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Bronco Ventures Accelerator

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Morgan Slain, Bronco Venture Accelerator Director

Interested in taking your startup to the next level and receive investment?

The Bronco Ventures Accelerator (BVA) empowers Santa Clara University entrepreneurs with the tools and community needed to grow for-profit businesses with competence, conscience, and compassion, as well as guides and prepares founders to receive investment. The accelerator is industry and stage agnostic. The cohort system used by the BVA provides a platform for a small set of teams to attend interactive classes and workshops led by industry leaders and investors.  

BVA concludes with Demo Day - an exciting shark-tank-like event held every October as part of Grand Reunion, where BVA teams pitch to hundreds of investors.

(Pictured Morgan Slain, Founder and Director of Bronco Ventures and General Partner of Santa Clara Ventures)

The BVA runs July through October, and founders and their teams commit full time to growing their businesses and honing their investor pitch.

Every Thursday, the BVA invites successful founders, industry experts, and investors to speak to the founders.

The BVA provides founders with a forum to interact with and support other leading SCU entrepreneurs.

The BVA provides founders with a focused business development program modeled on the best Silicon Valley accelerators.

Experts lead hands-on workshops on key topics.

Dozens of experienced entrepreneurs and executives mentor founders 1:1 on a weekly basis, and a bench of expert advisors is available for key questions.

The most promising companies entering the BVA will be offered early investment by the Bronco Venture Fund.

BVA founders present in Demo Day in October in front of hundreds of VC and angel investors.

BVA founders are eligible to receive a non-dilutive cash stipend from Santa Clara University to help meet business expenses.

Stay in the know

Receive emails regarding BVA News and Events

The inaugural BVA cohort had 12 companies. See the BVA 2019 Cohort flipbook here.

The 2020 Cohort was made up of 16 unique companies. See the BVA 2020 Cohort flipbook here.

The 2021 Cohort was made up of 18 innovative companies. See the BVA BVA 2021 Cohort flipbook here.

The 2022 Cohort was made up of 21 unique companies. See the BVA 2022 Cohort flipbook here.

The 2023 Cohort was made up of 24 unique companies. See the BVA 2023 Cohort flipbook here.

The 2024 Cohort was made up of 25 unique companies. See the BVA6 Demo Day Brochure flipbook here.

Alumni Benefits

Alumni of the BVA are provided additional support even after the conclusion of their program including:

  • Continued investment eligibility from Bronco Venture Fund
  • 1:1 mentoring and advising
  • Alumni networking events
  • Participation in BVA roundtables
  • Access to free and discounted financial, marketing, and sales services

Related Programs

Accelerator Prep School

Idea Lab

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Network

The Bronco Ventures Accelerator has a growing team of accomplished advisors and partners who give back to our cohort participants in the form of mentorship as well as legal, financial, and technical resources. Faculty from the engineering, business, law, and other schools at Santa Clara University, many of whom are accomplished entrepreneurs in their own right, provide a valuable interdisciplinary platform of support through campus programs such as the  Entrepreneurs' Law Clinic and the Maker Lab. Our large and active network of investors is invited to advise our cohort and attend our Demo Day at the end of each cohort session. 

Visit our Mentors page.

Resources

Founders do not need to give up any equity or take on convertible debt to participate in the accelerator, nor is there an application fee or tuition cost for the program. Participants receive coaching and workshops, as well as funding and space, when available. Founders are connected with a strong and growing mentorship program in order to access the expertise and capital they need to launch and grow.

 

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Questions?

Check out our FAQ page here.

 

MORE QUESTIONS? Contact Cristina Cismas Florea at ccismasflorea@scu.edu.