Application FAQ
We approach the opportunity in a radically different way. Catalyst Technology Ventures is for-profit and we quickly align our interests in startups by taking equity or royalties. We have no incentive to keep you around, in fact, it’s the opposite: we want to see you out on your own after a year or so. But during that time we provide all the services and support you need to ensure your success — not just fax and copy machines.
Our ideal applicants would be a 2 person team: 1 ‘business’ person and 1 ‘technical’ person, who recognize that it would take forever to build their idea alone. A technical founder is also preferred to help direct our team and continue development after launch. However, if you have a great idea and zero technical people on your team, don’t let that stop you from applying!
Our focus isn’t centered exclusively on advice. Catalyst Technology Ventures is about tangible product development and business services. We offer a dedicated mentor for each company, as well as one-on-one lunches with successful business minds. Unlike mentor-driven programs, mentoring is just one of the many services we provide to get you where you want to be.
More Selective
Many seed-stage companies employ the ‘spray and pray’ method — investing in 20-60 different companies and hoping a handful survive. While our projections include a failure rate, our operations don’t. We pride ourselves on being choosy and thereby more invested in each company’s success.
Revenue Focus
We tend to have a stronger focus on revenue than other seed-stage firms. Many firms advise startups not to worry about the initial profit. In their model, companies often are expected to find additional funding or risk failure. Catalyst Technology Ventures focuses on getting companies ‘Revenue Ready’ — a clear revenue model is both selection criteria and goal. If a startup seeks additional funding for marketing or product enhancement, it will be to grow, not simply to survive.
Midwest Location and Mindset
Catalyst Technology Ventures is one of the premier Midwestern companies of its kind. We do welcome entrepreneurs from all over the country, but the Midwest is in desperate need of ways to cultivate emerging talent. Plus, it’s a great place to start a web-based company— its pragmatic sensibilities can shelter companies from the many pitfalls of a struggling economy.
- Software Development
- Marketing Services
- Mentoring and Advice
- Administrative/Business Support
- HR & Employee Benefits
- Accounting Services
- Use of Furnished Office Space
- Access to Hardware and Software
- Entity Formation/Legal Documentation
Looking to join our accelerator? You’ll find our 5% equity stake one of the lowest out there! Why? We believe in giving back to the startup community and enjoy the energy and fresh thinking that having startups in-house brings to our team.
Participants in our incubator enjoy our services for the royalties model. Ultimately, we want your company to remain just that — your company. This innovative investment model protects both you and us and frees each of us to do what we do best. You can focus on building a great company. We’ll focus on developing great software. Together, we profit.
Let us help you get to a point where you can operate on your own, or to give you leverage with investors in your next round.
We look for applicants that have the following characteristics:
- Low overhead
- Broad, easy to reach market
- Predictable recurring revenue
- Manageable development scope
- Dedicated, quality founder(s)
- Appeal as an acquisition target