VenturePad Impact Accelerator

VenturePad Accelerator, the North Bay’s premier start-up, innovation, and entrepreneurship center, helps top impact start-ups launch and grow
VenturePad (VP) builds upon 4 years of success as Marin’s top coworking, meeting and entrepreneurship center with the launch of the VP Accelerator. (VPA) The full service Accelerator re-establishes a business hub creating and launching impact and scalable start-ups in Marin, North Bay and regionally. VPA’s goal is to incubate, launch and scale 20 new businesses a year, through 2 cohorts running approximately 5-7 months each.
The VPA combines all the proven elements of successful regional accelerators including:

Affordable work and meeting space, at VP, Marin’s premier coworking and entrepreneurship center in downtown San Rafael

Training and professional development: an 80 person network of experts, coaches and accomplished entrepreneurs deliver rich content in a cohort filling in any knowledge gaps for the founders so they have the necessary know-how to successfully launch and grow their businesses. Delivered weekly in face to face (once gatherings start again) and virtual settings, these weekly gatherings include accountability feedback, stretch goal setting and status, resource needs and referrals. Monthly MasterClasses take deep dives on key start-up management practices and tools.

Goal Setting and Reaching. The network provides assistance when needed, and interventions for hitting key milestones on schedule. Entrepreneurs are expected to present regular deliverables to their cohort as well as their advisors, keeping entrepreneurs on track and accountable.

Access to community networks and events. This includes VP's coworking community as well as ongoing Lunch & Learns, evening entrepreneur support gatherings, social mixers with business and government leaders, and conferences and summits that VP organizes. Signature events since 2017 include the Sustainable Enterprise Conference in the Fall (4th year), CleanTech summit, Access to Capital summit, Climate Change Solutions and Opportunities Workshops and Cannabis Industry Summit.

Expert on demand video training on business model and plan development, market research and viability analysis, minimum viable product creation, launch strategies, customer acquisition and retention strategies and practices. Cohort discussion, one on ones with coaches, and use of the practices and tools in the companies reinforce this training. Click here for detailed course topics.

Access to capital. This includes preparation of business plans, financials and pitch deck, identification of funding sources that align with founder’s goals and needs, ID’ing/recruiting of potential investors, and advisory on terms and closing and use of funds. The half year cohort concludes with a demo, pitch, and matchmaking day with investors and founders.

accelerator masterclass
Professional Services: This group differs from advisors in that they actually execute work that needs to get done. Each client team can access over 60 professional service providers at pro bono or discounted rates. These vetted service professionals are committed to not just working with startups but also working to ensure their client startup's success.