Built to Rise
A marketing accelerator program for early-stage founders who are ready to grow their businesses on their terms, with strategic marketing support.
Rooted in the belief that marketing is a path to possibility, Built to Rise was designed with Black & Brown founders in mind, and combines Backstory’s expertise in building global legacy brands and startups with the power of learning in community.
Program Overview
Over eight weeks, we’ll transform challenges into opportunities through the development of a clear marketing strategy rooted in your story, your audience, and your goals.
Modules 1 & 2
Laying the Foundation, Storytelling & Campaign Strategy
We start by defining the roots of your brand: who you are, what you stand for, and how to communicate that clearly. You’ll learn how to turn your story into strategy, so you can craft campaigns that connect with your audience and convert.
Leave this module feeling grounded in your brand’s voice and confident in the story you’re here to tell.
Modules 3 & 4
Growing and Nurturing Your Audience & Showing Up on Social Strategically
It’s not about being everywhere; it’s about showing up with vision & purpose. We’ll cover how to grow your audience intentionally, build real community, and develop a social strategy that aligns with your voice, not just the algorithm.
Walk away with the clarity to show up online with ease, knowing exactly who you’re speaking to and why it matters.
Module 5
Pulling It All Together
By this point, you’ll have all the pieces — brand clarity, storytelling, audience growth, and social strategy. This final module helps you weave it all into a cohesive brand marketing plan you can actually use. One that feels sustainable, strategic, and uniquely yours.
Finish the program with a renewed sense of direction and a marketing foundation that feels aligned, authentic, and ready to grow.
Program Benefits
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8 weeks of strategy that moves you forward
Market your business like the brands you love.
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Big-brand insight, small-biz community
Get access to a peer group that understands what it means to rise together.
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Real progress, not more to-dos
Exercises are designed to help you apply what you learn and see results as you go.
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Fresh perspectives that spark ideas
Guest experts will drop in to share what’s working now.
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Your own Brand Marketing Blueprint
Walk away with a polished, ready-to-scale plan.
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Confidence that lasts beyond the program
By the end, you’ll know how to run your brand’s marketing like a pro.
The Power of Learning In Community
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Practical, hands-on insights paired with a community-driven method enable founders to learn from us, their peers, and the wider community.
With this dual approach, your experience in the program is enhanced not only by teaching but also by a supportive environment where small business owners like you can grow together.
Pricing & Deadlines
Program Cost
$1,500/seat
In the spirit of making this program accessible, the program cost can be paid in full at the time of purchase, or broken out into 3 installments.
Dates
Application is closed.
Process
Fill out the application form.
Meet with Team Backstory.
Receive notification of acceptance.
Payment due before official kickoff.
Limited Enrollment
Limited Enrollment
✺ Frequently Asked Questions ✺
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Built to Rise is designed for early-stage founders — usually 1–3 years into their business — who’ve established their product or service but haven’t had access to high-level marketing strategy. We’ve worked with founders across fashion, consumer goods, sports, and media, but the real throughline is vision and readiness to grow.
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At the end of the program, each founder will leave with a Brand Marketing Blueprint — a customized document outlining your brand story, audience, and marketing roadmap.
You’ll know exactly how to show up across channels, and you can either build from it with us or hand it off to your marketing team to execute.
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You’ll want to set aside about 3–4 hours per week between our 90-minute group sessions, 60-minute office hours, and light integration exercises. The work is intentionally designed to move your business forward in real time.
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Yes. Most accelerators focus on operations or funding. Built to Rise focuses specifically on marketing, helping you refine your brand identity, storytelling, and visibility strategy. It’s a perfect next step if you’ve learned how to run your business but want to learn how to grow it.
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Nope! While we have deep experience in marketing fashion and consumer goods brands, our frameworks can be applied to any founder-led brand. Whether you’re offering a product, service, or platform, the goal is to help you translate your story into strategy.
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Yes! Every participant receives one personal strategy session with our founder Callia during the program, plus access to weekly office hours for ongoing questions and feedback.
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This program is designed to support Black & Brown brand leaders and those from underrepresented communities who often lack the opportunities to access programs tailored to their journeys.
That said, any brand leader who is ready to grow their business with strategic marketing is welcome to join!
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Marketing, like any other area of your business, requires specialized support.
We understand that sometimes the content and programs out there don’t fit your needs, especially as founders from underrepresented communities.
That’s why this program was designed with you in mind.
Our program will provide you with the hands-on experience and actionable support needed to intentionally market your brand and attract new customers and funding.