Incubators, Accelerators, Grants, Funding, Venture Capital
One of the most frequent questions our clients ask us is how to get access to incubators and accelerators, which provide both intensive mentoring for entrepreneurs as well as start-up capital. Getting selected for these very competitive programs is a sign that of recognition that the entrepreneur has a viable plan and an innovative product or idea. Similarly, grants from city, municipal, and governmental and non-governmental organizations are another important sign of recognition for the would-be entrepreneur. Getting actual funding and start-up capital is, of course, critical to any start-up. These are necessary items for the O-1 visa, the E-2 visa and the National Interest Waiver Green Card.
To help our clients navigate this maze, Artists & Entrepreneurs has partnered with Social Entrepreneur Bozhanka Vitanova. Bozhanka Vitanova is an entrepreneur and researcher who has supported the creation of 100+ businesses across 40 countries. She is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of EML Solutions (https://www.eml.solutions) with a mission to build a collaborative future of work. EML’s solution TeamLift provides a data driven approach to manage collaboration inside large organizations. EML’s solution LiftSME supports the internationalization of SMEs from select developing economies. In the academic space, Bozhanka holds a Master’s degree in International Economics & Finance from Brandeis University, where she now serves as a National Science Foundation I-Corps Instructor, leading entrepreneurship courses for doctoral students at Brandeis University.
Bozhanka is a Fulbright scholar, Global Shaper with the Boston Hub, and One Young World Ambassador. Spending her time between her two homes in Macedonia and Boston, Bozhanka dedicates her energy to enhancing the inherent potential and creativity individuals possess. She first got introduced to the entrepreneurship space in 2013, when she co-founded Yunus&Youth (Y&Y), a social business supported by Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus. Having spent time working with people across different cultures and locations, she speaks Macedonian, English, Spanish, German, Bulgarian, and Croatian/Serbian.
Some of Bozhanka’s talks are featured below.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/entrepeneurship-body-positivity-how-csr-has-to-be-embedded
Bozhanka is available to consult with those who want guidance on how to start their own business and gain access to accelerators and incubators as well as grants and funding. Topics she provides training in include:
Navigating the startup environment
How does one go from an idea to a startup? A guide through the initial, most challenging steps for creating a new venture. Participants get an understanding of basic startup terminology and the core first steps most new companies go through.
Insider tips for applying to incubator and accelerator programs
What do reviewers look for in your application? How can you describe your big vision in 50 words? Participants learn to identify the problem they are solving, outline the value proposition, define a potential business model and understand the factors that make an application stand out.
Preparing your investor pitch
What constitutes a winning slide deck and presentation? What format do you use for an in-person presentation versus an email pitch? Participants get a template they can use for their pitch and learn how to construct their deck for investor meetings or incubator/accelerator presentations.
Options
Introductory Session (30 min) – $200
1 consulting session (60 min): $350
You receive the needed information and initial push to get started and identify opportunities worth pursuing. We review your business model, objectives and challenges. You receive a list of grants/accelerators you can apply to and get help crafting an action plan. During the session, we review the main grant/accelerator application questions and give you insider tips on what types of answers reviewers are looking for. We spend time drafting appropriate answers to the most challenging questions together with you. You also have the option to send in topics/questions you need help with before the session.
4 consulting sessions package (x 60 min): $1400
Initial consultation: Review your business model, achievements to date, current challenges and future objectives. Analyze suitable accelerator programs or available grants. (Note: there are multiple COVID-19 related grants at the moment for businesses influenced by the crisis.) Identify most appropriate opportunities and create an action plan including deliverables. Outline areas in which you need support (e.g. your business model, sales channels, problem definition, quantifying impact etc.).
Session #2: Finalize answers to most common application questions. We work together on best representing your achievements to date and giving you insider tips on what reviewers are looking for, based on the type of application. We discuss any potential business improvements you might need to make to improve your qualifications and chances of getting selected.
Session #3: Finalize your first 3 applications. As you get the hang of what it takes to create a strong written application, we move to creating a strong pitch deck. After passing the first selection round, most accelerators (and sometimes grants) will require an in-person pitch. We cover the basics of what makes a good pitch and go through a template which you can use.
Session #4: Draft your pitch deck and do a practice pitch session. We give you suggestions for improvement and help you create a pitch deck that you can use for presentations in front of accelerator program judges or investors. We show you what kind of adjustments you need to make for each audience.
Note: the topic of the sessions may vary according to your needs and your starting point. The overview presented here assumes no or little previous knowledge.
Group sessions (45 min + 30 min Q&A): $1600
Navigating the startup environment
How does one go from an idea to a startup? A guide through the initial, most challenging steps of creating a new venture. Participants get an understanding of basic startup terminology and the core first steps most new companies go through.
Insider tips for applying to incubator and accelerator programs
What do reviewers look for in your application? How can you describe your big vision in 50 words? Participants learn to identify the problem they are solving, outline the value proposition, define a potential business model and understand the factors that make an application stand out.
Preparing your investor pitch
What constitutes a winning slide deck and presentation? What format do you use for an in-person presentation versus an email pitch? Participants get a template they can use for their pitch and learn how to construct their deck for investor meetings or incubator/accelerator presentations.
Email us at info@artistsandentrepreneurs.com with questions or to set up a consultation or workshop with Bozhanka.