The Creative Startups Accelerator—the nation’s first accelerator dedicated to creative entrepreneurs—was launched in 2008 in an effort to engage startups in the arts, entertainment and other creative industries. The program provides creative entrepreneurs with a support network and access to an abundance of entrepreneurial resources.

The program was originally launched in Albuquerque, New Mexico. But last year, the Creative Startups Accelerator began partnering with the Center for Creative Economy in Winston-Salem to expand their efforts to North Carolina.

The Creative Startups Accelerator and the CCE share a vision of building the world’s largest network of creative entrepreneurs. Their partnership, therefore, will serve as a catalyst for the creative economy in Winston-Salem, the state of North Carolina, and eventually the nation as a whole.

The Creative Startups Accelerator is a 10-week program for creative entrepreneurs who are actively building out their ventures. The program consists of three phases. The first phase is a six-week virtual curriculum component, during which entrepreneurs meet remotely to learn about startup methodologies and core business concepts, such as marketing, finance and operations.

The second phase is an an intensive five-day bootcamp called Deep Dive. Startups travel to the Creative Startups Accelerator headquarters for an opportunity to work with entrepreneurs, mentors and coaches to help build out their marketing and customer acquisition strategies, financing scenarios and investor pitch presentations.

The third phase consists of a Demo Day, where startups will compete to earn funding of up to $25,000 to assist in the launch of their ventures.

The Creative Startups Accelerator takes no equity in participating companies. However, once accepted, participants must pay a fee that covers curriculum, food and lodging during Deep Dive and six months of mentoring. There is no fee for applying.

Applications for the 2016 Creative Startups Accelerator open May 23 and close July 1.

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The hardest part of owning a startup is always the beginning: the process of turning your idea into a company with a working business model and appropriate funding. Luckily, there is a multitude of accelerator programs in the South available to entrepreneurs who want to launch their startups quickly.

When you think of Memphis, Tennessee, what comes to mind? Elvis? Beale Street? Those adorable marching ducks?

At what point do you consider its competency in distribution and logistics?

Memphis, often referred to as America’s Distribution Center, is home to FedEx’s World Headquarters and more than 400 trucking companies. Its location provides easy access to five class-one railroads, two major highways and the Mississippi River.

With its dense population of distribution services and logistics workers, Memphis is the ideal place to launch new logistics innovations. And in an attempt to bring those innovations to the market, EPIcenter—an initiative that connects entrepreneurs to accelerator programs, incubators, mentors and networking programs within the city—has launched an accelerator program for startups in that field.

The program, called the EPIcenter Logistics Innovation Accelerator, is sponsored by FedEx and is open to startups investigating transportation- or logistics-oriented solutions. This includes payment systems, robotics, smart packaging and fleet efficiency, to name a few.

The accelerator will accept six startups through a competitive application process. Those six companies will receive $50,000 in initial seed capital. In addition, admitted startups will have the opportunity to work through a rigorous business-building curriculum, connect with knowledgeable mentors in their field and pitch their products on the program’s public Demo Day. They will even have access to EPIcenter’s post-acceleration programs after graduation.

EPIcenter, along with several organizations in the Memphis community, says it hopes to create a robust and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem to service the Mid-South region. Their goal is to create 500 companies and 1,000 entrepreneurs by 2024, and the EPIcenter Logistics Innovation Accelerator is just one step in the process.

The deadline to apply is March 18, with a projected start date of May 2. The program lasts 15 weeks.

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The hardest part of owning a startup is always the beginning: the process of turning your idea into a company with a working business model and appropriate funding. Luckily, there is a multitude of accelerator programs in the South available to entrepreneurs who want to launch their startups quickly.

Start Co. is a Memphis, Tennessee-based nonprofit organization that offers three different accelerator programs, each with its own area of focus.

The first of Start Co.’s accelerators, Seed Hatchery, focuses exclusively on startups with missions in the B2B software and hardware solutions sector. The 15-week program provides startups with a $25,000 seed fund and connections with industry experts, mentors and investment partners. Since 2011, Seed Hatchery has helped launch 26 emerging technology companies, including DivorceSecure and LendMed, and has seen graduates acquire more than $12.7 million in investments.

Start Co.’s next two accelerators, Upstart and Sky High, are what make the program a little more unique. Upstart, created specifically for women-led tech startups, provides all the same resources as Seed Hatchery, but features a curriculum that “reflects how women work, learn and lead.” Upstart works with partners like AWE and The Jump Fund to provide personal and professional development for women founders while they prepare their startups for launch.

Sky High is Start Co.’s accelerator for social impact tech startups. This accelerator is for nonprofits that already have—or are not currently seeking—funding. Sky High provides startups with services, mentors and connections to foundations, governments and high-net-worth individuals. Start Co. boasts that 75 percent of Sky High accelerator grads, including CodeCrew and The College Initiative, receive investment post-accelerator.

Start Co.’s deadline to apply is March 1. Before you click “Submit,” be sure to check out these tips on how to make your application stand out.

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