What to Expect?

The South Dakota Technology Business Center Accelerator is a program designed to help entrepreneurs launch their business in South Dakota.

The Accelerator program provides a framework for technology entrepreneurs to develop their concept and launch their business. The Accelerator accepts applications from individuals and entrepreneurial teams that ask the founders of the company to identify their product or service by first defining the problem that they will solve. The application process encourages the start-up founders to think about the challenges that they will face to launch a successful business, for example, to identify the potential customers and the breadth and depth of the market place for their product or service.

Between six and ten qualified start-up companies will be accepted into the program each spring. This entrepreneurial group will be asked to complete several assignments prior to the Accelerator Boot Camp to insure that the accelerator class is at or near the same level at the start of the Boot Camp.

Participation

Selected SDTBC Accelerator candidates will be expected to participate all day everyday of the Accelerator Boot Camp week. During that week there will be some evenings that include networking events and each evening there will be additional home work that you may be expected to accomplish prior to the start of the next day’s session.

During the week of the Accelerator Boot Camp the participants will work together, but within their own business team, to launch their business. They will learn from regional experts in many areas including but not limited to--

• Assistance in company image development
• Legal help in business formation 
• Legal help for protecting their intellectual property
• Guidance in building their management team
• Developing and understanding financial statements and projections
• Financial planning and funding options
• Introductions to and advice from angel investors and venture capitalists
• Business networking techniques and opportunities to practice
• Introductions to mentors and other business advisors

The Accelerator program will continue for twelve weeks of follow on incubation and meetings. During this time all of the Accelerator participants will be expected to continue to work to launch their business in an approved incubation facility. This will allow each of the start-up companies the time and guidance necessary to complete their personalized milestones and earn all of the milestone payments that are part of the SDTBC Accelerator program. Applicants will be encouraged and assisted in finding appropriate incubators or other economic development groups in their locality to assist in the incubation portion of the program in South Dakota locations other than Sioux Falls.

SDTBC Accelerator • What to Expect • Rewarding Success • Apply Now

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