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Phase II: Startup Accelerator Course Overview

This course is for students who have made progress in their startups and is intended for student teams who are working on a project that they believe has startup potential. Teams admitted to the Startup Accelerator will assume the role of co-founders and build their companies. The aim of this course is to have the teams focus on building something people want. Obsessed with making progress, they apply a disciplined approach to advance their vision. At the end of the semester, teams participate in the annual Pitch Tank Competition where they get a chance to win dilutive funding for their businesses.


Details

IPRO 497-401 /BUS 595-01/CSP 495

Semester: Every Spring

Credits: 3

Format: Live and in-person (flipped classroom)

Time: Friday 1:50PM - 4:30PM

Room: Tellabs Innovation Alley, Kaplan Institute

Instructors: Shivani Bhojwani & Nik Rokop

Why Enroll?


Eligibility:


Hear from Our Participants

"The Kaplan Institute Accelerator at Illinois Tech was the catalyst to launching GridLink. As students, it provided our first real exposure to the realities of trying to build a startup. The program's hands-on approach and comprehensive curriculum gave us invaluable insights into entrepreneurship. Even after graduation, Illinois Tech continues to be a pillar of support for our venture. The skills and connections we gained through the accelerator have been crucial in our journey to revolutionize EV fleet charging management. — Josh, CEO of GridLink

“My experience in IPRO Genisys and with the Startup Studio and Accelerator has been nothing but great. As a law student, I was interested in working with startups. These programs at the Kaplan Institute have allowed me to get hands-on experience with innovators and mentors, and I have had the privilege of contributing ideas and supporting students from the legal side to this day. My knowledge base has increased tenfold since my first day at Kaplan. I didn't encounter the willingness to tackle big challenges nor idea sharing between students in my four years of undergrad quite like I did at Kaplan. I maintain relationships with the staff and students, and still frequent Kaplan events to this day. I was not surprised when IIT jumped in the university rankings last year; it was undoubtedly propelled by the work of the staff and the programs in place at the Kaplan Institute.” — Charles, CEO of Indyfund

“The programs at Kaplan Institute have offered me dynamic, practical experiences that integrate diverse educational theories with real-world applications. As a law student with an entrepreneurial mindset and a background in marketing and international politics, the Genisys IPRO program and Startup Accelerator allowed me to explore my interests in a hands-on environment. This experience allowed me to step into the role of a venture capitalist and apply my knowledge in a real-world context. The Startup Accelerator further built on this by providing my partner and me with the mentorship and resources needed to launch our stock trading startup in a heavily regulated space. These experiences have equipped me with unique insights and skills that will give me a competitive edge in any future endeavor.” — Matthew, CEO of Indyfund

“Participating in the Startup Studio was a transformative experience in which it shaped my entrepreneurial journey in the best way possible. The Startup Studio helped me understand my strengths and weaknesses, what role I can fill in a team and essentially helped me discover what I love. It is the journey into the unknown, with skills learned for design thinking, the way of the hustle, and the method to create actionable plans which others would love to be a part of. I am deeply grateful for the support of the Startup Studio, which has left an everlasting impact on my approach to entrepreneurship.”
— Manish, CEO of H2.0 Resilence


Questions about the Startup Accelerator Course?

Email us at [email protected]


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