Funding, Coaching and Mentoring for Game-Changing Product Entrepreneurs

Accepted participants receive $50K in initial funding and access to follow-on funding

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

HOW START 100 WORKS

START100 is part angel fund, part accelerator, and part start-up coach for potential high-growth product entrepreneurs that are great ﬁts for crowdfunding. We invest in product entrepreneurs, help them execute a successful rewards crowdfunding campaign, and build a foundation for long-term success.

$50K INITIAL INVESTMENT

1-WEEK BOOTCAMP

Charlotte, NC

CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN

FOLLOW-ON INVESTMENT FOR TOP PERFORMERS

START 100 MEMBERS RECEIVE

WHO SHOULD APPLY

In general, we invest in teams of passionate entrepreneurs with mass-appeal products who are great problem solvers, know how to execute, are engaging communicators, and are willing to hustle. More speciﬁcally, we look for…

CROWDFUNDING FIT

Refined working prototype
Easily displayed in photos
Widespread use and mass-appeal
Established following/fan base

CAROLINA PRESENCE

Attend Charlotte Bootcamp
Maintain presence in Charlotte
Support Charlotte-metro startups

PASSIONATE FOUNDERS

Solid core team (no solopreneurs)
Passionate about creating products
Committed & coachable
Willingness to hustle

SOUND INVESTMENTS

High growth potential
Profitable business model
Visible pathway to exit

CHASING YOUR DREAM WITH START100 IS EASY

REVIEW WHO SHOULD APPLY INFORMATION CAREFULLY TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY

LEARN MORE

Why

Crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding offers a combination of market validation and built-in audience base that no other form of funding can. Through our partner’s database of 100K+ backers and the hundreds of thousands more that use Kickstarter and Indiegogo, START100 companies will have access to early adopters who understand crowdfunding and are on the lookout for new products.

A successful Kickstarter or Indiegogo campaign is the perfect way to show future investors that there is a legitimate market for a new product or service and build up a customer base.

MEET THE START100 TEAM

TOM RYAN

General Partner

Tom is an experienced startup founder, investment professional, and distinguished coach and mentor to entrepreneurs worldwide. Tom was the Executive Director of the Kauffman Foundation Entrepreneur-in-Residence program for WNC, one of only four Entrepreneur-in-Residence programs selected by the Kauffman Foundation nationwide. There, he delivered one-on-one advisory services to over 50 regional high-growth startups and created the successful high-energy pitch-event, Talent Jam. Previously, Tom was Vice President of private equity firm, Auster Capital Partners, and an advisor to GreenStart, a San Francisco clean-tech fund and accelerator. He’s been a founder of several startups and the host of The Success In Business Podcast. In addition to START100, Tom is currently an Entrepreneur-In-Residence at Catawba Valley Community College and the founder of entrepreneurial support resource connectivity platform, supportedly.com.