The next cohort of business teams to be selected for the Spring 2017 UGA Idea Accelerator program will begin their startup adventure on February 13th. Operated by local economic development nonprofit Four Athens, the UGA Idea Accelerator is held twice a year to put new business ideas through a rigorous 8-week program to challenge market viability, while testing would-be entrepreneurs’ ability to pitch to investors, lead a startup company, and attract the right talent.

Jim Flannery, Four Athens Board member and ATDC liaison, describes the Accelerator by saying, “Having worked with over 100 teams since the inception of the Accelerator, our goal is to quickly help potential entrepreneurs validate their ideas for commercial viability and gain the skills needed to take their business idea to the next stage.”

The Spring 2017 cohort will meet twice a week at the UGA design studios for 90-minute sessions beginning on Monday, February 13th. From the initial group of business teams, those that pass the customer discovery phase in the first four weeks move on to the final two phases: Financial Literacy and Investor Readiness. The teams that survive the entire 8-week ordeal then have a chance to pitch their business idea to a panel of judges to win a $5,000 initial investment.

Applications to join the newest cohort of the Idea Accelerator close soon on Thursday, February 9th. Teams can apply at fourathens.com/accelerator.

Since its initial round two years ago, the Idea Accelerator has awarded $25,000 to local startup companies, including the winners of the Fall 2016 competition, Nedza’s Waffles, along with previous winners MiraBlue Bio, QuickPick, eleez, and Vestigo.