Launchary Tech Accelerator

MISSION: To improve access to mentoring, education, networking and engineering support required to build successful technology start-up companies with an emphasis on women-owned, minority-owned and other under-served and aspiring entrepreneurs.

VISION: To improve lives through technology entrepreneurship as a way to strengthen and enrich the social and economic futures of our diverse under-served community.

Impact: Focus

• Minority-owned, woman-owned & underserved communities
• Provide engineering resources through talent augmentation & technical education, boot camps, access to maker-space
• B2B Startups, Social Impact, and Multi-Cultural Community solutions

Accelerator Model

• Small Class (Up-to-5 under-represented & underserved innovative companies)
• Mentorship-Driven (20-40 mentors)
• Development Resources (Cohorts receives in-kind engineering investment between [$25K to $100K])
• Favorable Terms to Entrepreneurs (usually 6-10% small equity stake)
• Short-Term (36 months long program)

4-Step Program

• Assess - We seek top-notch, passionate minority entrepreneurs. Find a fit, understand end-goals & create custom proposal on how to move forward.
• Build - Agile & Lean Software Development process via SCRUM.
• Launch - Provide additional resources for continued support of the product.
• Exit - Ensure the next phase of success.

Uses of Prize Money

• Conduct a 5-team cohort starting in Q2 2016
• Pay for office rent, amenities, training events & engineering resources
• Hire a Dedicated Program Manager

Planning and Funding Phases

• Phase I - Set cohort program infrastructure (office space, program definition specifics/mechanics, set schedule, recruit mentors, investors, VCs & service providers)
• Phase II - Raise additional funding (4-1 match)

Accelerator Model Phases

• Phase III - Receive Applications & Recruit cohorts
• Phase IV - Cohort program begins (3 to 6 mos)
• Phase V - Demo Day
• Phase VI - Follow-through action plans & execution

Selection Criteria

• Team - passionate and industry knowledge
• Diversity - actively engage women, minority & underserved technopreneurs
• GSD (Get Stuff Done) - lean mindset, teachable & action oriented
• Huge Target Market - Great team taking on a huge market (over $1B)

Funding Goals / Metrics

• 4-to-1 from various federal, state, county & city economic development - 25%
• Kickstarter Campaign - 25%
• Non-profits that supports economic development - 25%
• Private donations and local business support - 25%

Success Metrics

• Reached specific goals set by each cohort
• Built Key Relationships for cohorts
• Secure follow-up funding for cohorts
• ROI for Stakeholders (successful exit, viable new ventures, ROI for investors)
• Open Access for All - remove barriers of entry for the most poverty & underserved communities

That's all folks!