Program aims to help product-ready companies advance to the commercialization phase.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2022
Baton Rouge – Nexus Louisiana is now accepting applications for Ignition 2.0, an initiative designed to guide entrepreneurs through the commercialization process of building their company. Business mentors and industry experts will guide participants through the commercialization process step-by-step while focusing on four critical areas — technology, financials, marketing, and legal.
“Ignition provides a valuable opportunity for dedicated one-on-one time with experienced entrepreneur mentors and subject matter experts (SMEs),” said Stephen Loy, Nexus Louisiana Technology Park executive director. “The mentors will meet with one or two companies weekly and participants can call on them as needed throughout the duration program.
Ignition 2.0, which is the second iteration of the Ignition program launch in 2021, is specifically designed for technology-enabled companies who have moved past the idea and market confirmation stages of building their business and are ready for product development.
The nine-week program will take place weekly on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Nexus Louisiana Technology Park. Ignition 2.0 will kick off on March 30 and conclude on May 25 with a “Demo Day” pitch competition at Goodwood Library. Participating companies will compete to win a $10,000 investment funded by Innovation Catalyst. “Demo Day” presents a unique opportunity that allows each company to showcase their innovations to the community,” said Loy.
The schedule is as follows:
- March 30: Intro & Elevator Pitch
- April 6: The Market
- April 13: Solution/Product
- April 20: Business Model
- April 27: Competitors
- May 4: Financials
- May 11: The Ask
- May 18: The Deck
- May 25: Demo Day
In addition to the weekly sessions, participants are expected to invest approximately five hours each week shaping their business idea outside of class. “This program is about making real progress and we hope companies looking to do that will apply,” said Loy.
Participation is limited to 12 companies, and preference will be given to the candidates who demonstrate the aptitude and attitude to complete the program and commercialize a scalable, tech-enabled business. The total cost for the program is $200, with scholarships available. The deadline to apply is March 27 at 11:59 p.m. For more information, visit www.nexusla.org/ignition.
Ignition 2.0 is partially funded by America’s Seed Fund powered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). NexusLA is a winner of the SBA’s Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC), designed to spur innovative ideas that inclusively support entrepreneurs researching and developing STEM-related innovations in underrepresented communities. NexusLA is one of two Louisiana-based accelerators and incubators to receive the $50,000 award through the GAFC initiative.
—
About Nexus Louisiana
Nexus Louisiana is a Baton Rouge-based 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides high-potential, technology-enabled companies the coaching, capital and connections they need to accelerate their growth.
About America’s Seed Fund
America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF awards $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across almost all areas of science and technology can receive up to $2 million to support research and development (R&D), helping de-risk technology for commercial success. America’s Seed Fund is congressionally mandated through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of about $8.5 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. For more information, visit seedfund.nsf.gov.
MEDIA CONTACT
Na’Tisha Natt
Director of Marketing & Communications
Nexus Louisiana
natisha@nexusla.org
(225) 408-5018
