About Us

ECHO Collective was founded in 2020 in Lincoln, Nebraska, and our flagship program, The Refinery, graduated its first cohort in December 2020.

The Refinery provides refugee and immigrant women the opportunity to achieve economic independence and social capital through business education and professional mentorships in Lincoln, Nebraska. We focus on women who are still learning English.

Our classes meet three times a week for 2.5 hours, and the mentors invest at least 6 hours of one-on-one coaching after the entrepreneurs have covered business basics in class. The Refinery recognizes the value of social networking and community involvement, and our curriculum is supported by presentations of at least 15 local professionals over the course of the cohort, in addition to partnerships with numerous local organizations.

We offer 3 cohorts per year, which consist of no more than 6 entrepreneurs. Our small class size ensures that our entrepreneurs receive an education that is catered to their specific business needs.