Bronze Valley Accelerator has hired Haley Medved Kendrick as its director and has announced startups from Birmingham, Alabama and throughout the Southeast can apply for the program.
Kendrick comes to Bronze Valley Accelerator with a background in economic development and building public-private partnerships in Birmingham’s technology sector, most recently as executive director of Innovate Birmingham.
Nationally ranked startup accelerator gener8tor and Birmingham’s Bronze Valley announced in July they were launching the Bronze Valley Accelerator program, a free accelerator program for local startups with local roots.
“We look forward to working with Haley,” said Bronze Valley President and CEO Neill S. Wright. “Her knowledge, background and enthusiasm are a tremendous addition to our efforts. Certainly, the accelerator enhances the ability to provide critical support for the kind of growth Bronze Valley is here to encourage.”
The program provides participants with intensive and individualized coaching and access to gener8tor’s national network of mentors, potential customers, corporate partners and investors. The program is designed to help startups gain early customer traction on their product or idea and establish metrics that make them competitive applicants for full-time accelerators or seed investment.
Applications are currently open and startups are encouraged to apply. The deadline to apply is Sept. 11 with the inaugural fall 2020 cohort beginning Oct. 1. The program will take place virtually this fall.
Participants will be selected from Birmingham, the state of Alabama and throughout the Southeast, and the program will work with companies across all industries and business models. The program will be geared toward helping underrepresented founders – specifically, people of color and women – as well as students and affiliates of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) accelerate their businesses.
“Look at the numbers,” Kendrick said. “Companies with diverse founders tend to outperform their competitors and return more to investors. By investing in the success of underrepresented entrepreneurs, the Bronze Valley Accelerator is also making Birmingham, and the region as a whole, more competitive economically.”
Kendrick is available for free, one-on-one virtual meetings with potential applicants interested in learning more about the Bronze Valley Accelerator. To schedule a virtual meeting, visit bronzevalleyaccelerator.com/office-hours. More information about the program is available at bronzevalleyaccelerator.com.
“As an entrepreneur, you’re focused on your company’s growth,” Kendrick said. “Our role is to come alongside you and provide the kind of support you need to make that growth happen.”
The accelerator is supported by Alabama Power and the Alabama Department of Commerce. The Bronze Valley Accelerator is held three times per year, with five Alabama-based companies accepted per cohort to ensure a high level of individualized attention. The Bronze Valley Accelerator works with companies across all industries and business models. Those interested in learning more can reach out to Bronze Valley Accelerator Director Kendrick at [email protected] or visit bronzevalleyaccelerator.com.
(Courtesy of Alabama NewsCenter)
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