The PROVIDENCE DESIGN CATALYST is a competitive design grant program providing seed capital, mentorship, and learning to Providence-based design businesses to support business growth.

Design is one of the fastest growing sectors locally and nationally. Today design is being recognized as the lynchpin in consumer experience and the driver for innovation. Design’s dynamic capacity for integrating strategy, experience and aesthetic is propelling new business start-ups, product innovations, global online markets, urban developments and traditional industry shifts.

Providence and Rhode Island is already a hotbed of design activity. We are home to an increasing number of designers and design businesses, and house many design schools, including one of the world’s most recognized design institutions. The Providence Design Catalyst program will continue to catalyze this design business growth, and showcase the innovative and dynamic design talent brewing in this city.

The Providence Design Catalyst program supports Providence-based design businesses in reaching their business growth goals. The program will help catalyze their ability to meet these goals through mentoring, learning and financial investment. Combining the global expertise of teachers, dedicated support from business mentors, and financial investment based on milestones and achievements, the Providence Design Catalyst program creates vital momentum for sustained business growth.

Providence Design Catalyst 2017-2018

The goal of the Providence Design Catalyst is to provide emerging design and design-driven businesses with financial assistance up to $15,000, mentorship, and business skills development opportunities which will result in business expansion, increased revenue, and economic development for the City of Providence