KENNESAW, Ga. | Nov 13, 2020

Student and alumni entrepreneurs eager to receive startup funding from the newly established Mookerji Innovation Fund can attend one of several upcoming information sessions to learn about the application process and how the University will allocate the funds.

The Robin and Doug Shore Entrepreneurship Center will host a series of virtual sessions open to all Kennesaw State University students and recent alumni beginning Nov. 18 and running through the end of the semester. These sessions will focus on the relaunched Igniting New Companies (INC) program.

Register for an Information Session Here.

Previously a pitch competition where student entrepreneurs wooed potential investors, the new INC allows Kennesaw State students and recent alumni to apply for a portion of the $120,000 Mookerji Innovation Fund, established by technology entrepreneurs Sid and Sophie Mookerji to promote new and innovative businesses. The program is open to all current students and recent alumni with technology-based business idea, regardless of their major.

“We are extremely grateful to the Mookerjis for giving us this incredible opportunity to develop the outstanding entrepreneurs among our student and alumni communities,” said Greg Quinet, executive director of the Robin and Doug Shore Entrepreneurship Center, which is housed in the Michael J. Coles College of Business. “This program not only allows us to provide these entrepreneurs with valuable seed funding, but also with the expert advice and support they need to grow their businesses from idea to finished product.”

Each INC information session will layout the application requirements and timeline as well as establish how the center will monitor the progress of funded business concepts.

The Entrepreneurship Center will begin accepting applications in January. An advisory board made up of Atlanta-area business and community leaders will then review the submissions to determine which applicants receive an initial round of funding. Each business will have milestones they must meet before qualifying for a second round.

Business owners will not be on their own during this process. The Entrepreneurship Center is putting together a network of professional mentors, including fellow entrepreneurs and attorneys, who will work with the participants to develop their businesses. In addition, the students and alumni in the program will have access to the support of the Entrepreneurship Center’s existing development resources.

“Our goal is to give each of the recipients the tools they need to succeed,” Quinet said. “This is not a competition where one business wins and the others lose. We want to see all of our entrepreneurs exit the program with an innovative, viable new business venture.”

The first INC info session meets Nov. 18 at 2pm. Each session will be held on Zoom. Visit the INC Pitch Competition Page to see the full schedule and to RSVP to an upcoming info session.

-Patrick Harbin