01/15/2026
✨ It’s official — the 12th annual Gauntlet is back for 2026… and it’s better than ever. ✨
With more than 1,200 entrepreneurs supported to date, The Advancement Foundation is launching the 12th annual Gauntlet in 2026, alongside a brand-new parallel pathway: The Quest.
This year, we’re meeting entrepreneurs where they actually are — with two distinct program tracks designed for different business models, stages, and goals.
Here’s the breakdown:
→ The Gauntlet
For Main Street, retail, food, and service businesses. The Gauntlet now focuses on businesses built to serve a local or regional customer base — whether storefront, service-based, mobile, or run from home.
Participants move through an 8-week cohort with guided education, mentorship, accountability, and milestone-based progress.
New for 2026: participants have the opportunity to earn milestone-based in-kind awards and recognition throughout the program, with cash awards and additional in-kind prizes at the end.
→ The Quest
For high-growth, tech-enabled, innovation-driven founders building ventures designed to reach cross-regional or national markets.
This pathway offers accelerator-style support, expert guidance, and resources aligned with scalable growth models. Smaller cohort will allow for a more customized process.
Key dates to know:
Application open through February 1
Program begins February 3
Live online Q&A sessions (links to register on website):
January 20 at 6:00 pm
January 27 at 6:00 pm
Help us find the 2026 class! If you know an entrepreneur who should see this, please share this post or tag them below. Word-of-mouth has always been one of the most powerful ways entrepreneurs find The Gauntlet — and we’re counting on this community again.
Learn more, explore both pathways, and apply through our website:
https://theadvancementfoundation.org
