Early-stage Businesses Wanted for Free IGNITE Community Accelerator

IGNITE is scheduled to start on Friday, Aug. 19, and will run for 12 Fridays. IGNITE Day, when participants celebrate the conclusion of the program by pitching their companies and demonstrating their products, will be Nov. 11.

Starting Aug. 19, participants will begin the intensive, 12-week program designed to lift their businesses to greater heights while generating momentum for the region’s entrepreneurial and economic development efforts.

Open to developing businesses and early startups, the IGNITE Community Accelerator provides each business owner with business services and support valued at more than $15,000, which includes personal business coaching and mentoring by a successful entrepreneur in a similar field.

Participating entrepreneurs will get to take advantage of the following IGNITE Community Accelerator services: up to 30 hours of one-on-one business coaching; 10 hours of business workshops; 48 hours of intense business training; five hours of time with an industry mentor; Kauffman Foundation certified entrepreneurial mindset training; access to co-working space at the STEMulus Center throughout the 12-week program; access to the FUSE MakerSpace to help with prototype development if needed; support in developing a 100-day tactical plan for the business after the Accelerator is over; and additional coaching after the 12-week program to help with implementation of the 100-day tactical plan.

The IGNITE program offers 10 full program days of entrepreneurship curriculum that includes:

• 1^st Friday –  Entrepreneurship 101 and The Power to Choose
• 2^nd Friday – Recognizing Opportunities and Telling Your Story
• 3^rd Friday – Ideas Into Action and Building Your Business Model
• 4^th Friday – Knowledge, Learning, and the Perfect Customer
• 5^th Friday – Marketing and Branding Strategies
• 6^th Friday – Managing Your Business
• 7^th Friday – Financial Literacy
• 8^th Friday – Building a Successful Network
• 9^th Friday - Developing Your Plan of Action
• 10^th Friday- Preparing for Liftoff
• 11^th Friday- IGNITE Day Practice
• 12^th Friday- IGNITE Day

This will be the fourth cohort for the IGNITE Community Accelerator. The Accelerator will not take place on Friday, Sept. 2, due to the Labor Day weekend.