SEED ACADEMY
San Antonio
Preparing the next generation of affordable rental housing developers
November 27 - December 1, 2023
San Antonio
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Program Information
Training
Mentorship
Investment
As San Antonio's population grows and our housing needs deepen, we will continue to require, well-trained, experienced and savvy developers with the capacity and capital to build affordable, rental housing. Prosper West and LISC - San Antonio in partnership with the National Development Council (NDC), present the Supporting Empowered Emerging Developers (SEED) Academy in San Antonio, a first-of-its-kind program in San Antonio focused on building the capacity of emerging developers.
Over 18 months, SEED Academy participants will increase their skills and knowledge across all stages of the development process, enhancing their ability to develop successful real estate projects. Starting with a week-long training, they will learn the fundamentals of development, including -- creating a concept, land acquisition, financing, construction, and completion. Additionally, they will learn directly from and establish relationships with industry and sector leaders, receive technical assistance to refine their capstone project, be connected to a long-term mentor and be eligible for investment to support their final project.
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After the training, graduates will belong to a network of local peers, understand how to navigate local processes and protocols, enjoy established relationships with key leaders and have access to on-going technical and field support from NDC.
Is SEED Academy for you?
Eligibility Criteria:
In its inaugural cohort, SEED Academy - San Antonio will train up to 25 emerging developers, who plan to build affordable, rental housing projects in our community over the next 2 years. Due to existing gaps in our local capacity and in the industry, we will prioritize, but not limit, BIPOC and women in our selection.
The ideal candidate for the program:
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is a minority or female with an interest in developing small-scale affordable rental housing (20 units or less) in San Antonio
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has had significant exposure to the real estate development process and wants to start developing their own affordable housing projects (landlords, real estate agents, contractors, builders, flippers, architects, engineers, etc.)
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has the capacity to produce a project either alone or with a group of like-minded investors or partners (financial capital, property, etc.)
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Participant selection will be based on how closely an applicant aligns with this ideal candidate profile but anyone with an interest in affordable housing development is encouraged to apply.
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Timeline:
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August 14th - Application Opens
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September 15th - Application Deadline
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Last week of September - Finalists Announced
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November 27th - December 1st - SEED Academy in-person training
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December 18th - Capstone Presentations
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Virtual Deep Dives - TBA
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Frequently Asked Questions
1 / What will I learn from the Academy?
You will learn all the aspects of developing a small-scale affordable housing project including the predevelopment process (selecting/evaluating the site, pulling together your team, and running numbers for feasibility), how to get your project financed (debt and equity), how to secure public dollars to support affordability, how to manage your contractors/builders, and how to manage the asset long-term. You'll also meet the key local government contacts you'll need through the development process and you'll hear from experts on lessons learned and best practices in navigating the development process. You may also meet your future development partner along the way. Development is a team sport.
2 / What is the time commitment?
Each applicant should expect to commit the full week of November 27 - December 1, from 8am - 5pm each day. This is an in-classroom training only. Each applicant will also be responsible for developing and presenting a capstone project, real or fictitious, to be presented to a panel of experts for feedback. The capstone presentation will take place on December 18, 2023. Over the following 18 months, there will be 4 additional virtual Deep Dive sessions that will provide additional information and in-depth instruction on topics of particular interest to the participant group. The 4 dates will be determined at the end of the Academy.
3 / Can I participate virtually?
The training during November 27 - December 1 is classroom training in-person. There is no virtual option and sessions will not be recorded. The capstone presentation on December 18 is also in-person. The 4 additional Deep Dive sessions over the next 18 months will be virtual.
4 / How will participants be selected? Are there any minimum requirements?
There are only 25 seats available for the Academy. There are no minimum requirements, however, applicants will be selected based on (1) their capacity to execute a project within 2 years, (2) their familiarity/experience with the development process, (3) their access to capital resources (land, financing, network, etc.). Priority will be given to females and minorities. The lack of experience/resources is not an immediate disqualification. If you have a strong interest in developing affordable housing, apply!
5 / What is the cost?
There is a fee of $100 if you are selected to join the Academy, payable before the first day of class.
6 / What does it mean to be a mentor for the Academy?
As a mentor, you will provide guidance and insight to 1-2 Academy participants as they develop and present their capstone presentations on December 18 and for 1-2 hours every month thereafter over the next 18 months. Use the link above to sign up to be a mentor and we will schedule a call with you for more information.