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College of Business
Winning students presenting their startup project

Pre-Accelerator Program

Pre-Accelerator Program

Any student at the undergraduate or graduate level with a business idea may enter this program. The program is designed to award funds to help the student pay for expenses that would facilitate the start-up of a business idea into an operating business entity. It is not necessary to have a fully developed business plan, but students should be able to answer basic questions about their business idea.

Students will complete an application to enter the program, and if accepted, they will appear before a panel of judges who will question them regarding their business idea. A cash award of up to $5000 may be granted to a student in this program. Students should be prepared to elaborate on their business ideas and the information they submitted on the application form.

Who Should Enter

Any student with a developed business idea should consider entering. It is not necessary to have a fully-developed business plan, just the ability to answer a few basic questions about your business idea. Prior to competition, all registered competitors will be briefed on how the competition works and will have the opportunity to practice their presentations. Aren’t sure where to start? Please contact us at (309) 438-2994 . We will be happy to answer any questions.

  • Eligibility Requirements

    • All entrants must be at least 18 years of age.
    • The program is open to any full or part-time student currently enrolled in a degree program at Illinois State University. Graduate students may enter.
    • Entrants may be individuals or teams.
    • Student members of the founding team must hold, in aggregate, a majority ownership stake in the company.
    • Individuals may be a member of only one team.
    • Teams and individuals are limited to one application.
    • The business may not have received more than $20,000 in outside investment prior to the day of the competition.
    • The spirit of this competition is to support new, independent, seed-stage firms. To that end, the following business types are not eligible:
      • Purchases of franchises (starting a franchise is acceptable)
      • Spin-offs of existing firms
      • Purchase of existing firms
      • Purchase of equity in existing firms
      • Any other business type deemed by the event organizers to be inconsistent with the event's mission

  • General Rules

    • Disqualification: The Means Center reserves the right to disqualify, at its sole discretion, any individual or team for any reason. Reasons for disqualification may include but are not limited to plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty, infringement or misappropriation of the intellectual property of others, failure to comply with competition rules and requirements, violation of established laws and regulations, promotion of illegal, illicit, or unethical ideas. 
    • Confidentiality: No individual associated with the program will sign any non-disclosure agreement and no promises of any kind concerning confidentiality are made by the Means Center or Illinois State University.
    • No Guarantees: No guarantees of funding are expressed or implied. Neither the Means Center, Illinois State University, nor any person or group associated with this program make any claim as to the reliability of information presented by students or their representatives.
    • Use of Materials: The Means Center and Illinois State University may, at their sole discretion, use any materials submitted to the program for publicity or for internal purposes. Application materials will not be returned to participants.

Pre-Accelerator Program Applicant Guidelines