Since 2016, Glean Network’s START program has provided foundational knowledge and human-centered design frameworks and tools to hundreds of faith-rooted spiritual entrepreneurs and innovators, catalyzing new models of faith and hope in action. Now offered in two distinct formats, START Self-Paced is for those ready to learn and apply design-thinking, entrepreneurship and innovation fundamentals today. START Live Cohort is our proven semester-long cohort, taught by an MBA-level faculty & coaching team.

Schedule time to speak with a coach today or email us at admin@gleannetwork.org and we look forward to connecting with you.

The American religious landscape is in the midst of a tectonic shift, as the fastest growing religious group in America is “Nones” (those who identify as having no religion), and thousands of houses of worship have closed each year for at least the past decade. And yet - despite these alarming trends - there is an emergent groundswell of innovative spiritual practice, communities, and ventures taking root across the country. ​ Founded in 2016, Glean Network sought to bring together the leaders who were prepared to reimagine their ministry in light of these shifts, and to offer them tools, experiences, and coaching to support them in their journey. Most importantly, Glean Network has offered them a community of fellow travelers with whom to walk, reflect, and dream. We believe that the faith-rooted leaders who have a passion for serving their people and communities need practical and accessible design-thinking skills and tools to support their innovation and growth. The world needs courageous, creative ideas and bold, visionary leadership. START is a supportive and generative container for you to begin the work.

START is taught by an MBA-level faculty from both the Glean Network and our partners at Venture for All. The course is also supported by START Coaches and Network Alumni, those who have gone through the program and/or launched a spiritual enterprise themselves who are here to guide and support you in your venture building journey. You can read more about our faculty and coaches on our team page.

The next cohort will begin in Fall 2024 (Cohort 09), a semester broken up into three digestible segments. Sessions are held on Tuesdays, 12-2 PM EST on Zoom. Segment 1: October 29 - November 19 Segment 2: November 26 - December 17 Segment 3: January 14 - February 04 Apply at https://gleannetwork.org/start-livecohorts

Self-Paced is a one-time fee of $99. Glean Network administers our live cohort programs on a self-determined sliding scale as a practice of equity and interdependence. We invite you to reflect and contribute what is accessible within your means. We also invite you to consider how your contributions can support us in creating wider access to those with fewer resources. ​ If you are sponsored by an organization, please select from the Organization sliding scale according to your institution's budget. Learn more about our pricing policies. If you are seeking financial assistance, a limited number of live-cohort registrations are available at a discounted rate for those experiencing financial hardship. Please contact, admin@gleannetwork.org with subject line: FA for START Live Cohort

At this time, START is not an accredited MBA program. The course curriculum content is made in partnership with Venture for All, with over 10-years of proven methods, structured assignments, coaching and readings designed to support emerging entrepreneurs and innovators in launching new ventures and offerings.

Those who successfully complete the START Live Cohort (inclusive of 80% attendance, 100% completion of assignments, readings, video lectures, and final pitch presentation) will receive the Glean Network/Venture for All Certificate in Spiritual Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Completion of START Self Paced does not include this certificate.

START Self Paced contains approximately 7-hours of video content, inclusive of ten essential modules, each with readings, video lectures, and assignments that can take an estimated one to three hours to complete. Some modules require external work, including customer discovery interviews and product testing, which can vary depending on your pace and schedule. START Live Cohort is a semester-long virtual learning experience inclusive of 22 hours of live virtual meetings, where participants will have an opportunity to review the module lessons together in breakout groups, 1:1 engagements, coaching, and more. You should anticipate to complete between 3-4 hours/week of homework outside of your live virtual meetings and coaching sessions.

Our ethos is to start from empathy and deep listening to develop an offering that responds to the real needs of the people we are serving, while also thinking practically about how to strategically start and sustain it for the long-term. The START course curriculum is designed to guide participants on a thoughtful and actionable journey from idea to impact. In our Self-Paced and Live Cohorts we cover essential entrepreneurship and innovation lesson plans: Envisioning Your Idea - Falling in love with the problem, not the solution Developing Your Business or Mission Model - Thinking strategically about the operational model of your venture Getting to Know Your Customer - Listening deeply and attentively to the needs of your people Testing Your Offering - Validating your assumptions through tests and objective feedback Resourcing Your Venture - Understanding and forecasting what it will take to operationalize your venture and what resources you will leverage to sustain it Developing Your Brand and Marketing Strategy - Giving your venture a voice and unique expression to speak authentically to your people Making Your Pitch - Telling a unique story about your venture and inviting enthusiastic support for your mission We encourage you to learn more about the expectations of the course by scheduling a free 30-min call with a START coach.

We're proud to have had over 200 spiritual entrepreneurs from all different contexts, faiths, traditions and belongings graduate from our course and launch new ventures. Here are just a few quotes from some of our recent participants: This was a healing space! EVERY session, I walked away deeply touched by the wisdom, stories and expertise of my cohort members, coaches and Glean Network staff. - Aishah B. Before START I had a sense of call, and I understood a gap in spiritual caregiving - but START helped me distill that and point me back to the customers. Every week, I left inspired, encouraged, grateful for the community, and excited about the next step in my venture. -Rev. Courtney A. START came at the perfect time in my life - as I was making a professional transition and needed a framework for dreaming a new reality into existence. It was nourishing, supportive, iterative and creative. And it wasn't just a class - it was a weekly ritual of transformation. I am so grateful. -Rabbi Jen G. After 25 years in the mission field, START served not only as a source of new material and information, but also provided some much needed renewal and reinvigoration. Ready for the next 25! -Rabbi Carnie R. Please visit this link here to learn about some of the experiences of our START alumni.