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March 8, 2021 @ 11:59 PM EST
INCUBATION BENEFITS
MORE THAN $20,000 IN BUSINESS SERVICES
Business Coaching
1-on-1 coaching from our
Entrepreneur-in-Residence and network introductions.
Coworking Space
Full membership to Ascender’s 24/7 workspace in our diverse, collaborative coworking space.
Tailored Programming
Unlimited access to all Ascender programs as well as Incubator-specific educational programming.
Expert Mentors
Access to Ascender's robust community of mentors to guide you in your entrepreneurial journey.
Financial Support
Up to $5,000 in equity-free
funding to support yourgrowth model.
Technical Support
Help from professionals with branding, accounting, websites, and more.
Marketing Exposure
Exposure across Ascender's digital platforms to elevate your brand.
Alumni Network
Connections to dozens of Incubator alumni who have been there and done that.
OUR PIPELINE INTO INCUBATION
APPLY
Read through this page
and submit your best
application.
PRE-INCUBATION BOOTCAMP
If your application stands out, then
we'll invite you to participate in
Pre-Incubation Bootcamp.
INCUBATION
If we're impressed by your pitch
& think we can help, you'll be
asked to join our Incubator.
BOOTCAMP: OUR PIPELINE INTO INCUBATION
Click the button to watch an info-session about the 2023 program & application.
BOOTCAMP: OUR PIPELINE INTO INCUBATION
Step #1 – APPLY: Submitting an application is the first step to be considered for incubation.
- Read through each section of this page to fully understand program requirements, eligibility, expectations, and benefits.
- Check your calendar and mark down the important dates and application deadline.
- Submit your application for free.
- The Ascender team reviews your application and invites you to participate in Pre-Incubation Bootcamp if it stands out.
- If invited, mark the dates and make accommodations in preparation for Bootcamp. In 2024, Pre-Incubation Bootcamp spanned two weekends in the spring (April 17, 26-28; May 4).
- Participate in a free multi-day, in-person experience where teams walk away with a refined business plan and action plan for their companies. Full participation is required to be considered for incubation.
Step #3 – INCUBATION: Start building your best business.
- Companies that complete Pre-Incubation Bootcamp should look for an email from our team with notification of acceptance into our Incubator.
- There is a participation fee of $250 for the Incubation program class of 2025. By paying the program fee, each participant is demonstrating their willingness to invest in themselves and complete the program. Assistance is available as needed.
We welcome early-stage companies with a business idea or existing solution from all backgrounds, including software, hardware, retail, technology, and social enterprises.
- Open to tech startups and small/micro business owners across many industries
- Must be 18+ years old
- Generated between $0 – $200k (gross revenue, grants, investment, etc.)
- Full participation in Pre-Incubation Bootcamp is mandatory
- Desire to build something that can turn into a full-time job and scale
What’s Pre-Incubation Bootcamp?
Pre-Incubation Bootcamp (a.k.a. Bootcamp) is a way for us to support more entrepreneurs than we can incubate. The multi-day intensive virtual and in-person experience combines workshops, hands-on business planning, and access to experts to help move your business forward. Pre-Incubation Bootcamp also allows us to get to know you! We want to make sure that we can fully support all of the entrepreneurs we accept into our Incubator.
This year, Pre-Incubation Bootcamp will be held in-person at Ascender to provide more opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and collaboration.
Ready to get started? Check out our tips for a successful application.
- Learn from the pros. Watch a recap of our application workshop to gain tips for submitting your best application.
- Watch our recorded info session. Don’t forget that the Ascender team is here to help from the very beginning. Watch a recording of our virtual info-session.
- Meet with our team. Connect with us during our monthly programs to learn more.
- Do your research. Make sure that you provide as much information as possible on your idea, product, or service, and don’t forget every company has competitors!
- Be honest and bold. Don’t hold back when sharing why you are the right fit for Ascender. Tell us how your values align with Ascender’s and how we’ll both benefit from each other.
- Submit your best. Writing a strong application takes practice. Check out our post on how to step up your incubator application game.
- Apply before the deadline. Don’t wait until the last minute and submit your application before the deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Ascender works with startups and small businesses across a broad range of industries, including software, hardware, retail, healthcare, education, and social ventures.
We also don’t limit the definition of entrepreneurship to startups seeking venture capital. While we certainly work with these businesses, we also support and foster the growth of entrepreneurial enterprises that may never need to raise funding, including small family-owned business models, local impact models, local retail businesses, and others.
No, you don’t. For now, it’s okay if you are a solo entrepreneur. However, we like to see teams as opposed to individuals. Our experience shows that a team is less likely to get “stuck” and more likely to discover creative solutions to problems than a one-person company.
We strongly prefer teams with the technical aptitude to build the core business assets. For example, if your company is web-based, someone on your team must have the technical knowledge to build the necessary front and back-end platforms.
Our team doesn’t claim to have expertise in every industry. However, at an early stage, startups of all shapes and sizes will face similar challenges, and our team is very experienced in navigating those challenges.
Once we’ve worked with you to develop a working business model and a plan of attack, we leverage strategic partnerships with industry leaders in the region to accelerate your growth.
Rather than inundate each entrepreneur with “too many voices” at the beginning of the process, our team will work with our network of mentors, advisors, and industry experts to better guide your progress. Once your company clears certain determined benchmarks, we’ll connect you directly to the appropriate mentors and advisors.
There are a few types of businesses that we do not typically accept into our Incubator program because the curriculum doesn’t meet their unique needs. These businesses include restaurants, aerospace companies, traditional artists (check out the Next Leap Program), construction companies (check out the Riverside Center for Innovation), real estate agencies, individual consultants or coaches, and non-commercializable medical or healthcare products.
Book time with our team if you have questions about your eligibility.
Still Have Questions?
Reach out to the Ascender Team and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
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