Get Your Startup Going: 20 Reasons to Join '2020 Startups'
- Mark Gold
- Oct 27, 2016
- 7 min read
During the past six months 2020 Startups developed an environment that spawns success.
In the first two rounds of the 2020 Startups program, dubbed as Q3 and Q4 (corresponding to the year's Business Quarter), 2020 has established itself as an ecosystem for visionaries, a growth-hacking incubator and a result-driven Accelerator Program - all in one.
At 2020 Startups, in just 90-Days, an entrepreneur and their startup will undergo a remarkable transformation making their business viable, sustainable, scalable and attractive for both investors and consumers.
The 2020 Startups case study of Q3 2016 demonstrates the various success stories experienced by a diverse group of participants within the 90-Day Program.
It is both remarkable and revolutionary to see what one can achieve from the 2020 three-month program. It's not just promises, it's the ROI we've all been dreaming about.
Recognized by top publications, industry leaders and Fortune 500, we aim to show you how 2020 Startups is revolutionizing the startup industry and why you should apply today.
20 Reasons to Join '2020 Startups’
1. We're Not Astronauts, But We've Got Space
Thanks to our partner LMHQ our workspace is located in Manhattan’s booming Financial District. District. The 2020 Startups state-of-the-art facility includes five conference rooms, two living rooms, two workspaces, an event space and a coffee shop - all overlooking the Manhattan skyline and west side waterfront from the 20th floor on Broadway. But don't take our word for it, see it for yourself in this awesome Virtual Tour.
2. We've got Experts, Workshops and Thought-leaders
Our Board of Advisers alone features thought-leaders recognized by New York Times, Huffington Post, Fox News, Insider Edition, and other credible news outlets. The 2020 workshops feature speakers from Fortune 500 such as Google, IBM, Bloomberg, and Microsoft, to executive leaders from startup communities such as New York Angels, Gust.com and Digital.NYC. Thanks to our strategic partners like LMHQ, IBM, Microsoft, Gust, Qbix and so many others, 2020 is able to provide outstanding programing with real results.
3. No Equity Required - for Real! (Cha-Ching)
Does your accelerator do that? We didn't think so. 2020 Startups prides itself on being the first city-subsidized accelerator program that does not require startups to give up any equity upon entering the program.
The 90-Day program fee of $2,500 covers the basic admin costs, workspace, workshops, mentors, marketing assistance and the entire program. 2020 Startups does not require equity from startups - and we're proud of it.
4. We've Got Public Relations
2020 has gotten participants some major press and there's nothing like national news to get investors and partners scrambling to be part of your startup. Just ask Isis Schiffer who was featured on CNN, Microsoft, and NBC News, just to name a few. You can also read about 2020 participants Shlomo Bregman, Roger Flores, and Rebecca Lima who were featured on Huffington Post. It doesn't end with articles - participants have also been featured on TV segments, as our Dina Stein on the Healthy Living TV Show.
5. We're Not Just For Tech-Startups
As a non-equity Accelerator Program we pride ourselves on
competing
with the best Tech-Accelerators in New York City while being
inclusive to low-tech and no-tech startups. In fact, some of our most productive participants were Founders of non-tech startups such as Desserts After Dark and the EcoHelmet.
6. We've Got a Shark
We've got a Shark Tank superstar who "wowed" the judges so much that he's been featured on Shark Tank twice since his debut on season six. The Shark Tank Entrepreneur Stephen Hersh, CEO of Biaggi is not only a 2020 Board Adviser but an educator at our workshops. Stephen's workshop "Sales from a Shark" is an eye-opener for participants, and encompasses both old-school and new-school sales techniques that made Stephen a million-dollar Luggage Startup and a Shark Tank success who was named the "King of Luggage" by Shark Lori Greiner.
7. We've got Facebook
One of our small business initiatives is to partner with Facebook's annual "Boost Your Business" Conference in New York every year. A wonderful place for 2020 participants to learn firsthand the latest digital and marketing strategies, network with hundreds of SMB owners and even showcase their businesses. The FB Boost Your Business event has proven extremely valuable for an educational and networking field trip for 2020 participants.
8. We've Got IBM on our Team
2020 Startups and IBM have partnered to provide participants access to the IBM Global Entrepreneur Network and collaborated for a series of global pitch events known as IBM SmartCamp. It was a privilege and an honor to partner up with New York's IBM Startup Ecosystem team for the IBM SmartCamp 2016 global Pitch Competition. The finals took place at a private suite in Yankee Stadium and was hailed as the "first-ever" tech-sports event at Yankee Stadium. The winner of the SmartCamp 2016 New York Finals was Outernets - a participant of 2020 Startups Q4 program.
9. We've got Microsoft and Fifth Avenue
2020 Startups has hosted numerous events at the Microsoft Flagship Store on Fifth Avenue including a showcase during National Small Business Week, Entrepreneurial Week, Women's History Month and recently the 2020 Q3 Program Demo Day as seen below.
10. A Growing Ecosystem
One of the main reasons given from participants on why they wanted to join 2020 was to be around other hard working entrepreneurs. It should be a sign of relief and come at no surprise that many of our past participants make themselves available for mentoring, advising and supporting the newcomers.
11. Teamed With Gust.com
Gust is an incredible partner who allows us to take applicants from around the world and also connects entrepreneurs and investors globally. For our Q3 Kick-Off event we were honored to feature our keynote speaker Tina Glickman, Gust's Director of Business Development for North America. Gust's CEO David S. Rose was our keynote speaker for the Q4 Kick-Off event where he met with guests, delighted us and autographed his new book.
12. We have Angels on our side
Thanks to Brian Cohen, the Chairman of New York Angels, our cohort is able to receive some invaluable wisdom from an industry thought-leader. We thought an accelerator should have investment insight and participants should see the full picture. Thankfully Mr. Cohen - who was one of the first investors in Pinterest - participants get a holistic view of the investment cycle. Our participants are coached and mentored to apply to New York Angels for funding, so it helps when the chairman conducts a class.
13. We've got Bloomberg, Haas and Visionaries
Thanks to Chaim Haas an
incredible
mentor and the Head of Innovation Communications for Bloomberg LP, 2020 Startups and our participants have access to high-profile individuals like Brian Cohen and Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, as well as vital industry insight. Chaim has personally mentored participants, made connections and made available high-profile events for 2020 Startups which all led to a Visionary Award for Chaim on Sept 7 2016.
14. Partnered with Manhattan Chamber of Commerce
Jessica Walker the President of MCC has given a keynote at our Q3 Kick-Off Event and runs one of the most respected Chambers in New York. We're proud to partner with the Chamber which has an active membership of over 2000 business in New York City. MCC is an integral part of 2020's value offering as we provide access to some of the city's most professional events through Jessica's Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. Participants also receive free memberships from MCC so they can attend quarterly and annual events.
15. Learn From Hackers at TechCrunch
A fascinating partnership between Qbix and 2020 Startups led our program to TechCrunch Disrupt this year. 2020 Startups was a featured presenter at the TechCrunch Disrupt NY Hackathon. Managing director Mark Gold alongside Qbix partner CEO Greg Magarshak presented at the TechCrunch Disrupt NY Hackathon under the hack "Quickmarklets" to a massive crowd of Techies and enthusiasts. Thanks to our partner Qbix, TechCrunch Disrupt continues to pay it's ROI as the conference led to many new introductions and facilitated new partnerships.
16. On-Camera Training W/ Lucy Norris
Lucy Norris is a lifestyle expert with close to ten years of experience in multiple facets of television, ranging from program development and packaging to directing and producing. Lucy has been a featured TV Host at red carpet events, featured product host on Home Shopping Network, hosted her own show "On Deck With Lucy", and worked with major lifestyle brands such as L’Oreal and Maserati. Having Lucy conduct her "On Camera Presence" workshop and coaching means participants will get an industry insider's perspective to backstage and on-camera etiquette. All those videos on our participants page, that's all thanks to Lucy, Brandon and the OCP Workshop.
17. Even the Interns are Family
You can tell a lot about a place when co-workers send out a cool edited surprise-birthday-video after they left the workplace. At 2020, our staff, participants, guests, partners, speakers and yes even the interns are family. That's the type of ecosystem we've built.
18. Applicants from Around the World
Thanks to Gust, last quarter's application center received over 100 applications in 3 weeks from over 10 countries. We've gotten applicants from Russia, Brazil, France, Poland, Mexico and more.
The reason we think this is good for participants, is because a
competitive application system means more serious participants, no conflicts of interest such as competing startups and a global ecosystem that encourages peer-to-peer learning.
19. What You Put In is What You Get Out
We provide you with the know-how and the resources but you have to go out and work for it. There has never been a startup that put in the work such as attending mentor sessions, networking events, or workshops, and did not come out with significant improvement. That's why our environment empowers entrepreneurs to grow and spawns success for anyone focused enough to try. Of course not every startup that joins 2020 Startups is featured in the media or receives an investment but here's the point - it's all here for you to use and grow.
20. High-level Networking Events
If you wish to simplify 2020's approach, then you can say that it's all about access to information and individuals. With the right information, you can change your situation, and with the right people on your team, you can win the championship. During the last six months participants have been flocking to high-level networking events where they've met partners, investors and clients. Never underestimate the power of networking, especially with the right information and individuals at hand. Participants attended dozens of major industry conferences and events including Marketing Week NYC, TechCrunch Disrupt, 2020 VIP Kick-Off Events, Facebook Boost Your Business at Columbia University, Demo Day at Microsoft, and IBM SmartCamp at Yankee Stadium - just to name a few.
Having read this article, it should now be clear - it's not a question whether 2020 Startups will work for you, but are you willing to work for it!?
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