ThrottleUpTN
ThrottleUpTN™ will assist you with the key decisions to get your company started or successfully moving to the next level. Through a series of group sessions and one-on-one mentoring and coaching meetings, seasoned entrepreneurs and business professionals will help prepare you for the launch of your company or the next growth stage of your business. The ThrottleUpTN™ program will help you develop viable and sustainable business strategies and models and help you develop the communications capabilities and materials to obtain the funding that any company needs to grow.
What do you receive?
- Ten hours of group instruction that will cover such key topics as:
- Small Business Strategic Planning
- Building a Sustainable Business Model and Plan
- Customer Value, Identifying Your Target Market and Market Research
- Building a Credible Funding Plan and Finding Funding Sources
- How to Present Your Business to Investors or Loan Officers
Up to twelve hours of individual mentoring and coaching sessions will be provided to help the management team develop the individual strategies, goals, and plans to help the individual companies prepare for the demands of starting or growing a business.
So, what does it cost? The ThrottleUpTN™ program is free to qualified entrepreneurs and businesses in east Tennessee. Through a grant from the CITI Foundation, Tech 2020 and its partner, Pathway Lending will provide this program free of charge.
What’s the catch? No catch. Just apply by using the application form by August 30, 2011. The program directors from Tech2020 and/or Pathway Lending will call you to discuss your business and application. Acceptance into the program is at the sole description of Tech2020 and Pathway Lending.
Have a need for funding? Those companies that have the desire for debt funding and complete the program will be able to meet with a Pathway Lending officer who will review their funding needs and requirements. Whether or not Pathway Lending becomes your lending source, you will have a solid plan to take to any bank or lending institution.
A Bonus for those looking for equity capital – Those companies that qualify may be invited to present at the Entrepreneurial Imperative Conference in Knoxville, TN on November 17, 2011. Angel and Venture Capital investors will be in attendance to listen to the best small companies in east TN pitch their business models and need for funding. If you have a great business model and want investor capital, you could be one of the companies participating.
The Top Company Gets $5,000 – The top five companies with the best business models and funding pitches will compete for a top prize of $5,000. So, if you could use $5K for marketing materials or to help you attend that trade show to introduce your product, this could be a great opportunity for you.
What is your obligation? Attend the classes and scheduled mentoring/coaching sessions and put forth an honest effort to execute the plans and actions to achieve the goals that you will set for your business.
You will also let us know how you are performing by telling us some key business performance parameters such as number of employees, payroll, revenue, and capital raised for up to 3 years after the program. This information is kept in confidence and only the aggregated data of all companies participating is shared with our funder. Through this data we can tell how well the program has met its mission of economic development and job growth in east Tennessee.
Qualification of Applicants:
- Existing Small Businesses
- Must have less than 500 employees and less than $1 million in revenue
- Must be in an early or growth stage of development
- Must have a product or service that can sustain a growth level of at least 20% per year
- Entrepreneurs or Individuals wishing to start a business
- Must have a good idea of what the product or service is to be developed
- The product or service must be capable of sustaining a growth rate of 20% per year
Tentative Program Schedule:
- Applications taken until August 31, 2011
- Classes conducted in September, 2011
- Mentoring and Coaching begins in September and is conducted to a mutually agreeable schedule
To Download The Application: click on the following link: ThrottleUpTN Application
For More Information Contact:
Todd Fisher
Director, CEG
Tech 2020
865-228-4853