Pictured above: Mark Hales
Oxygen Accelerator, an investment programme with intensive
mentoring and training for technology start-ups, launches today and
is open to receive applications from individuals or groups with an
innovative tech-focussed product. The 13-week intensive boot camp
will be based at Birmingham Science Park Aston (BSPA) from 1st
September 2011, and will provide selected groups with the necessary
environment and equipment to be able to super-charge their
business' products and ideas as marketable in the real world.
The Oxygen Accelerator programme is working in partnership with
BSPA and will select 10 teams from the applications to offer them
evergreen funding of up to £20,000, a loan repayable once
sufficient investment has been received or the business reaches a
stage of profitability where it can afford to repay it. These teams
will then be asked to move to Birmingham for the duration of the 13
week programme to live and breathe their products during an
intensive boot camp at Birmingham Science Park Aston, a high-tech
facility perfect for inspiring entrepreneurs and to bring direction
to their products.
Applicants will have access to a pool of state-of-the-art
resources and also receive guidance from fellow successful tech
entrepreneurs, business mentors and financial and legal support,
which is imperative for any business during its formative stages.
It's about having the right advice or connections at the right
time. Crucially at the end of the 13 weeks they will present their
products to venture capitalists and angel investors, as the
programme culminates with an 'Investor Day'.
Serial entrepreneur and the brainchild of the Oxygen
Accelerator, Mark Hales, developed the programme after reviewing
the lack of business tools available for people who are keen to
develop their ideas into concrete business plans with commercial
sense for growth and investment.
Mark Hales, states: "It's fundamental to build sustainable
technology communities across the country, not just our capital
city. Birmingham has a great deal to offer and the fact that there
are so many successful business people both locally and from across
the globe ready to get involved and help build the tech stars of
the future, corroborates my vision that we need to extend beyond
London."
Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council and Chairman of
Birmingham Science Park Aston, said: "Birmingham needs to build and
grow a powerful community of successful entrepreneurs that have a
vision for innovation. I believe the Oxygen Accelerator, with
Birmingham Science Park Aston, will help produce viable businesses
that can help expand our economy and create real job opportunities
- not just locally, but potentially nationwide. It is a formidable
opportunity."
"Oxygen Accelerator will be the start of a great new wave of
entrepreneurs drawn to Birmingham from the who will have access to
all the tools necessary to be the next big thing," adds Hales. "We
want to see people from all stages in their business development,
from those with ideas to those who are ready to seek funding and
want a supportive network to help them accelerate to the next
level. Oxygen is here to literally breathe life into a vision and
turn it into reality. Our aim is to bring the best to Birmingham
and encourage them to stay."
Criteria for applying for Oxygen Accelerator is simple: founders
of the company will be asked a series of questions relating to
existing milestones, investment to date and revenue generation -
basics that are usually part of a business plan. Accompanied with
this should be a short video of the founding members as to why they
should be selected to be part of the Top 10, which will give judges
a good impression of what they are like as individuals.
Judges will be looking for strength in idea, how much they
think they'll benefit from the programme, presentation and thinking
as well as team dynamics.
Applications are open now and close on June 30th 2011. For more
information on how to submit your proposal, or how to become a
mentor and/or investor: www.oxygenaccelerator.com