Programs Special One-Day Events
Monday, January 25 2016 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Morgan Lewis – 1 Federal Street, Boston, MA (map)
Boston Accelerators: navigating your options
You want to pitch to them - so hear them pitch to you!
You might be interested in getting your startup into an accelerator - and rest assured Boston has no shortage of options - but it’s hard to know exactly what the best options for your stage and industry are. From business support, mentorship and desk space, to equity vs non-equity, marketing, and even prize money - accelerators offer a whole lot and can really help you develop your product, brand, and network. At this panel, you will hear from different types of accelerators about their selection process and programming so that you can make the right choice for your startup. Join us for a panel discussion, drinks and post discussion mingling with speakers from Techstars, MassChallenge, RevUp by Betaspring, Clean Tech Open & InnoLoft by Constant Contact. With our panel you’ll get to learn about National, Non-equity, Revenue Model, Industry Specific and Corporate Accelerators.
Speakers:
Semyon Dukach Managing Director of Techstars
Techstars is a three-month mentorship-driven accelerator program. Techstars is for life — our global ecosystem of founders, mentors, investors, and corporate partners work together to create a network of support that lasts throughout your entrepreneurial journey. We make entrepreneurship accessible by opening doors to capital, mentorship, marketing, business development, customer acquisition, and talent recruitment.
Robby Bitting, Director of Marketing at MassChallenge
MassChallenge is designed to catalyze a global renaissance by connecting high-impact startups with the resources they need to launch and succeed. MassChallenge is a 4-month program which offers mentorship, office space, education, network & community, and other resources. $2 million+ cash awards, $10 million in-kind. It’s open to all: any early-stage startup, in any industry, from anywhere in the world, no equity’s taken and there’s no restrictions on the startups
Melissa Withers, Managing Director at RevUp by Betaspring
RevUp By Betaspring is the 1st accelerator for “revenue-first” companies— where growth through revenue is the primary goal. Companies get $75,000 in cash + immersion in a 3-month program focused on increasing customer acquisition and revenue. RevUp is unique in important ways: we work with companies already generating revenue and we don’t take equity (but instead receive a return as revenue scales). Our program helps companies acquire customers and grow revenue: we aren’t unicorn hunters. Our model doesn’t depend on exits.
Katherine Macdonald, Executive Director at Clean Tech Open
Cleantech Open is the oldest and largest cleantech startup accelerator program, with the mission to find, fund, and foster entrepreneurs with ideas to solve our greatest environmental and energy challenges. Through our annual business competition and accelerator program, we connect cleantech startups with the people and resources that will accelerate their success, and provide a national platform for public visibility.
Andy Miller, Chief Innovator and founder at SMB Innoloft by Constant Contact
The Small Business Innovation Program is a 1st-of-its-kind accelerator program, hosted and run by Constant Contact. It supports entrepreneurs passionate about helping small businesses by building new products, features and services. Twice a year, small classes of startups will take up residence in our show-stopping InnoLoft: 30,000 square feet of lab, test kitchen, play room, business school, safe space, and launch pad for startups to work, disrupt, dream, test, strategize and plan. In 4 month sessions, startups can access a UX lab, reconfigurable meeting and work space or showers for those late nights. From our internal marketing, social media, tech and small business experts, to advisors, investors, and potential customers, they’ll meet everyone critical to the growth, scalability and success of their startup.
Moderated by:
Will Perkins, Partner at Morgan Lewis
William S. Perkins concentrates his practice on general corporate transactions, with an emphasis on venture investments, structuring and financing emerging businesses, public and private offerings of securities and mergers and acquisitions, including representation of both strategic and financial and investors and acquirors. He has extensive experience working with startups of all stages in the Boston Ecosystem.
