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Entrepreneurship & Investment Challenge

CALL FOR NEXT COHORT APPLICATION OPENING SPRING 2020

The Tampa Bay Innovation Center is launching its first Early Stage Startup Company Accelerator – The Entrepreneur & Investment Challenge. This program is focused on preparing technology ventures in how to scale a company. Unlike most Accelerator programs that focus on preparing your pitch, marketing or raising money, this program takes an “inside-out” approach. We prepare your company not to just “look ready” but to “be ready” to take an investment, hit the ground running and execute your plan. Our program helps CEOs develop into

leaders that can rapidly execute plans, adjust when appropriate and gives them the experience to know how to navigate obstacles that derail promising startups. While a good pitch will attract investors, the deal is closed based on your response to questions and successful due diligence. Having the confidence that you can handle the next phase of your startup will help close the deal with investors. The application back-end is powered by Gust.com.

Eligibility:

To qualify for this accelerator program, applicants must be:

  • a scalable tech venture

  •   pre-seed, seed, and post-seed to Series A

  • post-MVP/Proof of Concept

  • Capital <$2M

  • consist of two or more team members

  • able to commit to a 12 week program

Participant Goals :

  • Position CEOs for fundraising success

  • Focus on Founder Wellness and Company Culture

  • How to know if your product or service truly has product-market fit

  • How to get and turn pilot projects into recurring sales

  • Train founders to become the best leaders, recruit A players and establish organizational culture of success

  • Develop a go-to-market strategy and gain traction in the marketplace

  • Overcome the obstacles that prevent so many companies from scaling their businesses

  •   How to know when to fold ‘em and ask for a re-deal

 

Cost:

The program is:

  • provided free-of-charge and no equity will be required (Unless Pitch award has equity stake)

  • offered in a series of 1 – 2 Day Workshops – Mini-Accelerator(s) over 10/12 weeks

  • designed to accommodate up to 10 companies per workshop

Benefits:

  • Mentorship by successful entrepreneurs with successful exits and scaled businesses to eight figure revenues.

  • Training and guidance from subject matter experts in all of the disciplines required to be successful in scaling your venture

  • Access to corporate decision-makers and Introductions to customer prospects via corporate matchmaking events

  • CEO to CEO level peer group participation to collaborate with and share common problems.

  • Introductions to other Tampa Bay startups, investors, mentors, and investors at local and TBIC events

  • Expertise from corporate partners

  • Mentor-driven plus 1-on-1 coaching by staff of seasoned entrepreneurs/SME

  • Opportunity to pitch the week of January 6th

  • Free coworking space for three months after completion of any one workshop