If you have an idea or are in the process of getting your business started but find yourself “stuck” or at a loss for the best way to move forward, this Cohort might be a good fit for you. Guidance will include support from ideation to execution and investment – all tailored for the cohort member’s particular stage in growth.
Donor Name: NW Innovation Resource Center
State: Washington
County: Snohomish County (WA), Skagit County (WA) , Whatcom County (WA), Island County (WA), and San Juan County (WA)
Type of Grant: Accelerator Program
Deadline: Ongoing
Duration: 10 Weeks
Details:
The NW Innovation Resource Center in partnership with CleanTech Alliance and WA Maritime Blue is convening a cohort of bluetech/cleantech innovators and early stage startups in northwest Washington. Building upon the mindset of innovation in the area, the cohort members will have access to assistance from experts to explore the viability of their ideas and build their startup business.
Clean technology (cleantech) is a general term used to describe products, processes or services that reduce waste and pollution and require as few non-renewable resources as possible. Cleantech cohort participants can be involved in a wide range of industry such as food & agriculture, smart buildings, energy efficiencies, manufacturing and so many more.
Bluetech involves innovative solutions to benefit the maritime and ocean economies, healthy marine and ocean ecosystem.
Program
Additional resources: research capabilities, building resilience into your business idea, project management, and more will be available for participants to supplement the program materials.
Schedule and Costs
Cohort will run for 10 weeks beginning in September 13th, 2022
- Week 1: Gearing Up for Success – How to start researching your idea.
- Week 2: Innovation for Entrepreneurs – How to start validating your idea.
- Week 3: Design Thinking for Entrepreneurs – Using design thinking to validate your idea.
- Week 4: Build Your Business Model Canvas – Discuss initial validation.
- Week 5: IP Basics – IP strategy from a cleantech entrepreneur perspective.
- Week 6: Market strategy – Marketing a bluetech/cleantech startup amid climate change
- Week 7: Financials – Financials for investment and operations value.
- Week 8: Presentation Materials – Essentials for your ppt accompanying documents.
- Week 9: Communication Skills for Business – Connect authentically with your listener.
- Week 10: Presentation to Panel of Experts – Receive feedback for each participant’s company and business from industry and investor experts.
Benefits
- Ongoing support for execution of their business strategy from NWIRC
- Leading ideas receive invitations to apply for the Cascadia CleanTech Accelerator program (a joint program from the CleanTech Alliance & VertueLab) or WA Maritime Blue Accelerator
- Membership in Cleantech Alliance or WA Maritime Blue for one year.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants may be in the early idea stage – requiring assistance with ideation and determination regarding viability of your product or service. Applicants should be pre-revenue and pre-external funding (excluding grant funding).
- All cohort members will benefit from the program. Members will be able to benefit from additional individual assistance to accommodate the difference in business stages.
- Members must be able to participate fully in the cohort program.
- Applicants sought from the Counties of Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island and San Juan. Applicants from other Counties will be given consideration.
- Applications will be reviewed by a group of bluetech/cleantech experts. Selection of a maximum of 10 will be named as members of the cohort.
For more information, visit NW Innovation Resource Center.
