MEET THE COHORT

What is WheelsUP

First Flight Venture Center’s WheelsUP, is a comprehensive 12-week, cohort-based, sector-focused accelerator for science startups. Working in collaboration with federal agencies, the WheelsUP cohorts will accelerate the ability of entrepreneurs to scale disruptive science and technology solutions.

The WheelsUP Accelerator is a mentor-driven program that will rapidly advance early-stage teams through intensive business and technical education. The cohorts are offered virtually to accommodate a national/global pool of applicants.

WHEELSUP SESSION FACILITATORS

Meet some of the facilitators and instructors who are helping make WheelsUP happen.

Benefits Per Company

Course $20,000

Mentoring $180,000

First Flight Membership (valued at $2,500/company) $25,000

Total First Flight Wrap Around Services (In-Kind) $225,000+

Exposure Benefits for Cohort:

Ventures/Other Relevant VCs

Accelerator Network

Relevant Industry Connections

When/Where is WheelsUP taking place?

View the Tentative Schedule

The 12 week program, WheelsUP, will be held virtually.

What is the Curriculum?

View the WheelsUP Accelerator Curriculum

Teams will meet online weekly for approximately 3 hours for the core education sessions. Additional time during the week will be spent with mentors, coaches, technical teams, potential customers, and investors. Half of each core 3-hour session is focused on technical instruction and the remaining time is focused on the business infrastructure education.

While WheelsUP can be offered virtually, as a hybrid program or in-person, we plan to launch this virtually to accommodate a national/global pool of applicants. In addition to expert facilitators delivering business and technical education sessions, we incorporate proven programming methodology components. Teams will meet online weekly for approximately 3 hours for the core education sessions. Additional time during the week will be spent with mentors, coaches, technical teams, potential customers and investors. Half of each core 3-hour session is focused on technical instruction and the remaining time is focused on the business infrastructure education. The business and technical sessions will be facilitated by various instructors recommended by NCBiotech and the WheelsUP Advisory Board. These session facilitators will have specific expertise in the topic areas and many have led successful biotechnology ventures. The following are additional benefits of the WheelsUP program that will be offered to cohort participants:

• Business Education: Business topic examples delivered in the core sessions include go-to-market strategy, customer development, contracting, pricing, marketing, public relations, advisory board development, team building, operations, investment/grant strategy development, strategic resources for financial growth, pitch coaching and practice.

• Technical session topics: Part of the core programming include education sessions on such topics as FDA Regulatory Pathways – Therapeutics, Biologics, Diagnostics; Prototyping, Product development; writing strong tech descriptions; clinical studies; pilot production and many other pertinent topics in the biotechnology field.

• FFVC Assessment: A measurement tool utilized by mentors to assist founders with the visual toolbox for decision-making and action-planning for start-up and growth companies. FFVC Assessment was designed around the observation that all businesses, in all industries and life stages, have four challenges in common: they must have an attractive Business Concept, a strong Organization behind it, lasting Client Relations, and they need to do it all while maintaining profitable Operations. The flexibility of the FFVC Assessment toolbox will allow mentor advisors to choose and adapt just what is needed to meet specific entrepreneurs’ needs.

• Mentorship Sessions: Each company will have mentors (called Navigators) that will have access to the GrowthWheel Company Assessment and Action Plan tool to help facilitate action-oriented meetings. The mentor(s) will be matched based on company gaps, mentor skills, schedule availability, and advisory board recommendations.

• Funding Support: Participants will deliver private pitch presentations to investors prior to their graduation “demo day” to showcase technology and business concepts to companies that are looking for investment.

• Demo Days: Celebration of all that has been accomplished throughout the previous 12-weeks. Opportunity to showcase technologies to the regional ecosystem including customers, investors, and key stakeholders.

• Network/Resources: Participants are connected to regional stakeholders including CRO’s, contract manufacturers, research institutions, private industry and even military research support units with resources that enable startups to scale. In addition, they will have access to other startup teams to have a support community.