Launching Businesses with the Support of a Community

Karl talks with Valecia Harris, the current President of the Cox Graduate Entrepreneurship Club, and they talk about the SMU Business Accelerator Program.

Both Business Class News and kNEXTis are proud to be media sponsors of the program.

The previous SMU Business Plan Competition will now be replaced by the new Cox Graduate Entrepreneurship Club (CGEC) Business Accelerator Program. This program will provide SMU students (both undergraduate and graduate students from across all departments) and recently graduate SMU alumni entrepreneurs the opportunity to take a business venture from idea to product launch. This intense and enriching 6-month program offers a unique combination of immersive workshops, mentorship, as well as access to a wealth of entrepreneurial and investor networks. The program is designed to accelerate ideas, technologies, products, or existing businesses into a thriving market by providing support and hands-on mentorship. This program features two competitions; (1) a Semi-Finalist Elevator Pitch Competition that awards non-dilutive pre-seed funding and in-kind donations up to $10,000 and (2) a Finalist SMU Startup Launch competition that awards over $50,000 in cash and in-kind donations.