As part of the Democracy Commission’s Small Grants Program, Caucasus University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center is launching a 10-week intensive startup pre-acceleration program, CUnicorn+, bringing together 50 participants from across the country and the technology startups they have founded.
During the 10-week program, mentors will be actively involved in thematic work sessions covering all critical aspects of startup development: technology, marketing, finance, product creation, and business growth strategies.
CUnicorn+ mentors include:
- Successful entrepreneurs;
- Local and international startup experts;
- Specialists in innovation, digital transformation, and marketing;
- Mentors of startup acceleration programs;
- Corporate leaders.
CUnicorn+ fosters innovative technology ideas, accelerates startup growth, strengthens international partnerships, and creates a practically-oriented environment for young entrepreneurs.
The program will culminate in a Demo Day, where participants will present their startup ideas to a panel of judges, investors, and key members of the startup ecosystem.
Prize fund: $10,000!
“This project was funded by a grant from the United States Department of State. The opinions, findings and conclusions stated herein are those of the author[s] and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State”.
Meet the mentors of the CUnicorn+ Pre-Acceleration Program:
- Bob Smith - is the Executive Director of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at George Washington University, with over 30 years of experience in startup development, investments, and entrepreneurship education. He is the founder of several successful companies and has also served as a mentor and trainer in national programs, including NSF I-Corps and ICAP.
At George Washington University, he leads international entrepreneurship initiatives, designs and implements innovative programs for students and faculty, and develops global partnerships that strengthen startup ecosystems.
His work significantly fosters collaboration between academia, business, and the public sector, positioning the university as a key driver of innovation and economic growth.
- Chris Burry - is an experienced entrepreneur, executive, and educator with more than 15 years of expertise in international innovation and entrepreneurship. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of the US Market Access Center (USMAC) and the Global Innovation Dojo, where he has worked with over 5,000 startup founders from 82 countries, helping them strengthen their entrepreneurial potential, develop critical skills, and scale internationally.
Currently, Chris also serves as Chairperson of the Board at Kernel, a company on a mission to unlock credit for micro and small businesses across the Global South, and as Global Ambassador for UC Berkeley SCET, promoting entrepreneurship education worldwide.
His experience plays a vital role in advancing global innovation ecosystems and fostering the growth of high-potential entrepreneurs.
- Irakli Svanidze - Acting Head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center.
Invited lecturer at Caucasus University in the field of entrepreneurship.
Leveraging over seven years of experience, he has provided mentorship to startup teams in the areas of marketing, management, and startup finance
Has Extensive experience in planning and managing various entrepreneurial events, including pre-acceleration and acceleration programs, incubators, bootcamps, hackathons, local and international projects.
- Iro Tsagareishvili - Iro has over 7 years of experience working in the Georgian startup ecosystem, as well as in project management and strategic communications.
She is the Managing Director of Axel (Georgia's Angel Investor Network), where several startups have the opportunity to pitch to investors and secure funding every month.
Iro’s role includes communication with Axel’s member investors, sourcing and selecting startups, and managing the investment processes within Axel.
She also has experience in organizing startup events, delivering training, and mentoring — including pre-acceleration and acceleration programs, bootcamps, startup training, and more.
- Giorgi Razmadze - an entrepreneur with over 8 years of experience in building and scaling technology startups. Throughout his career, Giorgi has successfully led company growth strategies, product development, international market expansion, and achieved successful business exits.
He is currently the founder and CEO of Awork, a digital recruitment ecosystem.
Giorgi is also an invited lecturer at BTU, where he teaches innovation management and the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, provides students with practical experience, and supports the development of future entrepreneurs.
- Ketevan Khuntsaria - is a member of Axel’s Investment Board and is actively involved in the startup screening and investment decision-making processes.
In addition to her work with tech startups and angel investments, she brings significant experience from leading automotive brands, including Porsche, Chevrolet, Volkswagen, and others.
Ketevan’s expertise, knowledge, and analytical skills not only support startups in securing investment opportunities but also contribute to their strategic development and growth.
- Iako Jikia - An entrepreneur, co-founder and CEO of Helio.AI — an AI-based recruiting platform supported by 500 Global.
Iako has many years of experience in the technology and financial sectors, focusing on startup and business development.
She also has extensive experience in business development, having worked at United Payment, Lin&Me (as founder and CEO), as well as serving as a board member and leader at OPPA and PayBox.
