Entrepreneurs from across the globe hoping to claim their place on a world class business Accelerator Programme taking place in Aberdeen have been granted an extra week to perfect their pitch.
Following the success of the pilot Accelerator Programme, which was launched in March 2015, leading entrepreneurial business support agency, Elevator, is set to start the new programme on Monday 19 October.
The closing date for entries for was set for Friday 21 August, but Elevator hasdecided to extend this until Friday (August 28).
Taking place at Elevator’s state of the art headquarters, situated in Aberdeen’s Energy Park at the Bridge of Don, the unique Accelerator Programme is open to energy and technology start-ups andbusiness teams seeking investment and who have ambition to propel their services to a global market place.
Together they will undertake an intense 20 week entrepreneurial experience to drive their businesses onto a high growth curve to become investor ready or positioned to enter new markets.
Elevator staff along with industry mentors will work closely with the new intake of founders to support, inspire and challenge them throughout the process. The founders will spend time working on their business models, participating in workshops led by industry experts and attending keynote presentations from recognised entrepreneurs to broaden their skills and knowledge base.
To assist the learning process, the Centre for Entrepreneurship, which is the first of its kind in Scotland, boasts advanced technology, connecting it to 55 global accelerator programmes, allowing entrepreneurs to participate in events and access help and advice on a worldwide scale.
The centre is also home for employability programmes, community driven projects, and a space were school, college and university students can learn about enterprise and entrepreneurship.
Primarily focussed on oil and gas, the first group of 10 high potential start-up businesses who completed the Elevator Accelerator, also included entrepreneurs from energy, technology, online retail, and health care.
Chief executive of Elevator, Professor Gary McEwan, said: “Elevator has a clear objective of assisting entrepreneurs in reaching their goals, and part of its vision is to build a robust entrepreneurial culture in the city, maximising individual and collective economic and social success on a local, national, and global scale. In light of this, the Elevator Accelerator was established to offer entrepreneurs with the hunger to succeed unrivaled assistance in reaching their goals.
“We want entrepreneurs to submit entries that they are proud of and extending the closing date will allow more budding entrepreneurs time to perfect their applications and pitches for this unique opportunity.”
Entrepreneurs have until Friday (28 August) to submit applications for a place on the Accelerator Programme. Successful candidates will then be invited to pitch in person to a team of judges at Elevator between Monday 7 and Friday 18 September.
Applications can be submitted on www.elevatoruk.com