Traverse City Center of Entrepreneurship DBA: 20Fathoms will assist technology startups in forming and accelerating their ventures in rural Northwestern Lower Michigan. This project will allow 20Fathoms to provide access to collaborative workspace, mentorship and investor events, and professional services entrepreneurs need to commercialize emerging technologies and scale startups. In addition, 20Fathoms utilizes a user-centric start-up concierge to connect relevant resources in the region, and runs a 12-week accelerator program focused on health technology innovation. 20Fathoms expects to connect startups to $600,000 in grants, investments, and other financial benefits, and match every startup to at least one mentor.

406 Labs, hosted at Montana State University, is Montana’s first technology and high tech manufacturing accelerator program. Its industry focus is on the clusters already thriving in Bozeman: Outdoor Technology, Photonics, Biotech, and SaaS. 406 Labs is a member of the Global Accelerator Network (GAN) that includes presence from some of the world’s top accelerators. Its curriculum focus is modeled after the MITx Global Entrepreneurship Bootcamp and ventures participate in our 90-day extensive program with a focus on market research, product development, mentorship, and resource access.

The Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) at Georgia Tech is Georgia's state-funded technology incubator, assisting entrepreneurs throughout the state. ATDC helps Georgia startups at various stages navigate taking an idea from concept to product prototype to launch and ultimately to scale. ATDC's SBIR Program offers one-on-one coaching and workshops on SBIR/STTR programs throughout the year, which cover the basics of SBIR/STTR programs, including a discussion of the phases of the federal funding program, how the agencies differ and what they are looking for, how to prepare before the agency solicitation comes out, and how to write competitive proposal.

AKA is a statewide, not-for-profit partnership that provides assistance and training to help manufacturers of all sizes grow, improve their manufacturing and business strategies and processes, adopt advanced technologies, increase productivity, reduct costs, and improve competitiveness. 

Region: Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, and Mississippi | Industry/Sector Focus: Agribusiness in rural and urban communities AgLaunch is a Memphis-based accelerator focused on agribusiness that works with startups and entrepreneurs by supporting agtech companies, building new value-chains, and collaborating with an innovative group of farmers. AgLaunch assists in creating new ventures in two areas: (1) technology businesses based around protectable intellectual property focused on solving problems in agriculture; and (2) new value-added process ventures connecting farmers with end-users. AgLaunch provides a range of programs to assist technology-based startup companies and create new value-chains.

Within the Mid-South Delta Agricultural Innovation Cluster (“Delta Ag Cluster”), AgLaunch will create AgLaunch i6, a farm-centric commercial validation program for agricultural-technology startups, as well as expand current AgLaunch365 programming and additional capacity within the AgLaunch Farmer Network. The Delta Ag Cluster is a Tennessee-based multi-state, multi-institution initiative that focuses on creating a platform to commercialize technologies in agriculture and facilitate farmers’ transitions into next generation agricultural opportunities, stimulate job creation in at-risk rural and urban communities, and create a more profitable system to support AgTech investors and startups. The Delta Ag Cluster is an informal regional consortium managed by AgLaunch Initiative, a nonprofit organization operating in partnership with Tennessee Department of Agriculture. AgLaunch and partners collectively form a network of leading, early-adopter farmers incentivized to provide proof-of-concept and commercial validation support to AgTech startups.

A program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA), the Alabama Launchpad is an early-stage seed fund investor driving innovation and job growth through startup competitions and ongoing mentoring for Alabma entrepreneurs.

PTACs help innovative firms sell their products to government agencies, assist with commercialization plans for those interested in selling to the government, understand how to register in SAM, and much more.

The Alabama Small Business Development Center (ASBDC) is a statewide program that provides management and technical assistance to small businesses at each of the ten centers located at partnering Alabama universities. The Alabama SBDC Network specializes in one-on-one business advising and educational training for small businesses. Programs of assistance are developed in response to small business needs and growth opportunities for expansion of the state's economy.

The Alabama Technology Network is a part of the Alabama Community College System and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. ATN's team of experts helps solve the needs of industry and business through innovative, sustainable, cost-effective solutions. ATN conducts detailed needs assessments, outlines potential solutions based on the assessment results, and provides technical assistance and customized training to help companies solve their problems.