What is Epiphany?
Epiphany is a social entrepreneurship initiative of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. This evergreen program is an incubator and an accelerator for entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to address social challenges. Our next cycle kicks off in October 2026! Pray for our team and applicants this year by clicking here.
Meet the 2026 Epiphany Ventures
Buford Highway Marketplace
and Business Lab
Rooted in the belief that we all come from somewhere, Buford Highway Marketplace and Business Lab (BHMBL) celebrates both individual identities and a shared sense of home. The organization supports and advocates for small businesses along the Buford Highway corridor honoring its rich cultural diversity and immigrant communities through small business and community support programs.
CHRISTIAN PROFESSIONALS NETWORK WORLDWIDE
Christian Professionals Network Worldwide (CPNW) brings together Christian professionals to build meaningful, faith-centered relationships through networking and mentorship. United by a shared commitment to service, members support individuals facing homelessness and relational poverty while also uplifting local nonprofits making an impact in the community.
Information: https://cpnworldwide.com
SENSORY H2O
Sensory H2O provides specialized swim instruction for individuals with adaptive needs facing sensory, cognitive, physical, or developmental challenges in aquatic environments. Its mission is to reduce preventable drowning fatalities through life-saving water safety education and training.
STAYWELL LEGACY LIVING
StayWell Legacy brings ADU housing and legacy living together where housing meets healing, responding to the growing affordable housing crisis. The model expands access to affordable housing while helping families stay rooted, supported, and connected in their communities. Based in Atlanta, StayWell is a small solution for a big problem.
VESCENT
Vescent is a mentorship app that connects teen girls with trusted mentors who provide guidance, encouragement, and meaningful human connection. Designed to counter the isolation and pressure amplified by social media, Vescent helps girls build confidence, resilience, and authentic relationships that support healthy personal growth.
Why Epiphany?
We believe God is calling us to a moment of epiphany. Epiphany is revelation. Innovation. Guidance. Light. By lifting up social ventures and socially minded small businesses, we increase our direct impact on the community in ways we would not otherwise have imagined: new ways of loving our neighbor, feeding the hungry, and reconciling people. Epiphany leads to new relationships that expand our capacity to show the love of Christ.
Epiphany also calls FPC members to use their skills, networks, connections, and experiences to help advance ideas that benefit our community. Epiphany is intended not only to successfully launch and support ventures with Christ’s love, but also to empower our members to participate in God’s mission in new ways.
How does it work?
The Epiphany program considers applications from entrepreneurs with business models that address social concerns or community needs. A selection process identifies a short list of Finalists who will be supported through idea refinement and hands-on business planning assistance and mentoring from church members, themselves experienced business leaders hailing from a variety of disciplines (we call them navigators). After a coaching period, chosen ventures (Epiphany Fellows) will present their business cases for consideration for funding. To date, through the generosity of our congregation and community, Epiphany grants have totaled $455,000.
What kind of ventures does Epiphany support?
Epiphany seeks to partner with early-stage social ventures and entrepreneurial start-up initiatives. We prioritize solutions that build human capacity, dignity, and individual economic empowerment.
What are the criteria?
There are five key factors Epiphany's volunteer screening team considers when evaluating ventures:
1. Church Fit: The idea fits with the church mission and values, could inspire a high level of congregation involvement, and will benefit the community.
2. Compelling Idea/Societal Impact: The idea is innovative and has potential to offer lasting positive impact by demonstrating Christian values of faith, service, mercy, compassion, grace, peace and/or reconciliation.
3. Self-Supporting Idea: The implementation plan, resources, and applicant capabilities are sufficient to ensure successful implementation and sustainability with a clear path to generating a component of revenue beyond fundraising and donations.
4. Founder/Leadership: The founder or leadership team is equipped with the experience, skills, network, leadership qualities, and passion necessary to deliver on the vision.
5. Engagement: The venture enthusiastically embraces FPC and the Epiphany experience, and is interested in creating a mutually beneficial relationship in the future.
Do applicants have to be Christian?
Epiphany is an initiative of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, created to live our call to participate in God’s mission in and for the world. While adherence to the Christian faith is not required for an applicant’s proposal to be considered, proposals should further the Christian values of love, community, transformation, and servant leadership. Such ideas will pursue authentic diversity, offer radical hospitality, provide mutual care, seek restorative relationships, reflect bold humility, model just generosity, and reflect a commitment to missional living.
What is the timeline?
Applications for Epiphany open October 19, 2025! You may apply by clicking here.
Meet the ventures and Epiphany alumni
Get to know the outstanding entrepreneurs and ventures supported by Epiphany. And please consider them when making purchase decisions for goods and services.
How can I get involved in volunteering for Epiphany?
Epiphany is a great way for business-oriented church members to engage with our community and to offer their gifts in fresh and innovative ways. We welcome all ages and areas of expertise for involvement with Epiphany. Training is provided for each volunteer role to guide activities and drive outcomes.
You may apply to be an Epiphany recipient by clicking the button below.
Epiphany news
Atlanta church nurtures socially-conscious based ventures
Atlanta-Journal Constitution (Feb 1, 2022)
Epiphany news
Atlanta church nurtures socially-conscious based ventures
Atlanta-Journal Constitution (Feb 1, 2022)
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