The N2TEC Institute is kicking off its new Technology Accelerator summer program designed to jumpstart technology companies. Based on a national search for new technology companies, four entrepreneur teams were selected for the Technology Accelerator program. The teams will be awarded $15,000 each in seed capital and will spend 8 weeks in South Dakota with access to industry and professional experts to help them launch their businesses. The companies will also participate in business workshops, networking opportunities, access to potential investors, and mentoring.
The N2TEC Technology Accelerator awarded teams are:
Bid Your Hunt – Kyle Mulder and Eric Hesla – Canton, SD
Bid Your Hunt will provide a service for both hunters and land owners. An online auction and communication medium, the broad goal of this website is to provide hunters access to private land through a bidding process.
Ideas on Whiteboards – John and Scott Meyer, Minneapolis MN
Ideas on Whiteboards will offer small-business clients social media management and online advertising services and by developing the technological skills and project ideas of its volunteer workers, help them develop their own internet businesses .
Bowhunting Science – Brandon Bruder and John Warner, Yankton SD
The Bloodhound is BSI’s flagship product that assists bowhunters with tracking and finding their wounded game animal. The Bloodhound is an ethically necessary tool that ensures the bowhunter every opportunity to retreive their trophy.
Edwards Robotics Company – Nate Edwards, Corvalis OR
ERC is a multi-facet robotics company focused on providing two main services at inception: custom robot solutions and consulting services. For the custom robot sector, the target markets consist of industrial business and the consumer.
N2TEC Institute also awarded five companies in Western South Dakota. The West River businesses include: Kl Energy Corporation of Rapid City, SD, Makowapi Enterprises of Rapid City, SD, Sports Buzzard, LLC of Rapid City, SD, A&B Ranch, Inc. of Hermosa, SD and Sustaining Wind Energy of Rapid City, SD.
The Advanced Invention to Venture conference put on by NCIIA (National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance) will be held for the four awarded teams along with six additional entrepreneur teams as a kickoff to the N2TEC Technology Accelerator Program. Advanced Invention to Venture is an intense four-day workshop hosted at the South Dakota Technology Business Center in Sioux Falls, SD. It provides entrepreneurs with instruction and exercises to help their businesses prepare to launch. The workshop is followed by 8 weeks of coaching and mentoring by community members and N2TEC Institute staff and partners.
The N2TEC Technology Accelerator program is a collaborative effort of N2TEC Institute, Enterprise Institute, Innovation Campus, Small Business Development Centers, and the South Dakota Technology Business Center. “N2TEC Institute and its partners understand that technology entrepreneurship is the driver of the economy; therefore, the program is designed to help develop successful companies that will fuel our 21st century economy,” said Kathleen Allen, N2TEC President and co-founder.