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ASU seeks Arizona entrepreneurs for accelerator program


ASU Startup Accelerator company Bosse Tools w/ Sparky at ASU Day at the Capitol
May 05, 2014

Are you an Arizona entrepreneur with a budding venture you’re ready to take to the next level? Could your great business idea benefit from mentorship, exclusive access to training and workspace, and the opportunity to secure funding from investors? If so, apply to be part of the next cohort of Arizona State University’s Startup Accelerator program. Applications are due May 30, and space is limited.

Based at ASU SkySong in Scottsdale, the ASU Startup Accelerator strategically supports and guides startup companies as they develop products and services, build a customer base and secure funding. Arizona-based ventures in all sectors are encouraged to apply. The program is open to both ASU and non-ASU applicants, including students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.

“The ASU Startup Accelerator provides invaluable connections, resources and guidance for Arizona’s emerging ventures,” said Gordon McConnell, associate vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation in ASU’s Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development. “This is an unprecedented opportunity for the state’s entrepreneurs to move their startups forward.”

The ASU Startup Accelerator runs two, six-month accelerator cycles each year, and up to 12 startups are accepted into each cycle. Ventures in the accelerator receive:

• connections to more than 300 mentors with extensive experience
• exclusive training opportunities, including ASU’s Rapid Startup School
• collaborative workspace at ASU SkySong
• access to services from tech companies such as Google, Microsoft and Rackspace
• participation in a demo day with investors

The accelerator, which was created and is managed by ASU’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group, has been designed to nurture companies from all sectors. Participants in the current cohort are commercializing technologies ranging from mobile railroad crossings (Rail X) and nanocrystalline magnetic materials (Rayn Innovations) to customizable financial services (Set for Life Financial) and molecular medical diagnostics (Iron Horse Diagnostics). The interaction among participants working on diverse technologies, and the different perspectives they share with each other are unique strengths of the program.

The diversity of businesses that benefit from the ASU Startup Accelerator is reflected in the current accelerator cohort, which includes:

• Arium Learning Technologies
• Bosse Tools
• Bust’DD
• Iron Horse Diagnostics
• Leccel
• Nutritional Health Awareness
• Pivotal Energy Solutions
• Rail X
• Rayn Innovations
• Seprane
• Set for Life Financial
• TF Health
• Volatus Logic
• Yo! Moments

“The companies in the current cohort have moved their businesses forward by leaps and bounds during the last accelerator cycle,” said Fred von Graf, the ASU venture manager who leads the accelerator. “We look forward to helping even more Arizona startups advance their ventures during the next cycle.”

Teams interested in participating in the ASU Startup Accelerator must complete an online application describing their business model, team and target market. Companies will be selected based on the nature of their business idea and the team behind it, and are not required to have any affiliation with ASU.

In recognition of the innovation ecosystem that ASU has created, U.S. News and World Report recently ranked ASU second among the country’s most innovative schools. Participants in the ASU Startup Accelerator will directly benefit from the resources and entrepreneurial spirit that have created this ecosystem.

Apply now to be part of the ASU Startup Accelerator and maximize the potential of your business with mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, training and resources designed specifically for startups, and opportunities to secure funding. Apply online by May 30.