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Westchester County’s Element 46 Tech Accelerator Seeking Groundbreaking Startups to Join Spring Cohort

Tech entrepreneurs invited to apply for a 10-week accelerator program beginning this March

Westchester County, New York (January 29, 2024) – Westchester County’s Element 46 Tech Accelerator Powered by Cela is currently accepting applications for its spring cohort, which will begin in late March. Each startup selected will experience a world-class accelerator program that features key curriculum, connections to entrepreneurs, investors and mentors and full-time support from the Element 46 staff. The program will culminate with a Demo Day on June 12, 2024, where each participant will have the opportunity to pitch their venture to a room full of investors, technology experts, press representatives, government officials and other key contacts.

Applications for Spring 2024 are reviewed on a rolling basis and interested parties must apply by March 4, 2024 to be considered for the Spring 2024 cohort. An info session will take place on January 29, at 5p.m., via Zoom, and individuals are welcome to RSVP and join to meet the program staff, connect with founders within the County and increase their chances to participate in the Element 46 Tech Accelerator.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “Participating in the Element 46 Tech Accelerator has helped many ventures raise capital, establish powerful partnerships and broaden their client pool. This is a tremendous opportunity for Westchester County tech startups to elevate their business and I encourage anyone who is looking to take their venture to new heights to apply.”

Westchester County Director of Economic Development, Bridget Gibbons, said: “Westchester County is home to a vibrant ecosystem of tech startups who are innovating across a wide-range of industries. This spring’s Element 46 program will connect participants to a dynamic community of tech entrepreneurs and mentors, in addition to providing first class education. The application process has become increasingly competitive and interested tech startups are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.”

Westchester County Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Deborah Novick, said: “The startups who benefit most from the Element 46 Tech Accelerator are growth-driven, open to feedback and ready to network. We look forward to welcoming a new group of Westchester tech entrepreneurs into the program this spring and watching them grow.”

Cela Innovation Co-Founder, John Lynn, said: “The Element 46 Tech Accelerator has ignited and united a cohesive startup ecosystem In Westchester, with 33 world-class tech companies for the three most recent cohorts. The entrepreneurs entering the Spring 2024 program will face increasingly tough competition to gain an offer, but will also enter into a robust and growing community of innovators and community leaders in Westchester County. We can’t wait to meet them all during our selection process.”

Members of each Element 46 Tech Accelerator cohort are selected in a competitive, County-wide selection process. Up to 12 tech startups from across the County are selected for each program, and must feature committed founders with at least a prototype of their technology or tech-enabled product.  In the past, selected startups have additionally been investor-backed, grant-funded, and/or revenue-generating operations.

In the program, each founder is matched with hand-picked mentors who are leaders in technology, finance, business strategy, venture capital, marketing and other key areas.  Participants also gain access to a world-class curriculum on fundraising, customer development, executive management, product iteration, branding, marketing and more. 

The Element 46 Tech Accelerator Powered by Cela runs for 10 weeks every spring and fall. This will be the fourth cohort produced in partnership with Cela Innovation, experts in tech accelerator programming and operations.

Success stories from recent Element 46 Tech Accelerator graduates include:

• ClubGrub, revolutionary food and beverage ordering and GPS delivery app for golfers, received the New Product of the Year Award for Excellence in Achievement from BoardRoom Magazine.
• Diadem Capital, whose proprietary platform matches funder with institutional investors, closed a $600,000 round of pre-seed funding.
• CheckRare, a leading web and learning platform focused on rare diseases, obtained an additional $200,000 in funding while participating in the program.
• Chuck, a platform for sports fans who need both curated content and social connection in order to fully experience the joy of sports, was upvoted into the top 10 product launches globally on Product Hunt, a popular website that shares the best new products in tech.

To learn more about the Element 46 program, visit the Element 46 website.

About The Westchester County Office of Economic Development

The Westchester County Office of Economic Development works to improve the County’s economic well-being and quality of life. This includes a broad range of activities to attract, create and retain jobs, and to foster a resilient, pro-growth and inclusive economy. For more information, visit the Westchester Catalyst website.