Get Into gBETA, A Free Startup Accelerator.
gBETA is gener8tor’s free accelerator program for startups with local roots.
It’s been roughly 1 year and 4months since gener8tor — a nationally ranked startup accelerator expanded into Minneapolis from wisconsin.
Since then, gener8tor has expanded it’s gBETA program into Northeast Wisconsin and Detroit — Adding to the existing roster of 4 cities. Minneapolis, Madison, Milwaukee & Beloit for a total of 6 cities and growing!
During the past year working at at gener8tor, I’ve had the privilege of meeting hundreds of founders, and at some point, they all ask the same question.
“What can I do to get accepted into your program?”
Because you’re all my favorites, I decided to write up this short article that will hopefully answer that question for all you querious founders out there!
PS: Applications for gBETA Minneapolis spring 2018 are now open!!!
What is gBETA? and what should I expect.
gBETA is a free, seven-week accelerator for early-stage companies with local roots. Each program is capped at five teams, and requires no fees and no equity.
- A formal relationship with at least 2–3 mentors with relevant expertise.
- Introductions to gener8tor network (successful entrepreneurs, angel investors, venture capitalists and technologists.)
- Individualized coaching and mentorship from the experienced gener8tor team.
- Office space.
- $1M+ in deals and perks from vendors like SoftLayer, Rackspace, Amazon, PayPal, Zendesk and Microsoft.
How do I get in?
Now that we understand what gBETA is, I will let you in on the secrets that will hopefully get you accepted!
- Complete the full application: You’d be surprised at the amount of founders who submit empty applications or applications with missing sections. This is the easiest way to weed yourself out.
- Updates: Whether it’s an email, phone call or in-person meeting, keeping in touch and giving bi-weekly or monthly updates is crucial in developing a relationship and staying top-of-mind!
- Team: Your team has to be passionate, determined, capable and has to get along well. No exceptions.
- Idea: Ideas should be big and ambitions with a large potential market
- Traction: Although we expect napkin ideas for gBETA, having some sort of traction is wonderful! (1000 people in our email list, # of users, Revenue? low CAC? ) what can you brag about!!!
If you have any questions/concerns, you can schedule an office hour with a gener8tor team member to answer all your questions in detail!
Conclusion.
Although there’s no perfect equation for getting accepted into gBETA, there are things you could do that would make you a stronger candidate and therefore giving you a high chance at getting accepted.
Apply to a gBETA program, applications are open for spring 2018 cohorts!
For more info on how to get accepted into gener8tor, read Avi of Ivory Clasps’s Huffpost article on how to get into YC. same concept…ohh and Avi’s Ivory Clasp is a gener8tor portfolio.
