SnapSuite meets StartFast, why we swiped right. Choosing the right accelerator for your startup.
By: Dwain Browne
Tags: Investors, Entrepreneurship, Funding, Startup, Venture Capital

If you are a business owner running your own startup, you know how important it is to find the right accelerator program. If you think about it, it can be a lot like dating. There are plenty of fish in the sea but who is ‘the one’?

In most romantic movies, novels, and fairy tales, the main protagonist is in a desperate search for the one who completes them, the missing piece to their puzzle. Our search for the perfect accelerator was very much the same; we were looking for ‘the one’ that gave us butterflies and made us feel like anything was possible. The perfect partnership that would stay strong, well past the honeymoon stage.

So, in the crowded startup accelerator landscape, what made us “swipe right’ on StartFast? Here’s why we decided StartFast was the right fit for us.

Background check

We started our relationship with StartFast the way many modern relationships start — with a Facebook creep and a Google search. We liked what we saw. StartFast’s 12-week accelerator program helps startups build and develop scalable businesses. The program goes way beyond a cookie cutter, step-by-step approach. They work with businesses in a personalized way, helping them overcome their most pressing problems. So, in other words, StartFast seemed like they would make a very supportive partner.

Skin in the game

In many accelerator programs, investors attend a pitch day at the end of the course in a bit of a “may the best pitch win scenario”. But with StartFast there’s a twist. In this case, it’s a good one. The investors actually act as mentors in the program, and we are given the opportunity to build relationships over a longer period of time. They also put their money where their mouth is by providing an immediate investment when the program begins, so the startups can concentrate on building the best business they can.

No distractions

We are able to live and work on campus at Le Moyne College in Syracuse New York. We wake up and literally walk across a parking lot to work every day. There, we have access to all the resources we need. This once in a lifetime luxury enables entrepreneurs to focus on developing successful sales and growth strategies. We learn, strategize, implement, sleep and repeat. This is a huge advantage and this immersive process was one of the things that attracted us most to StartFast.

Huge and valuable network

StartFast gives us access to over 100 world class mentors and investors. It is not just about the quantity but also the quality. The mentors come from a variety of successful industries and companies such as Restaurant.com, Planet Fitness, and Nike just to name a few. Just like speed dating, we get one-on-one time with each of the mentors; but we have the privilege of connecting and building relationships over a 3 months period. At the end of the 3-month program, we will be pitching to a room of over 250 potential investors. This will increase our odds of gaining more capital and expertise that will take our company to the next level. StartFast will be with us every step of the way.

Great track record

When making a commitment with an investor you want some reassurance that they know what they are doing. You don’t want to get ‘into bed’ with a company that doesn’t know how to get the job done. StartFast has a history of success and no crazy exes. Its portfolio includes, Electronic Gaming Federation, Wyzerr (clients include Google, T-Mobile, and Disney) and Tunedly (featured in Huffington Post, Billboard, and Forbes).

Location, Location, Location

StartFast is based in the United States which gives SnapSuite access to this huge market. We started off in Canada but as a result of being a part of this accelerator program, we have registered our company in the United States. So we packed up our bags and headed to the ‘big city’ (okay so it’s technically considerably smaller than Toronto, but I like the visual). With this infrastructure in place, we can get our feet wet in all of North America. We consider this to be a huge advantage which added to StartFast’s appeal.

It was a no brainer

For us, the decision to partner with the StartFast program was a no brainer. They had all the qualities we were looking for in an accelerator, and out of the over 800+ companies that applied this season, StartFast chose us. We can’t wait to develop our relationship for the duration of the course and do great things together in the future.

If you think StartFast might be a great partner for you, you can check out their website here: https://startfast.net If you want to learn more about SnapSuite and how we are improving the construction industry or if you are just curious to see if we live ‘happily ever after’, visit us at https://www.snapsuite.io/

Original Article posted here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/snapsuite-meets-startfast-why-we-swiped-right-dwain-browne