Applications for the first cohort of BincTank, the Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation’s bookstore business incubator program, will open Monday, January 8, 2024, and close Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. The program will support new BIPOC-owned retail bookselling businesses that are physically located in their community. The application will be available at https://www.bincfoundation.org/binctank/.

Bookmobiles, pop-up stores and bricks and mortar storefronts are eligible models. Stores that qualify are either not yet open or have been open no more than six months prior to the time of application. Businesses interested in moving from one model to another, like a pop-up moving to a bricks and mortar location, are also eligible. Online only stores are not eligible. An FAQ document with more detailed information about eligibility is also currently available for review.

The first cohort will support 10-12 entrepreneurs selected anonymously by a panel of reviewers. The entrepreneurs and proposed businesses must be located in the U.S. or a U.S. territory.

BincTank will initially support bookstores and book retail outlets operated by historically underrepresented entrepreneurs in communities impacted by systemic racism. A three-year pilot program, BincTank plans to evaluate results and then determine how to proceed.

Binc continues to seek funding for this BIPOC entrepreneur focused program.