Bradley Can Help Accelerate Your Business

Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Brave Launch, Bradley University’s seven-week virtual business accelerator, is now accepting applications. Valuable to both start-ups and existing businesses, this program teaches participants a nationally proven model of innovation.

Since 2016, Brave Launch has helped dozens of businesses and more than 100 individuals with their innovation and startup journey. The program mirrors the National Science Foundation Innovation-Corps (I-Corps) accelerator program and Steve Blank’s Lean LaunchPad, focusing on evidence-based entrepreneurship and agile development.

This year’s participating teams will meet seven consecutive Thursdays, starting Oct. 7, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Teams will do hypothesis testing of their business models, talk about what they have learned and engage directly with mentors. The program will culminate with a demo-day, during which teams have the opportunity to pitch to members of the public, corporate partners, mentors and investors. Competing teams can win up to $5,000 in prizes.

Brave Launch is hosted by the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Bradley University. Only residents and/or businesses in Illinois are eligible to apply. There is no cost to apply. Applications are due Sept. 13. Selected participants are required to pay a $250 registration fee. To learn more about Brave Launch and the application process, click here.