CYstarters, a summer accelerator program designed to improve students’ entrepreneurial skills, had an information session via Zoom on Wednesday.
The program starts after classes end in May and continues through the end of July. Students are expected to commit 30 hours per week to the program and receive a stipend in return.
Megan Graettinger, assistant director of the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, said the goal is for students to experience what it is like to be the founder of a business.
“My goal for CYstarters is that everyone can see what it feels like to be a CEO,” Graettinger said.
One way CYstarters implements this is through daily education sessions, which cover a variety of topics.
According to the presentation, the program will feature alumni panels, sessions on mentorship prep, information on venture capital and more.
Graettinger had the opportunity to participate in CYstarters during her time as a student at Iowa State and mentioned her challenges in transitioning to working on her business full time.
“I worked in my business for three years, and one of the things that stood out to me when I first went full time is how challenging it is to be your own boss,” Graettinger said. “I hope the program helps mimic that, but with a little bit of hand-holding to give you tools and extra accountability before you do it all on your own.”
Carlos Ocasio, a first-year graduate student, said he describes his industrial design major as an opportunity to create.
“I’m an industrial design major, but I like to think of it as being an inventor,” Ocasio said. “I’m gonna make products, and I want to sell them. I want to go into the world and make it a better place.”
Ocasio found out about the program through his work with the Pappajohn Center and the Entrepreneurship Club.
“I found out about CYstarters, which seemed very appealing and perfect for me to incubate my business and boost up,” Ocasio said.
Ocasio, who works for the company Iowa Chill, said he has always had a passion for entrepreneurship.
“I’ve always had this entrepreneurial spirit, but I’ve always had ideas that might be too complicated or I’m afraid to start with,” Ocasio said. “I want to get out there and do it, and with this program and the work that I’ve already done through having this drive, I think they can make it happen.”
This summer will mark CYstarter’s 10th year, and in this time, it has acquired a vast alumni network. According to Graettinger, 75% of alumni are still running their businesses today.
“75-plus percent of people who have been through the program are still active in business today, and there’s another portion, like me, who are not in business, but who are helping other people start businesses,” Graettinger said.
Applications for the programs close at midnight March 16. To learn more about the program and apply, visit the CYstarters website.
