Sprint Accelerator opens applications, dons new name
August 31, 2015 | Bobby Burch
Kansas City’s top business accelerator is now accepting applications for a wider applicant pool after a recent — albeit minimal — name change.
The Sprint Mobile Accelerator — formerly the Sprint Mobile Health Accelerator — lightened up its name to better reflect its broader focus on boosting mobile-centric startups. Led by Boulder-based Techstars, the accelerator is welcoming applicants for its three-month, Kansas City-based program, which takes place Feb. 22 through May 24.
“We’re all very excited to see what types of companies apply,” said John Fein, managing director of Techstars. “Sprint will provide amazing resources and this is the only Techstars program focused solely on mobile tech, so we expect the application process to be very competitive. (We) can’t wait to meet some awesome mobile startups.”
Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure announced in May that the accelerator will have a broader focus than its previous mobile health target. As a result, Claure hopes to highlight the top companies’ products or services in Sprint stores around the nation. Fein said that Techstars is working with Sprint now to figure out how that agreement will work.
Fein said that the broader mobile focus will change his approach for attracting companies from around the world. He added that he hopes many local firms will apply.
“Now that we’re open to almost any startup, it presents us with a lot more opportunities for recruiting,” he said. “We plan to recruit heavily in the KC and greater Silicon Prairie area and will also partner with select events in other areas of the U.S. … Techstars and Sprint are all about building the local community so when we select the ten best companies for 2016, we’d love for KC to be represented.”
Fein said that examples of mobile companies that should apply include: wearables; consumer apps; digital services such as advertising, commerce or in-home; Internet of Things; and big data or analytics.
The application period for the accelerator’s third class in Kansas City opens today and closes on Nov. 22. Click here to apply.
Featured Business
2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Former ECJC exec Melissa Roberts joins Kauffman Foundation grant making team
Everyone has potential if given the right resources, said Melissa Roberts. “Everybody has great ideas if given the right education. Everybody has the potential to be an economic contributor in our society if given the right motivation and support,” she continued. These aren’t her words and values alone, Roberts said. They’re the legacy of Ewing…
Health scare forced KC’s colorful wax guru to get serious: ‘This is Crumble growing up with me’
Brandon Love is keeping his iconic, brightly-colored hair, but melting away distractions that could be holding back his already wildly successful, but evolving lifestyle brand, Crumble Co., he said. The first to go: Some of the eye-catching candle and wax product names that first caught customers’ attention because of their tongue-in-cheek innuendos and four-letter words,…
Insecure phones, devices creating largest-ever sensor grid (for China) in US homes, says Pepper cyber security report
As an industry, the state of cyber security is a “hot mess,” Scott Ford said candidly. “Frankly, its at a point where it ought to be concerning to everybody,” Ford, CEO of Pepper IoT, said in response to a new report that examines the state of the IoT space and released as part of a…
Missouri Hyperloop talk turns to motion sickness, comfort at high-speeds
But how will it feel? With the feasibility of a high-speed Missouri Hyperloop route connecting Kansas City to St. Louis in about 30 minutes now established, the conversation has shifted tracks to ergonomics, said Diana Zhou. Curious members of the public want to know more about the safety of the proposed transportation mode’s 600-plus-mph speeds,…