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

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

Westchester County, New York (August 8, 2023) – Westchester County’s Element 46 Tech Accelerator Powered by Cela is currently accepting applications for its third cohort, which will begin in September 2023. 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 in November 2023, 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. The deadline to apply is August 19, 2023.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “We are immensely proud of the positive and lasting impact that our Element 46 Tech Accelerator is making on the County’s technology-driven startups. The program is a tremendous opportunity for tech-focused startups who are looking for education and mentorship that can help them to refine their concept and become well-positioned to scale locally and beyond.”

Westchester County Director of Economic Development, Bridget Gibbons, said: “Participating in the Element 46 Tech Accelerator can help Westchester startups build community and connections, while paving the way to raising capital. I strongly encourage growth-minded tech entrepreneurs in the County to take advantage of this opportunity and apply today.”

Westchester County Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Deborah Novick, said: “Westchester County is home to a large, diverse community of entrepreneurs. Our Element 46 Tech Accelerator alums are a group of driven and enterprising individuals who are contributing to their communities and the economy. We look forward to continuing to make an impact on our startup ecosystem and welcoming a new group of participants this fall.”

Cela Innovation Co-Founder, John Lynn, said: “We are looking for groundbreakers, innovators and disruptors who are leveraging technology to drive innovation for our next Element 46 Tech Accelerator cohort. If you are leading a Westchester tech startup and looking for mentorship, inspiration, collaboration, community and more, this is the program you should be applying for.”

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 is the third cohort produced in partnership with Cela Innovation, experts in tech accelerator programming and operations.

Success stories from recent Element 46 Tech Accelerator graduates include:

• ConConnect, which was founded with the mission to create a supportive network for the formerly incarcerated, has rebranded to Untapped Solutions and widened their reach to also support veterans, LGBTQ, people of color, disabled persons and many other marginalized communities that also face challenges in accessing the resources and services they need. In July 2023, the company received a $150,000 investment from Google for Startups, and an additional $100,000 in Google Cloud credits. With this support, Untapped Solutions can continue working on enhancing their platform and amplifying their impact.
• Open Market, a socially responsible marketplace that redistributes capital and customers to BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) and POC (People of Color) businesses, launched a shoppable online marketplace that makes it easy for consumers to locate and patronize the brands that align with the initiatives they care about: social justice, equity, sustainability, and livable wages.
• In late 2022, SilverBills partnered with the Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging at the University of Denver to conduct an NIH-funded research study on caregivers to assess whether SilverBills could decrease dementia caregiver stress, and increase quality of life. All participants received SilverBills' bill management services free for one year as part of the study.

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.