Startups Wanted: Westchester’s Element 46 incubator taking applications

element 46The Westchester County Office of Economic Development announced that it is seeking startups to join the third cohort of its incubator program, Element 46.

Benefits of the program include a full-time workspace for six months, access to mentors who are experts in business strategy, facilitated team-building sessions, entrepreneurial skills sessions and access to pro bono professional service providers, such as lawyers, marketers and accountants.

For this round, the program will focus on businesses in the digital health, financial technology, advanced manufacturing and clean energy sectors. While startups from any sector may apply, priority will be given to those in these areas of focus.

“Westchester County has an established position of excellence in many of these industries and we are excited to grow this community through our next Element 46 cohort,”  Westchester County Executive George Latimer said in a statement. “We have the infrastructure and assets these startups rely on to succeed and look forward to the continued growth of these, and other, sectors.”

Also new for the program will be the inclusion of a “pitch day,” where the participating startups may present to investors from the tristate area.

Business categories from the second cohort range from geospatial data services and satellite analytics to home relocation and a social media app. The startups include Baby Box Studio, Baly Cleaning Services, CityDroneZ, Hastings Tea & Coffee, Nurish, Pink Hub, Room Raiders, Sacred Seeds, Samosa Shack, SpaceKnow and Windyside Spirits.

“The Element 46 experience is tailored to supporting scalable startups,” said Deborah Novick, director of innovation and entrepreneurship with the Westchester County Office of Economic Development.

“We provide entrepreneurs with education, mentorship and the critical networking they need, to help them deepen their connections to the County and build a strong foundation upon which to grow their business.”

Startups must be original, independent, autonomous and in the early phases of development. They must earn less than $500,000 in annual revenue and the applicant or applicants must be able to make a full-time commitment for the duration of the six-month program.

Startups can apply at Element46.org/Apply. The deadline is March 30.