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Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) has kicked off its Build Stage Accelerator, an outpost program with StarterStudio® designed to meet the needs of startups that are commercializing technology developed by universities and organizations like NASA.
In 2017, ERAU selected StarterStudio to manage a $1M seed fund to invest in promising new technology companies to help jump-start a thriving Volusia County innovation corridor with high-quality and high-paying job opportunities. Startups are carefully selected and vetted through an accelerator program to set them up for success. After a three-year hiatus, the program has resumed offering the Embry-Riddle Build Stage Accelerator to continue its track record of economic development and investment in the local community. This year’s cohort includes startups founded by Embry-Riddle students and professors, startups currently residing in the MicaPlex Technology Business Incubator, and a startup from the Volusia County community.
In the 10-week program, high-tech startup founders will learn how to build, sustain, and grow their business by focusing on their go-to-market strategy, perfecting their customer pitch, creating business infrastructure (accounting, finance, legal, human resources, insurance), building company culture, operational planning and scaling and learning fundamentals of sales management, marketing, customer onboarding, expansion and growth, key performance indicators (KPIs), and funding options and sources. At the end of the program, participating startups will have the chance to pitch their companies at a demo day event to an audience of mentors, advisors, sponsors, community stakeholders, and the StarterStudio investment committee. Participating startups are eligible for $10k-25k in funding at the conclusion of the program, and matching funds in the future up to $225k.
Group pic back row left to right: Pradeep Shinde (SpaceLoon), Elias Campbell (CerebriTech), Alex Britton (Cerebritech), Taylor Stroup (Velocity Technologies), Ali Tamijani (Novineer), Salman Ahmed (CVVlogs), Syed Ahmed (CVVlogs), Stephanie Miller (ERAU), Ramy Rahimi (ERAU)
Front row: Dawn Haynes, Lilian Myers, Bob Reed, Scott Ritchey (all from StarterStudio)
Not pictured: Ryan Patterson, Nicholas Sontra (both Velocity Technologies)
