Here is the presentation George Deeb, of Red Rocket Ventures and the Ensemble Alliance, made at Techweek Chicago 2014. It summarizes the plusses and minuses of Ensemble's "Startup Excubator" model vs. other accelerator programs.
Here is a link to the matching video on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqBbjzUJqUc
Here is a link to Ensemble website: http://EnsembleHQ.com.
2. Problem #1
STARTUPS DON’T FOCUS ON PROOF-OF-CONCEPT UNTIL TOO LATE
Startups focused on product, not proof-of-concept.
Without proof-of-concept, there will be no venture capital interest.
Startups typically don’t hire the marketing skills to achieve it.
Marketing agencies are typically too expensive for startups.
Startups don’t budget for proof-of-concept, and run out of cash.
CORRECT
FOCUS
CURRENT
FOCUS
3. CURRENT SOLUTIONS FOR STARTUPS HAVE INHERENT FLAWS
Startup Incubators carry a lot of dead weight with failing portfolio
companies and provide guidance from financial investors.
Startup accelerators are hard to get into, and are typically only
12 weeks in length, designed for a very short stage of your growth.
Co-location facilities simply provide you a desk, surrounded by
uneducated peers in the same boat you are in.
Startup universities teach digital marketing based on yesterday’s
techniques, which are ever changing.
Generalist marketing agencies are jacks of all trades and masters
of none, typically requiring big budgets.
Venture capitalists typically take a big equity stake for simply writing
a cash check, and don’t take a day-to-day role in driving growth.
Problem #2
AN EXPERT-POWERED, UP-TO-DATE SOLUTION IS NEEDED FOR ALL
4. Solution: The Excubator
(A One-Stop “Digital Services Suite” of Award Winning Experts)
Startups advisors, biz planners, shared executives
– Over 500 startups served; Crains Tech 50; Mentor of Year
Web/mobile technology designers & developers
– Award-winning best development shop in Chicago
SEO and PPC search marketing professionals
– Driving 2x-3x ROI on your search marketing efforts
Social media marketing professionals
– Lightbank-backed experts at building viral social followings
Public relations & communications professionals
– Specialists in global media coverage for tech industry
A conduit to angel investors & venture capital
– Large base of trusted relationships with key investors