Scale DSM Business Accelerator

A- A+

SCALE DSM BUSINESS ACCELERATOR

The Greater Des Moines Partnership's Scale DSM Business Accelerator supported by the Wells Fargo Foundation helps businesses gain access to knowledge, management know-how and networks needed to increase revenue, create jobs and positively impact the community. Participants will complete Interise’s award-winning and internationally recognized StreetWise program, which is centered around practical, case-based peer learning for businesses. The program is tuition free and business owners of all backgrounds are invited to apply.

Supported By

2025 Cohort Participants

This year's cohort is the fourth Scale DSM cohort and participants include:

Nadia Ahissou, Nadia's French Bakery, LLC
Magdalena Aravena Gutierrez, Studio Siembra
Kyle Doyle, Iowa Distilling Company
Lori Gelhaar, Leverage4
Justin Gora, General Cab USA
Andrew Johnson, 21st Century Trading Company LLC
Riana LeJeune, Repinned Luxury Upholstery Workroom
Ana Maceda, Crown Cleaning LLC
Dulce Manjarrez, Candy’s Cleaning
Shayla McCormally, McCormally & Cosgrove, PLLC
Tim Morris, Maple Creek Construction, Inc
Jennifer Oredson, Dinner Dispatch
Matthew Palan, Creative Concepts
Marilyn Perez Garcia, Modas Marilyn
Thla Sui, Thla Sui Agency
LeAnn Thongvanh, Dinner Dispatch
Brandy Werner, Werner's Elite Auto
Aniekanabasi White, Sensiil Studios
RaeLynn Whitfield, Whitfield's Lawn and Garden Specialist, LLC
Ventica Woods, Mama Africa LLC

Program Details

Applications for the 2025 cohort are now closed.

The program is tuition free and dedicated to assisting small businesses to help continue to sustain growth across Greater Des Moines (DSM).

Participants will complete Interise’s award-winning and internationally recognized StreetWise program, which is centered around practical, case-based peer learning for businesses.

Supported by the Wells Fargo Foundation, the program helps businesses gain access to knowledge, management know-how and networks needed to increase revenue, create jobs and positively impact the community.

The program will run from the kickoff on Thursday, July 17 until graduation on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.

Applicant Requirements

$150,000 – $4 million in annual revenues
One other full-time employee besides the owner(s)
Been in business for at least two years
Willingness and ability to attend class for seven months, complete mandatory assignments and complete program surveys, up to three years following the program
The application asks for business information including a description of the business, founding date, number of employees, annual revenue and plans for the future.

Core-Based Peer Learning for Businesses

Scale DSM Business Accelerator powered by Interise is centered around practical, case-based peer learning for businesses. Programming is divided into five modules and participants will be required to attend one session every other week. Module topics include business strategy and leadership, financial management, sales and marketing, talent and capital resources and strategic-growth action plan. Course sessions will be delivered in person, during business hours and participants must commit to attending each session.

Curriculum Overview

Module 1: Business & Strategic Assesment

Module 2: Finance — Balancing Cash Flow and Bottom Line

Module 3: Marketing and Sales — Building Profitable Sale

Module 4: Getting What You Need to Grow

Module 5: Putting it All Together

About the Instructor

Ryan Bhattacharyya, Professor of Practice in Management and Entrepreneurship at Iowa State University, will be the instructor for the program. Bhattacharyya is an expert in investment management, financial planning, entrepreneurship, estate planning and risk management. He has worked at Des Moines Area Community College and William Penn University prior to his time at Iowa State and was an Espeland International Fellow for Iowa State's Ivy College of Business in 2019 and 2020.

National Program Results

Based on 2023 Assessment Data, collected by Interise:

76% of alumni businesses increased or maintained their annual revenues, with an average annual revenue growth of 61%.
76% of alumni businesses reported being profitable.
$41 million in government contracting secured by National alumni businesses in 2023.
70% of alumni CEOs stay connected to fellow participants.
94% "Likely" or "Very likely" to recommend the program to a fellow business owner.
2,246 jobs added or retained jobs by 226 National alumni businesses.

It gave me a lot of time to develop and grow as a CEO. It showed me things that I didn't necessarily know that I was going to need for my business in order to grow it.
Vince Collis, Title Fight

I learned how to track financials well. I have a big vision now and the company is going to take off much faster from what I learned from Scale DSM.
Latha Kumar, Zamoris Solutions, Inc.

Going forward, I have this amazing growth plan for the next three to five years that had been in my head and is now on paper. I will continue to keep up with and scale my business.
Shalana Laing, Smile Labs VIP

2024 Scale DSM Graduates

Hear what graduates from the 2024 Cohort learned during their Scale DSM program and how the program will help them achieve their business goals into the future.

Learn More About Scale DSM

Have any questions? Contact Juan Pablo Sanchez, Director of Inclusive Business Strategies at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, for more information.

jsanchez@DSMpartnership.com | (515) 286-4943