Tacoma entrepreneurs, here’s your chance to get a business boost and possibly win $15K
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.
Accelerate253 is a free program planned to start later this month at Surge Tacoma’s Union Club, 539 Broadway, Tacoma.
The program, open to all, is seeking up to 20 startup companies/entrepreneurs to participate, according to Surge Tacoma CEO Eli Moreno.
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.
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!”
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.”
Organizers, in a release, said, “We especially encourage you to apply if you’re a BIPOC, veteran or woman-led organization.”
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.
The sessions culminate in a presentation event from 4 to 7 p.m. June 1, also at Union Club.
Participants also have the chance at winning a cash prize.
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.”
Second-place winners will receive $5,000.
For more information or to sign up, go to startup253.com/accelerate253
