On January 31, the Innovation and Technology Agency of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia held a pre-accelerator program presentation.

The event was attended by Mr. Kahka Shengelia, President of Caucasus University, Deputy-Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Mr. Lasha Mikava, Chairman of the Agency of Innovations and Technologies, Mr. Avtandil Kasradze and Rectors of other higher education institutions.

After the presentation, a memorandum was signed by Georgian Agency of Innovations and Technologies, Caucasus University and other Universities.

Pursuant to the agreement, the managers of the Universities’ pre-accelerators will receive free trainings, and for 3 years, according to the curriculum and methodology, the Universities will conduct accelerator programs at least twice. 

The pre-accelerator program is a new program of the Agency of Innovations and Technologies, in the frames of which managers of the universities’ pre-accelerator will receive trainings in different fields. They will learn how to lead a pre-accelerator program, attract a desirable segment and help start-ups in developing their ideas. It is important to point out that besides theoretical knowledge they will have an opportunity to attend startup accelerator processes and get experience.

The start-ups, in the frames of the pre-accelerator program, with the help of highly qualified trainers, will develop an ability to turn business ideas into successful startups. Business modelling, cooperation with investors, marker research, identification and attraction of users, basics of marketing, management of finances and people – these are the topics to be learned in the frames of the startup program.

The acceleration is fully funded by the innovation agency; participation is free for startupers and managers.

The trainings will be led by the top European startup accelerator companies in the market: STARTUP WISE GUYS and CIVITTA. With their help over 100 companies in over 30 countries went through the acceleration process. One of them is Taxify, The Second Unicorn of Estonia (a billion dollar company), VitalFields, eaf.fm, Investly, Wolf3D, Shipitwise and others.