By Donna ManionExecutive DirectorCreativeTampaBay 

The Tampa Bay Technology Forum recently introduced the Emerging Companies Academy to help budding entrepreneurs have a greater chance of success. Operating outside the framework of the traditional educational systems for developing entrepreneurs, the Emerging Companies Academy provides real time experience for entrepreneurs. According the Brent Britton, attorney with Squire Saunders & Dempsey, LLC, and one of the founders of the Academy, “There shouldn’t be any companies failing because they can’t figure out how to succeed.”

The academy is free of charge to innovative technology related companies with a business plan. Each company leader is provided a mentor, road map, and set of instructions for a month’s worth of meetings. After completing the road map, companies are put in front of a mock venture capital panel where they are given pointers after making their pitch. When they are ready, assistance is provided to get them in front of real funders.

Britton and a team of professionals that have launched the Academy hope to grow more successful young companies making the area attractive to those wanting to start new businesses, and to convince venture capital companies to settle in the Tampa Bay region. They have formed a mentor practice and have no shortage of volunteers to become mentors. Those interested in becoming mentors need to complete short skills inventory so they can be matched appropriately with mentees. The mentors help identify the needs of the company. In addition there is also a free listing of resources used by the emerging companies to locate assistance or expertise that they don’t have.

Currently there are 15-20 companies enrolled and somewhere in the process. Britton says they are just about at a point where they can see the process end to end. One company has a deal on the table, another has finished the mock trial and been asked to flesh out their business and comeback, and two others are ready for the mock VC panel.  Though this it has been in development for months, Britton is pleased with the progress that has been made.

The future of the Academy could go in several directions. Currently the Academy is volunteer based. Once the company achieves success it makes sense to seed funds back to the academy and bring along the next generation of companies. Details of the size and scope are yet to be finalized. For now it’s about helping people achieve and putting that in the forefront. If successful the Academy could influence the entrepreneurial landscape of the region. Britton asks “Can we increase the likelihood of creating a place more like that?”

For more info visit http://www.tbtf.org/default.aspx?pageid=179. Please send any questions to academy@tbtf.org.