200 Innovation Boulevard State College, PA 16802

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:	February 15, 2016

For more information:

Don McCandless / TechCelerator@State College

www.techceleratorstatecollege.org

814-865-2040 / DLM74@psu.edu

Join the 43 startups that jumpstarted their futures in Ben Franklin’s TechCelerator program. Spring session starts soon.

STATE COLLEGE, PA –With 43 companies launched that have raised $7M in start-up funds and generated $5M in revenue, this proven methodology can work for you too! Ben Franklin’s TechCelerator @State College is inviting area entrepreneurs, graduate students, or researchers to participate in their next 10-Week Boot Camp. If you have a new, tech-based business idea that you’ve been eager to implement, check out this program. The weekly sessions run on ten successive Tuesdays, running March 22, 2016 - May 24, 2016, from 3:00 - 5:00 P.M.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity! We provide up to $1,000 toward startup costs plus the chance to pitch your business idea to a panel of entrepreneurs at the completion of the course. The top team will receive $10,000 in seed funding to help get the business off the ground.

Business mentoring from Ben Franklin’s Transformation Business Services Network and Penn State’s Small Business Development Center staff will be available at no cost. You’ll come away from this experience with a viable business model in addition to a list of networking contacts and a path forward. But, perhaps the most important thing you will gain is the confidence that comes from knowing if it’s the right time for you to start your own tech-business – or not.

The Boot Camp is free of charge, but space is limited. Contact Don McCandless at 814-865-2040 or DLM74@psu.edu. The deadline for applications is March 4, 2016.

About the Ben Franklin TechCelerator @ State College

A partnership designed to offer the region’s entrepreneurs, students, faculty members, and small business owners designated space, loan and investment programs, business support and mentoring services, and entrepreneurial training all housed in one location. This innovative, one-stop-shop approach to business incubation will encourage an entrepreneurial climate, increase technology transfer opportunities, and help develop a robust “startup” culture in State College and the surrounding area. Click on http://www.techceleratorstatecollege.org