Transform your startup vision with Ben Franklin’s TechCelerator!

Calling all aspiring entrepreneurs! Ben Franklin’s TechCelerator is offering a 10-week business boot camp to help you turn your startup dreams into reality.

STATE COLLEGE, PA – During our intensive 10-week TechCelerator business boot camp, you’ll dive deep into the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, guided by experienced mentors and industry experts. This program goes beyond traditional business education by emphasizing practical skills and real-world applications. From understanding customer discovery to building a compelling pitch deck, TechCelerator offers a comprehensive curriculum tailored to meet the needs of early-stage startups.

Program Highlights:

  • Expert Mentorship: Learn from seasoned entrepreneurs and industry experts who have successfully navigated the startup landscape.
  • Comprehensive Curriculum: Gain insights into customer discovery, business model development, and creating a powerful pitch deck.
  • Collaborative Environment: Expand your network by connecting with like-minded individuals and potential collaborators.
  • Practical Skills: Develop and refine your pitch deck with personalized feedback from coaches.
  • Guest Speakers: Gain invaluable knowledge from experts across various industries through guest lectures and interactive sessions.
  • No Cost to Participants*: We aim to make entrepreneurship accessible to everyone, with no cost to participate in the program.

Course Information:

  • Start Date: September 24, 2024
  • Finale: December 3, 2024
  • Class Schedule: Tuesdays, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm (Virtual via Zoom)
  • Coaching Sessions: Wednesdays or Thursdays at 9:30 am, 11:00 am, 2:00 pm, or 3:30 pm

The program culminates in a final session on December 3, 2024, where participants can showcase their refined pitch decks and business visions to a panel of judges for a chance to win up to $10,000 in funding. Participants will also take home a guaranteed $1,000 for successfully completing the TechCelerator course.

Hear from our past TechCelerator participants!

“Understanding how to get honest customer feedback, understanding the components and building a pitch deck, the guest speakers that shared their experiences, and the mentorship of the facilitators/instructors.”

“The biggest benefit for me was developing my pitch deck and being able to practice it. I have never made one before, so having feedback from the coaches, and the ability to tweak the pitch deck was great.”

“The biggest benefits were having coaches who have been in our shoes and could speak from real experiences they’ve managed and also having access to all the experts that were brought in as guest speakers. Their insight was invaluable!”

Interested in learning more or applying for the TechCelerator? Visit cnp.benfranklin.org/techcelerator.

Application deadline is September 13, 2024, with decisions by September 18, 2024.

*To be eligible to apply, you must be located in one of our 32 counties we cover. To find out which counties are eligible, please visit cnp.benfranklin.org/service-area.

About the TechCelerator: Our partnership is designed to offer entrepreneurs, students, faculty members, and small business owners an all-encompassing support system. This includes access to loan and investment programs, expert mentoring, and comprehensive entrepreneurial training – all conveniently online. This innovative approach to business incubation aims to foster an entrepreneurial climate, increase technology transfer opportunities, and nurture a thriving startup culture in Pennsylvania. Learn more at cnp.benfranklin.org/techcelerator.

About Ben Franklin Technology Partners: The largest seed investor in our region, Ben Franklin Technology Partners (an initiative of the PA Department of Community & Economic Development and funded by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority) has been providing investment capital, business support services, and operational assistance to emerging tech-startups and small manufacturers for nearly 40 years. Learn more at cnp.benfranklin.org.