The John E. and Alice L. Butler
Venture Accelerator Program
There are many different pathways to entrepreneurship including starting a business, creating a venture in a family enterprise, buying a business, commercializing a technology, buying a franchise, or growing a non-profit.
The John E. and Alice L. Butler Venture Accelerator Program supports and advances this wide variety of entrepreneurial endeavors– from ideation to exit. To do this we tailor support based on venture stage and type as well as entrepreneur experience and goals providing resources at three phases – exploring, pursuing, and launching and growing. Each phase has a dedicated faculty advisor, provides open lab space to collaborate, experiment, and work, and presents a range of services. An assessment survey is used to determine at what phase an entrepreneur enters the Accelerator and advances from one phase to the next.
Infrastructure – The Infrastructure provides for the coordination of mentors and advisors, assessments, workshops, space, peer groups, events, resources and fundraising. Cindy Klein Marmer, Manager of the John E. and Alice L. Butler Venture Accelerator Program, and Antonette Ho, Manager of Entrepreneur Programs, manage the infrastructure for the Accelerator.
Explore – In this phase students are generating and exploring ideas, conducting research and validating market opportunities. This involves industry and market analysis to determine the feasibility of an opportunity and an articulation of the problem, social and/or economic need. A feasibility study must be completed before moving to the next phase. Professors Peter Bagley and Mary Gale are the faculty advisors for this phase.
Pursue - This phase involves shaping the opportunity, and creating a plan for execution. This involves market research, talking to customers, building prototypes, proving technologies, and building leadership teams. Professor Caroline Daniels is the faculty advisor for this phase.
Launch and Grow - In this phase ventures are launched and executed, and students “live” the experience; creating a revenue stream, finding investors, and marketing their products and services. Professor Angelo Santinelli is the faculty advisor for this phase.