Alpha Loft Announces Accelerate NH

New Hampshire startup incubator, Alpha Loft, today announced the launch of Accelerate NH, the state’s first startup accelerator program. The three-month intensive program will aid startup founders in accelerating the development of their innovative companies.

Program director Joshua Cyr says, “Building a scalable innovation-based business on your own is very difficult. Our goal with the program is to provide significant focus and aid to founders and their companies and also create a more vibrant startup ecosystem and business economy for New Hampshire.”

A small group of successful applicants will receive mentorship, support systems, weekly programming, workspace, and much more. The workspace is available in Durham, Portsmouth, and Manchester. Alpha Loft is also providing a minimum of $5,000 capital to put towards growing the business. While most accelerators require equity in exchange for these services Alpha Loft will not.

Alpha Loft CEO Mark Kaplan said, “the launch of an accelerator has been in our sights going back to the early days of transforming the organization into the Alpha Loft of today. With the support of our partners and sponsors, and a challenge grant contribution from Borealis Ventures for Accelerate NH, we’re excited it is becoming a reality."

Until now startups and their founders had to move out of state in order to follow their dream and participate in an accelerator program. “Moving out of state is not an option for many founders. It isn’t good for New Hampshire either. New Hampshire needed a flexible option to remain competitive and retain its amazing talent,” says Cyr.

Starting today Alpha Loft is accepting applications. While they do not require that a startup is from New Hampshire they do require that the company locates in NH. Applications will be accepted until February 1st. A panel of judges will review the applicants and select a handful of startups to be part of the inaugural program. The successful applicants will be announced on February 9th. The program itself starts February 23rd and lasts for 3 months. At the end of the program Alpha Loft will hold an Accelerate NH demo day for interested members of the startup ecosystem including but not limited to investors, business leaders, media and more.

For more information and to apply, visit alphaloft.org/accelerate-nh.