Accelerator
Why Seed to Series A?
When you have raised funding by developing your products and services, leveraging your team and offering a breakthrough value proposition to your customers - you are doing something right. We help you take your company to the next stage of growth by rolling up our sleeves and addressing topics and challenges relevant to companies in your stage of maturity. Our community has a wealth of experience to help you tackle relevant challenges and prepare to scale.
Zero Equity
TiE Boston is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship. ScaleUp's world-class mentors are volunteers who have been in your shoes and seek to give back to the community by helping raise up the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Our generous partners enable us to keep the program running equity-free. Companies enrolled in the program pay a $1995 administrative fee to cover a portion of our operational expenses.
Eligibility
TiE ScaleUp is a sector agnostic accelerator and we bring in scalable companies from all industries. Companies that are in a position to best leverage the offerings of ScaleUp often exhibit the following characteristics:
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Founder/CEO looking for and receptive to top-tier mentoring
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Commitment to actively participate in all programing till ScaleUp completion
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Early product market fit achieved/demonstrated
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Revenues $200K+ or on a demonstrable path to such revenues from multiple customers
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Raised $200K + from early investors or comparable bootstrapping
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Diversity in full time management team
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Located in New England area
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Exceptions can be made for companies depending on the growth cycle of their sector (e.g., we do not expect medical device companies to have revenues). Not all of these characteristics must necessarily be present for a company to receive an invitation to apply TiE ScaleUp. If you have any questions regarding your venture's eligibility, contact Dean Walsh at dean@tieboston.org.
Program
Cohorts go through a program which kicks off with in January and concludes with a showcase in June. Our curriculum is taught by professors of leading business schools, serial entrepreneurs and thought leaders. The TiE ScaleUp Faculty curate each weekly session to help you dig deep into the operations of your startup and to walk out with an immediately applicable framework or plan to scale.
Admissions decisions will be made by mid-october; companies will pay their $1995 admin fee to confirm their spot in the program. This fee is used to cover a portion of our operational expenses. Upon admission, you will have immediate access to the TiE Boston Charter Member Community and receive invites to network and build close relationships with the serial entrepreneurs and investors in our community.
Confirm Your Spot
Get prepared to network with a large group of entrepreneurs who have successfully scaled and exited their companies! After connecting with potential mentors at the mixer, you will have a chance to share which mentors you would like to work with. Once you have been matched, you will work with those two mentors for the duration of the program. If you want to continue the relationship with your mentors post-program, companies tend to offer 0.3 - 0.8% of their equity (in the form of advisory shares). This is only to be given at the discretion of the company upon the conclusion of the program, combined with a minimum mentor satisfaction rating and a vesting schedule.
Mentor Mixer
Throughout the program, entrepreneurs and their teams will meet for weekly workshops addressing key topics related to scale. These sessions help g teams do a deep dive into each component of their business model. Sessions are taught by the TiE ScaleUp Faculty in addition with alumni who have graduated the program.
Workshops
Investor Showcase
At the conclusion of the program, cohort display their tech and pitch to a room of investors, thought leaders and the press. For a recap of this event in past years, check out these articles from Venture Fizz and Bostinno.
On day one we are already working with you to hone in on your challenges and preparing you for success. We close the day with an invite-only reception of individuals who can help you in your growth trajectory.
Orientation & Reception
Test your pitch with angel investors and venture capitalists to receive feedback on what aspects of your model you should work on in the program, and suggestions on how to best prepare for your next raise.
Pitch Reviews
Throughout the program, we gather for CEO Roundtables. These facilitated conversations are an essential part of the peer-to-peer learning model of the program, in addition to providing founders with a social support network of other entrepreneurs working through the same challenging stage.
CEO Roundtables
Once you complete the program, you are still connected to ScaleUp Alumni get plugged into our alumni resources and stay connected with each other!
Graduation and Alumni Events
TiE ScaleUp Applications
Cohort 11 is live, and applications for TiE ScaleUp are currently closed. We will open admissions once again in Summer 2025. Please contact Dean Walsh (dean@tieboston.org) to share your interest or with any questions.
Applications are Closed