The entity that’s behind the redevelopment of Tacoma’s Old City Hall has announced a business accelerator program at one of its existing properties.
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Accelerate253 is a free program planned to start later this month at Surge Tacoma’s Union Club, 539 Broadway, Tacoma.
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The program, open to all, is seeking up to 20 startup companies/entrepreneurs to participate, according to Surge Tacoma CEO Eli Moreno.
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Moreno is also involved in bringing Tacoma’s Old City Hall back to life, rebranded as Surge OCH, offering coworking space, restaurants, retail, office, event space and more.
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Moreno told The News Tribune in an email this week that, “For the past few years, we’ve been trying to start an accelerator here in town, a place where entrepreneurs can learn how to start and launch new businesses that can potentially generate lots of new jobs in our city,” adding ”that time has arrived!”
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Moreno says the accelerator program will offer coaching and support from other entrepreneurs and investors, and the opportunity “to present your business to a group of investors.”
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Organizers, in a release, said, “We especially encourage you to apply if you’re a BIPOC, veteran or woman-led organization.”
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The sessions will encompass four Thursday evenings starting April 20 at the Union Club, and will include 3-hour workshops with Peter Weiss, president of American Outlook, Inc. and co-founder of Codex DF, an enterprise software company, according to Weiss’ LinkedIn profile.
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The sessions culminate in a presentation event from 4 to 7 p.m. June 1, also at Union Club.
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Participants also have the chance at winning a cash prize.
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According to Moreno, participants will be entered for the chance to win a $15,000 cash prize, “plus other in-kind services to help with the launching of your business, like a startup marketing package from Foster’s Creative.”
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Second-place winners will receive $5,000.
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For more information or to sign up, go to startup253.com/accelerate253
Debbie Cockrell ha estado en The News Tribune desde 2009. Informa sobre negocios y desarrollo, temas locales y regionales.
