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Quick details

• The StarºÚÁϳԹÏÍøp Accelerator is an intensive eight-week summer program.
• Required programming typically takes place two to three days per week, with additional meetings, office hours and activities scheduled as needed.
• Founders participate in regular cohort check-ins, pitch practice and milestone reviews throughout the program.
• Participants are expected to complete venture-building work outside of scheduled programming.
• Accepted ventures receive a $10,000 equity-free stipend.

See complete programming and mentorship details below.

The StarºÚÁϳԹÏÍøp Accelerator is an intensive eight-week experience built for founders who are ready to make meaningful progress on their ventures.

Before applying, founders should understand that the Accelerator requires active participation, openness to feedback and a commitment to doing the work between sessions.

Who should apply?

Applicants do not need to be affiliated with Towson University. Both solo founders and founding teams are encouraged to apply. The StarºÚÁϳԹÏÍøp Accelerator is designed for early-stage founders who:

• Have launched or are actively building a venture
• Have begun validating a real problem and target customer
• Have demonstrated some evidence of traction, customer discovery or market demand
• Are ready to test assumptions and make changes based on what they learn
• Can commit meaningful time to their venture throughout the eight-week program
• Are willing to actively participate in a cohort and contribute to the progress of other founders
• Are ready to set measurable goals and be accountable for achieving them

Program Commitment

The Accelerator is a working program, not simply a series of workshops. Founders are expected to participate fully in required programming and arrive prepared to work on their ventures. Founders can expect a combination of:

• In-person programming at the StarºÚÁϳԹÏÍøp at the Armory
• Founder workshops and working sessions
• Individual coaching and mentorship
• Peer accountability
• Meetings with subject matter experts
• Customer discovery and venture-building work
• Ecosystem and networking opportunities
• Pitch development and practice

What You’ll Work On

Each venture enters the Accelerator with different challenges, but the program helps founders strengthen the core areas required to build a sustainable company. Areas of focus may include:

• Customer discovery and validation
• Business model development
• Riskiest assumption testing
• Market and competitive positioning
• Messaging and brand positioning
• Financial and operational readiness
• Metrics and traction
• Go-to-market strategy
• Founder leadership
• Pitch development

Goals and Accountability

At the beginning of the Accelerator, founders establish measurable goals for what they intend to accomplish during the eight-week program.

Throughout the program, founders regularly assess progress, identify barriers and determine their next most important actions. The expectation is progress, not perfection. Progress may include:

• Customer discovery completed
• New customers or users
• Revenue growth
• Product or MVP development
• Partnerships
• Market validation
• Improved operational or financial readiness
• Fundraising readiness
• Other venture-specific milestones

Mentorship and Founder Support

Founders receive access to StarºÚÁϳԹÏÍøp staff, experienced entrepreneurs, alumni founders, mentors and subject matter experts throughout the program. Founders are expected to take ownership of these resources by asking questions, seeking feedback and acting on what they learn.

Funding

Accepted ventures receive a $10,000 equity-free stipend designed to support their participation and venture development during the Accelerator. Additional payment details and requirements are provided to accepted founders before the program begins.

Workspace

Accelerator founders have access to the StarºÚÁϳԹÏÍøp at the Armory and its workspace and resources throughout the program. The Armory serves as the home base for the cohort — the place where you work, collaborate, meet mentors and build alongside other founders.

StarºÚÁϳԹÏÍøp Accelerator Showcase

Following the summer program, founders participate in the StarºÚÁϳԹÏÍøp Accelerator Showcase, where they have the opportunity to share their ventures and progress with Towson University, business leaders, investors, ecosystem partners and the broader community. The Accelerator Showcase is a mandatory event.

Is the StarºÚÁϳԹÏÍøp Accelerator right for you?

The StarºÚÁϳԹÏÍøp Accelerator is designed for founders building venture-scale businesses, new business ideas that are innovative or disruptive, with the potential to create new markets or significantly transform existing ones.

The program targets both Towson University-affiliated and non-affiliated founders who are actively building their ventures and have begun introducing products or services into the market.

The program may be a strong fit if:

• You are building an innovative or disruptive venture with the potential for meaningful market growth.
• You have begun testing, launching or introducing your product or service to customers.
• You have completed customer discovery or gathered early evidence of market demand.
• You are ready to test assumptions and make decisions based on customer and market feedback.
• You can commit meaningful time to your venture throughout the eight-week program.
• You are open to coaching, accountability and feedback from mentors, experts and fellow founders.
• You are prepared to establish measurable goals and actively work toward them throughout the program.

If you’re still exploring an idea, need help reaching an MVP, or aren’t yet ready for an intensive eight-week program, another StarºÚÁϳԹÏÍøp program may be a better fit.