Thank you for your interest in ILT Academy startup training.

Please note that due to COVID-19, we are running all training programs virtually. High-speed Internet and a modern desktop/laptop computer are necessary to participate.

ILT Academy is accepting applications from startups, entrepreneurs, and innovators for the 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗡 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭 𝗖𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁.

Application deadline has been extended to 11:59PM on December 16, 2020.
Acceptance notices will be sent via email the week of December 28, 2020.
The program sessions are on Tuesday evenings from January 4, 2021 to May 18, 2021.

The West Central MN Winter 2021 Cohort is sponsored by Launch MN, E1, Greater St. Cloud Development Corp, MN Employment and Economic Development, Greater Fergus Falls, and Central MN's SBDC. Thanks to these sponsors, this training program comes 𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀. However, because of the limited number of seats available, the acceptance rate will be very competitive. Priority will be given to founders and startups based in West Central MN. However, if there are additional spaces, the program will consider participants outside the priority areas. We encourage you to apply regardless of your current location.

Please note that although this program comes at no cost to the participants, it does require a substantial commitment in time and effort. If accepted into the program, you are committing all Tuesday evenings (20 Tuesdays altogether from January to May 2021) to collaborate with your cohort and work on your startup. (There are no punitive measures for missing a session. However, the cohort will continue to meet and you will miss out on the valuable feedback from that session.)

Working on a startup will take a lot of time (and we mean *a lot* of time). Our goal is to set you and your team up for success by training you in the skills of startup entrepreneurship. At the same time, we'll guide you around the stumbling blocks that often befall new startup entrepreneurs.

This application may feel long and daunting. Please note that you do NOT need to have a fully formed idea to be accepted into the cohort. Please do spend the time to fill this application in as much detail as you can. If you do not know the answer to a particular question, “IDK (I don’t know)” is an acceptable answer.

By design, this application process will push you to deeply consider your startup idea. Please set aside up to three hours to fill out this application.