Revenue Accelerator Program. It is a 12-week virtual accelerator offering $10,000 in grant funding, workshops, networking, and a chance to pitch for additional funding of up to $50,000. The 2025 application window has closed.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the 15 Percent Pledge Runway to Revenue Accelerator Grant:
Runway to Revenue Quick Facts
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Item
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Current information
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Program
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Runway to Revenue Accelerator Program
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Organizations
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The 15 Percent Pledge and Its Collaboration With Victoria’s Secret & Co.
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Target businesses
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BIPOC- and/or women-owned businesses, or businesses committed to the Pledge's mission
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Product focus
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Intimates, apparel, accessories, activewear/sport, shapewear, hosiery
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Funding
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A $10,000 grant, along with the chance to pitch for up to $50,000 more in funding.
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Deadline
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Closed. Verify any new cycle on the official site
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Contact
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What Is the 15 Percent Pledge Runway to Revenue Accelerator Grant Program?
The official name is the Runway to Revenue Accelerator Program. It is a business accelerator with a grant attached, not a standalone business grant. Victoria’s Secret & Co. provides support for the accelerator program. and the Fifteen Percent Initiative.
The two names are not interchangeable:
- The 15 Percent Pledge is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing racial equity and expanding economic opportunities. Its initiative calls on large retailers to commit at least 15% of their shelf space, revenue, and yearly purchasing to supporting Black-owned businesses. The organization also offers programs, resources, grants, and awards designed to support entrepreneurs.
- Runway to Revenue: one specific accelerator run with a corporate partner. Its rules differ from other initiatives.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligibility decides whether you can apply. Application requirements decide what you must submit. Keep them separate. The 2025 cycle listed these eligibility criteria:
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Factor
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Requirement
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Location
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US-based
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Ownership
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Eligibility includes having at least one self-identifying founder who holds 51% or more ownership and identifies as BIPOC and/or a woman, or demonstrating meaningful alignment with the mission of the 15 Percent Pledge
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Revenue
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$100,000 to $1,500,000 annually
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Operating history
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At least one year
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Product category
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Intimates, apparel, accessories, activewear/sport, shapewear, or hosiery
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Community
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Member of the Business Equity Community
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Participation
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Applicants must be available for the entire 12-week program and prepared to travel to Columbus, Ohio, for the pitch event.
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Read the ownership row carefully. The program does not require Black ownership. Black-owned brands qualify only if they also meet the other criteria, such as product category and revenue range. A Black-owned beauty or food brand would not qualify on product category alone.
Runway to Revenue Application Process
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
Review all eligibility requirements and make sure your business meets the program criteria. Grant research services can also help you identify funding opportunities and review key requirements such as revenue, ownership, location, industry, and operating history before you invest time in an application.
Step 2: Join the Business Equity Community
Join the Business Equity Community and provide the required details about your business. Community support services can also provide helpful resources and guidance as you connect with funding opportunities and prepare your business information for the application process.
Step 3: Prepare Your Business Details
Gather key information about your business model, customers, revenue history, and growth plans. Grant resource guidance can help you organize the relevant business information and understand the documents or details you may need when preparing a grant application.
Step 4: Complete the Application
Fill out the application form with accurate and complete information.
Step 5: Submit Before the Deadline
Review your application carefully and submit it before the announced deadline.
Step 6: Application Review & Selection
Applications are evaluated based on factors such as sales growth, competitive advantage, management strength, use of funding, inclusivity, and community impact.
Runway to Revenue Application Deadline
The 2025 cycle is closed. Applications opened September 2, 2025, and closed October 3, 2025, with the program launching in January 2026. The application stayed open about four weeks. Do not assume 2026 dates will match. No new cycle was confirmed at the time of writing. Before applying, always check the official website for the most up-to-date details.
Preparing early helps because the community sign-up comes first, and the window was short.
How Much Funding Does the Runway to Revenue Grant Provide?
Runway to Revenue funding has two layers:
- Accepted participants are guaranteed $10,000 in grant funding.
- The selection process is competitive: Chosen founders have the opportunity to pitch at Victoria’s Secret & Co.’s headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, for consideration for additional funding of up to $50,000. The pitch money is a competitive award, not a guarantee. Sources also differ on how the "up to $50,000" figure is described. Some outlets describe it as $40,000 on top of the $10,000. Rely on the official page.
In 2026, Victoria’s Secret reported more than 150 applicants and six finalists. That gives a sense of how competitive the process is.
What expenses and business activities can the grant funding support?
The official page says only that the funding is meant to grow your business and support your next phase of growth. It does not publish a detailed use-of-funds list. Applicants should review the program’s funding guidelines rather than assuming that a particular expense or category is automatically eligible.
Accelerator Support: Mentorship, Education, and Networking
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Componet
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What it provides
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Grant
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$10,000 for accepted participants
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Workshops
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Weekly 3-hour sessions on scaling, operations, and business strategy
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Networking
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Access to fellow entrepreneurs
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Mentorship
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Direct access to mentorship from Victoria's Secret & Co. executives, per press coverage
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Pitch
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Competitive; extra funding not guaranteed
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The published curriculum covers brand identity, product development, merchandising, retail finance and inventory, supply chain, product integrity, sustainability, marketing, PR, legal considerations, and pitching. That is non-financial business support, and it is the core difference between an accelerator and a plain cash grant. A traditional grant usually delivers money and reporting rules. This program delivers education, access, and a smaller cash award.
How to Build a Strong Growth Strategy
The sections below are general guidance, not official Runway to Revenue requirements.
Funding alone does not produce revenue growth. Growth follows a chain: market, customer, offer, marketing, sales, revenue, scale. A strong business strategy shows each link with evidence.
Practical ways brands pursue revenue acceleration:
- Raise average order value with bundles
- Improve customer acquisition and conversion
- Increase repeat purchases
- Expand distribution or enter new retail channels
- Tighten inventory and sales systems
No program can guarantee these results. Choose the two or three levers that fit your brand and back them with numbers.
What Makes a Strong Application?
Reviewers can only judge what you show them. Aim for answers that are specific, consistent, and evidence-based.
- Clear business model: explain how the brand makes money.
- Traction: show sales over time, since the official criteria mention it.
- Customer and market: name who buys and why.
- Realistic projections: revenue projections should match your history and plan.
- A funding request tied to a need: what you need, why now, what result you expect.
Metrics worth tracking: revenue growth, gross margin, customer acquisition cost, repeat purchase rate, average order value, and wholesale or retail doors added. Pick the metrics that best reflect your business’s goals and operations.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying without checking eligibility
- Missing the application deadline
- Giving inconsistent numbers
- Writing a vague funding request
- Describing growth without evidence
- Treating an accelerator like a simple cash grant
- Ignoring the application guidelines
Avoiding these does not guarantee selection. It removes preventable errors.
Application Preparation Checklist
This is a general framework. Prepare only what the current application actually requires.
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Area
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What to prepare
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Eligibility
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Proof you meet ownership, revenue, and product criteria
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Business
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Overview, business model, products, customers
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Financials
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Revenue history, financial projections
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Strategy
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Growth plan, sales strategy, marketing strategy
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Ask
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Funding request and planned use of funds
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Final review
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Consistency check against official guidelines
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How American Grant Association Can Help
American Grant Association supports entrepreneurs in finding and preparing for funding opportunities. Its services can help business owners:
- Research grants: Find funding opportunities relevant to your business.
- Review eligibility: Understand whether a grant may fit your business profile.
- Match with funding: Explore opportunities based on your industry, location, goals, and funding needs.
- Prepare information: Organize business details and financial information for applications.
- Explore alternatives: Find other potential funding opportunities if a specific program is closed or you do not qualify.
These services can make the grant-search process more organized, but they do not guarantee funding or selection. Always verify current requirements and deadlines with the official funder before applying.
Conclusion
The Runway to Revenue Accelerator Program pairs a $10,000 grant with 12 weeks of education and a competitive pitch. It targets BIPOC and women-owned brands in specific apparel and lifestyle categories, not Black-owned businesses across every industry. The 2025 cycle is closed, so check the official site for updates. Meanwhile, build the habits every funder rewards: a clear business model, realistic financials, a specific use of funds, and evidence of business growth. Next step: make a short list of open funding opportunities you actually qualify for, then prepare one strong application at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Runway to Revenue Accelerator Grant From the 15 Percent Pledge?
It is a 12-week online accelerator offering $10,000 in grant support, with an opportunity to pitch for additional funding, and is operated by the Pledge in partnership with Victoria’s Secret & Co.
What is Runway to Revenue?
It is the accelerator program itself, focused on BIPOC and women-owned apparel and lifestyle brands.
What is the 15 Percent Pledge?
A nonprofit organization encouraging retailers to dedicate 15% of their shelf space and purchasing to Black-owned businesses.
Who is eligible?
US-based businesses with $100K–$1.5 M in revenue, one year of operation, qualifying ownership, and an apparel-related product line. Confirm current criteria.
How do I apply?
Join the Business Equity Community and submit through the official website page.
What is the application deadline?
The 2025 window closed October 3, 2025. No new date was confirmed.
Note: This guide is for informational purposes only. Grant details, eligibility requirements, deadlines, and funding availability may change at any time. Always verify the most current program information through official sources before making any business or funding decisions.
