SBCC’s Scheinfeld Center Announces New Get REAL Accelerator for Startup Support

Scheinfeld New Venture Challenge winners to receive customized support for the launch of their ventures and entrepreneurial development

SANTA BARBARA — The Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at SBCC is pleased to announce its launch of the Get REAL Accelerator for startups. The Get REAL Accelerator is designed to provide upcoming and past SBCC collegiate winners of the Scheinfeld New Venture Challenge competition extra support for entrepreneurial development and the launch of their ventures.

The Get REAL Accelerator will launch in May 2019 and provide an inclusive learning environment that welcomes diversity among teams and business concepts. Entrepreneurs and subject matter experts will lead six learning labs that are tailored to meet the collective needs of up to six participating teams. Additionally each team will have a dedicated mentor to help the team set and attain six month milestones. This customized support is designed to help students better navigate startup challenges and close gaps in their entrepreneurial skill set for success.

Participating teams that attain their 6-month milestones during the accelerator will be eligible to compete for a $10,000 award as they pitch to a panel of angel investors during National Entrepreneurship Month in November 2019. This $10,000 award has been generously provided by the SBCC Foundation. Additionally, the angel investors will have the opportunity to take up any team’s persuasive investment offer if they choose. This competition will open with a keynote speaker who will share what investors seek in the ventures they invest in. The public will be invited to attend this lively event to support student entrepreneurship.

Julie Samson, director of the Scheinfeld Center and the Get REAL Accelerator, stated, “We’re grateful for the support of the SBCC Foundation and SBCC in the launch of this exciting program. Our students learn best through hands-on opportunities and the Get REAL Accelerator will provide essential early stage tailored guidance to these teams, assisting not only with the launch of their venture and personal entrepreneurial development, but also prepare them to leverage other support available in the Santa Barbara startup ecosystem.”

Interested in mentoring? The Scheinfeld Center welcomes seasoned entrepreneurs and business consultants with specialized industry experience in core business areas, including startup finance, crowdfunding, social media marketing, sales, global supply chain management, ecommerce, manufacturing, intellectual property and business law, and mobile app development. Contact Scheinfeld Center director, Julie Samson: 805.965.0581 ext. 3643, or jasamson@sbcc.edu.

About the Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation: The SBCC Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is a hub for global entrepreneurial development within the South Central Coast community and is a resource for model programs for other California community college districts. The Scheinfeld Center, part of the Jack & Julie Nadel School of Business & Entrepreneurship at SBCC, trains global entrepreneurs using a comprehensive approach to academics, hands-on experience, and support. Participants can build their business in the classroom and shore up gaps in their entrepreneurial skill set through the Scheinfeld Center’s distinctive combination of coursework, business plan and pitch competitions, industry internships, no-cost business consulting, mentoring, networking, and post-start-up support. To learn more, visit www.scheinfeld.sbcc.edu or call 805.965.0581 ext. 3643.