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Health & Fitness

Free Santa Clara University Entrepreneurship Program Deadline is May 31

Leavey School of Business is looking for 40 enterprising applicants to begin its startup accelerator, entrepreneur incubator, mini-MBA boot camp program this summer.

The deadline for Santa Clara University’s free California Program for Entrepreneurship,” or CAPE is May 31. 

That means time is running out to apply for professionals interested in learning how to develop business plans and become a part of the state’s growing economy.

The three-phase, six-month CAPE program, which runs June through November, will accept 40 people with good business programs. 

It’s held mostly on weekends on the SCU campus, 500 El Camino Real, in Santa Clara. 

Applications are available by clicking here. 

CAPE is part startup accelerator, part entrepreneur incubator and part mini-MBA boot camp. 

SCU launched the program in 2010 as an initiative of the Leavey School of Business. Its goal is to get businesses of all types up and running in California. 

In its first four years, CAPE graduated 95 entrepreneurs, representing 83 ventures. Of those, more than 85 percent are still active and some have been sold.

The program’s goal is to give participants, with good ideas and business plans for a product or service, the tools to develop and launch their businesses.

The program’s other advantages are that it’s free, won't take an equity interest in the businesses it helps launch and won't require participants to be affiliated with SCU.

There are no restrictions on what kind of businesses will be considered as long as they’re based in California and are viable.

CAPE alumni have launched "low-tech" businesses ranging from gourmet hot dogs to elder care as well as more technology-driven enterprises like engineering consulting, mobile apps for retailers and online gaming.

Participants have access to more than 150 mentors and experts from the Leavey School of Business and other world professionals. 

The program culminates with a business plan competition where cash prizes are awarded. 

“Our goal is to help launch businesses that will employ people and contribute to the growth of the California economy,” said Leavey School of Business Dean S. Andrew Starbird. “We want to be the rising tide that raises all the boats.” 

“The CAPE program goes far beyond classroom teaching,” said Matt Lehr, who brought his business idea, iCoupon, to CAPE in 2010, and launched the company shortly after. “It provides the real-world skills entrepreneurs need to make their startups a success.” 

Lehr said program mentors are proven Silicon Valley leaders who help solve issues any business many encounter.

Lehr has since sold iCoupon and is now working on his second venture, On Point Production

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