Startup Aggieland is a student business incubator and accelerator open to all currently enrolled Texas A&M students. It is designed to help students explore and launch businesses around new and innovative ideas and provides access to a multitude of resources. The cross-college, collaborative community invites students from all majors and classifications to explore entrepreneurship, and provides valuable resources including workspace, mentoring and networking opportunities, free of charge.

Startup Aggieland’s programs are organized into three distinct phases: Explore, Pursue, and Launch. Each phase has been designed to offer programs that provide participants with resources, support and guidance.

Explore phase

Through the Explore programs, participants have access to informationals, social events, and introductory workshops that provide the opportunity to learn more about what it means to be an entrepreneur. The programs under Explore also enable participants to become familiar with the process of turning innovative ideas into viable business opportunities in both start-up and corporate cultures. Most importantly, Explore programs enable to reflect on participant´s interests and determine if they are ready to pursue an idea or opportunity.

Pursue phase

Startup Aggieland can help to take the next step and pursue entrepreneurial interests. The pre-accelerator program, Startup Runway, is specifically designed to enable participants to discover and validate the feasibility of launching a start-up company around an idea or product. Through various workshops, mentorship and programs such as Startup Runway, Startup Aggieland discover what it takes to turn an idea into a business.

Start-up Runway

Through a combination of curriculum, mentoring, and other experiential opportunities, participants learn how to identify potential customers, understand customer needs, and define the value a product or service must provide in order to be a viable business. Ultimately, completing the Startup Runway program cultivate the understanding of how to find which market the product or service fits, if any, and evaluate whether a start-up company should be formed.

Launch overview

Whether the team is still preparing to launch or is already operating a business, Launch is designed to meet the unique needs of each founder and company and provide participants with access to the resources needed to launch and operate a start-up. Also, included in Launch is Startup Aggieland’s Business Incubator. Aimed at supporting entrepreneurs that are ready to make the leap of starting and operating a new venture. Startup Aggieland Business Incubator supports the advanced planning, launch, and growth of start-up companies around validated product or business opportunities.

The Startup Aggieland Seed Fund is offered to recognized clients of Startup Aggieland (“Treps”). The fund is designed to provide an educational experience and serve as a practical resource for advancing ventures to the next level of commercial development. Seed Fund seeks to place capital in promising early-stage ventures owned or being launched by Texas A&M Treps. Treps receiving fund capital are encouraged, in turn, to “pay-forward” these awards by committing to contribute additional future resources to venture and to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem at Texas A&M.

SEED FUND APPLICANT CRITERIA

Recipients of Seed Fund awards must meet the following criteria:

• Company client of Startup Aggieland (“Treps”)
• Currently-enrolled student at Texas A&M University (at least half-time; in good academic standing)
• Proven commitment to their venture’s success