Applications are now open for the next round of teams to be selected for the UGA Idea Accelerator program this Fall. Sponsored by local economic development nonprofit Four Athens, in partnership with the Advanced Technology Development Center the UGA Entrepreneurship Program, and THINC, the Idea Accelerator chooses a cohort of promising business concepts to be put to the test each semester.

Now entering its third year, the Accelerator is an eight-week experience, meeting twice a week for 90-minute sessions on a series of startup viability topics such as customer discovery, making a pitch to partners and investors, and validating financial assumptions. Teams that survive the process are given an opportunity to pitch for a panel of active investors for a $5,000 prize.

Over 60 teams have participated in previous Accelerator rounds, including MiraBlue Bio, winner of the Spring 2016 competition. Describing the experience, MiraBlue founder Song Kue explained how the program “enables students to evolve their good ideas into successful startups using a ‘customer-problem-solution’ approach.” Other previous winners include Vestigo, an outdoor adventure platform now in its second year of operation, and Eleez, a concert ticketing tool.

Commenting on the new round of applications for the Fall 2016 program, Four Athens Executive Director Jim Flannery said, “We are looking for strong teams chasing big ideas. We want to help people with good ideas build great companies.”

The Fall 2016 Idea Accelerator kicks off Monday, September 19th and runs until the final pitch contest among finalists on November 14th. The deadline to apply is September 14th. Applications are online at www.fourathens.com/accelerator.