Summer program offers boost to female start-ups

Aviatra Accelerators, Inc., an accelerator devoted to empowering women-owned startups and small businesses, is currently accepting applications for its Summer 2019 LAUNCH program. Female entrepreneurs may apply for the 10-week course based on the current status of their start-up business.

LAUNCH is for female entrepreneurs and business owners who already operate a viable, well-vetted business with an established revenue stream and customer base, or are working towards a minimum viable product or the first run of a manufactured product. Entrepreneurs participating in the LAUNCH class are eligible to compete in a public pitch competition at the end of the course. Cash prizes of up to $5,000 will be awarded, and all participants will be coached as to appropriate capital resources for their business.

“Aviatra knows each woman’s business is unique and that’s why we don’t have a one-size-fits all approach,” says Nancy Aichholz, President/CEO for Aviatra Accelerators in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area. “Our different programs are specifically tailored to meet the needs of women entrepreneurs so they can take what they learn and apply it to their businesses. We have educated more than 1,850 women over the past nine years and we are extremely excited to see who will be the next class of women to join Aviatra’s programming this summer.”

The LAUNCH class provides startups with a three-year financial projection workbook and business plan format validated by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Each entrepreneur is assigned an individual mentor and provided with introductions to vetted service providers.

The deadline to apply for Aviatra’s Summer 2019 LAUNCH class is May 15. Aviatra Accelerators will announce the businesses that are accepted to this class on May 29. The class will span ten weeks and will be held every Wednesday night from 6 to 9 p.m. at Aviatra Accelerators’ co-working space at 114 West Pike Street, Covington, Ky.

At the end of the class, all participants will present their business plans and funding needs to the Aviatra Selection Committee, as well as deliver their pitch at FLIGHT NIGHT, Aviatra’s signature pitch competition evening. The recipients of the awards will be publicly announced at the Aviatra event in August. The LAUNCH class costs $600 per person and $250 for any additional business partner. You can apply for this class at https://aviatraaccelerators.org/cinnky-launch.

For women who have a great business idea or want to explore entrepreneurship, but aren’t quite ready to create a business plan and pursue funding at this time, then the EXPLORE class may be for them. EXPLORE is designed for first-time entrepreneurs, early-stage business owners, or anyone with a great idea for a business but needs guidance. Women who sign up for EXPLORE will work with Aviatra staff and the accelerator’s advisers and experts to help these women to validate their business ideas and create business plans. EXPLORE Fall 2019 will begin in early September.

In the EXPLORE program, participants complete a business model canvas and have professional experts provide support and guidance. EXPLORE costs $325 per person. The class meets in the evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Kentucky Innovation Network @ Northern Kentucky (former NKY ezone), which is located at 1 Innovation Alley, Covington, Ky. (a half block from Aviatra’s offices).