Springboard Awards
Springboard is a year-round CONNECT flagship programme that helps technology- based companies meet desirable commercial contacts to accelerate their business development. The programme assists early to mid-stage companies by critiquing their business plan and evaluating their business, financial and global growth strategies. It then sets up a Springboard Graduation event in which the company presents its refined business model to an invitation-only panel of 8-10 business experts. This group will usually include venture capitalist(s), seasoned entrepreneur(s) with domain expertise, researchers, executive recruiters, global partnership /alliance experts, accountants, corporate and patent attorneys, marketing professionals, and executives from a successful company in the same industry. Experts will also be drawn from insurance, real estate, human resources, and other areas as needed. The panel of experts is tailored and customised to the individual needs of each company. Each panel is unique. The purpose of the one and a half hour Springboard Graduation event is to provide the entrepreneur with candid recommendations for the refinement of their business plan and to help identify next steps and serve as advisors/future resources on strategic issues to assist the company in achieving their goals.
Since inception in 1993, Springboard has assisted 203 technology companies in starting and funding their operations. These companies have, between them, raised over $550M. 120 of them are still in business. Further information can also be found at http://www.connect.org/programs/springboard/resources.htm
When applying for a Springboard award you should be aware of the following selection criteria.
Entrepreneurs should:
- be prepared to dedicate senior personnel at the CEO level or similar to the program;
- be open to coaching, mentoring and constructive feedback;
- be committed to investing a few hours a week for 4 or so weeks to participate in a “distance preparation programme";
- be available to participate in an intensive week -long program in California, oriented to accelerating your business development;
- have ongoing functional operations and employees i.e. other than the founder or sole proprietor;
- have established or identified revenue sources;
- have an established organisational infrastructure, i.e. accounting, research and development, business development, etc;
- be in development of a product for which the U.S market is an attractive target OR already have a product, which requires a U.S partner and/or assistance; and
- have a capacity to increase employment in the business.
