gener8tor North Dakota offers a 12-week program based in Fargo, designed to provide coaching, capital, and connections for high-growth startups. The initiative aims to advance North Dakota-based companies and bolster the state's growing entrepreneurial community. By delivering mentorship-driven programming, gener8tor seeks to contribute to the local ecosystem and fuel sustained economic activity.
Program Structure and Offerings
- Cohort Size: The program invests in five high-growth startups per cohort, ensuring focused support.
- Industry Focus: This is an industry-agnostic and business model-agnostic program, accepting all types of startups.
- Duration and Format: A 12-week, in-person program held in Fargo, ND.
- Mentorship and Coaching: Participants receive twelve weeks of individualized coaching and mentorship from the gener8tor team through bi-weekly, one-on-one meetings.
- Strategic Network: Startups gain access to one-on-one meetings with over 100 connections, including serial entrepreneurs, industry experts, and investors. The program facilitates relationships with corporate partners, mentors, and the gener8tor alumni community.
- Deals and Perks: Accepted companies receive access to over $1M in deals and perks from vendors such as IBM Cloud, Rackspace, Amazon, PayPal, Zendesk, Hubspot, and Microsoft.
- Annual Showcase: The program culminates in an exclusive reception where participating companies can pitch to an audience of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and community members.
Investment Terms
- Investment: Selected teams receive a $100,000 investment.
- Equity: The investment is made in return for 7.5% equity in the company.
- Agreement Type: The transaction uses a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE).
Eligibility and Relocation Requirements
- Global Applications: Applications are welcomed from startups headquartered anywhere in the world.
- Participation Format: Startups are required to participate in person.
- Relocation Mandate: Selected startups must relocate to Fargo, ND, for the duration of the program. To be eligible, companies must meet one of the following criteria: 1) The company is headquartered in North Dakota; 2) The company is willing to relocate its headquarters to North Dakota; or 3) The company is committed to building a demonstrable employee presence within North Dakota.
Application Status
- Current Availability: Applications are not currently being accepted for the gener8tor North Dakota program. Interested parties should monitor for future announcements.
Mentorship Opportunities
- Mentor Involvement: Mentors engage in weekly two-hour "speed networking" sessions with participating startups.
- Flexible Participation: Mentorship opportunities are available both in-person and virtually.
- How to Participate: Individuals interested in becoming a mentor can express their interest by filling out the designated form on the program's website.
By fostering a concentrated and supportive environment, the gener8tor North Dakota program provides a platform for early-stage companies to accelerate their growth. It leverages a combination of direct investment, intensive mentorship, and strategic networking to help startups scale effectively within the regional ecosystem and beyond.