What it is

The Novella Center for Entrepreneurship is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to entrepreneurship for all and to changing the purpose of business in society. It builds on a decade of work by the Conscious Venture Lab, an accelerator that opened in 2013 in Howard County, Maryland, as the project of founder Jeff Cherry, who leads Novella Center as founder and CEO. The program later moved to West Baltimore, then Port Covington, and most recently to Spark Co-working Baltimore. The center is named for Jeff Cherry's mother, Joyce Novella Cherry, who grew up in segregated Baltimore. Its history is on the How It Began page.

What it offers founders

The curriculum applies Stakeholder Theory and Conscious Capitalism to early-stage companies, drawing on work with author Raj Sisodia and UVA Darden's Ed Freeman. Current offerings described on the program page:

  • Pre-Accelerator: a 6-week program in Baltimore, run October through November, for aspiring and idea-stage entrepreneurs, focused on clarifying ideas, validating customer problems and building foundational business skills.
  • Accelerator: a 14-week program for early-stage, purpose-driven companies, with a technology-driven process meant to take a company from idea through Series A financing. The current Accelerator cohort runs in Trenton, New Jersey, with its second cohort starting in September 2026.
  • Boot Camp: a planned two-day workshop on the business side of a company, covering higher purpose, team culture, leadership and stakeholder management. It is listed as coming soon.
  • Mentoring: experienced professionals can sign up to mentor early-stage founders.

The site features video from a Baltimore Cohort 15 Demo Day.

Who it is for

The programs target founders working at the intersection of profit and purpose, especially those using innovation to reduce barriers to access. The Baltimore Pre-Accelerator suits founders at the idea stage; the Accelerator suits companies that are already operating at an early stage.

How to engage

Applications for the current Baltimore Pre-Accelerator and Trenton Accelerator cohorts are closed, and the site does not publish cost or equity terms. Founders can email info@novellacenter.org to ask about future cohorts and terms. Boot Camp inquiries go to stephanie@novellacenter.org. Mentors and supporters can use the Get Involved page.