The Citrix Startup Accelerator and Red Hat (NYSE: RHT) are accepting applications for the 2015 Innovators Program Raleigh. The self-described cohort-driven, mentor-assisted program is for world-class startups that want to build and bring new products to market and is designed to get startups ready to raise their first significant round of funding.

This year, local triple-bottom line investor, Cherokee Fund has merged the Cherokee-McDonough Challenge with the program run by the Citrix Startup Accelerator.

Since 2014, the Citrix Startup Accelerator has provided the Innovators Program in Raleigh, Silicon Valley, Santa Barbara and Bangalore, India. 

Red Hat returns to the Innovators Program Raleigh for the second year. The company plans to provide mentors with experience in growing a startup into a successful company, with the goal of supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in the Triangle.

HQ Raleigh continues its alliance with the Innovators Program due to its strong local presence among the innovation and startup communities in Raleigh. HQ Raleigh will continue to provide critical support for the Innovators Program that kicks off in September 2015.

The Innovators Program Raleigh will include, for the very first time, three clean tech startups working side by side with nine other technology focused teams.

Teams will be applying core principles of design thinking, lean startup, and modern leadership over the 12-week program with the goal of validating their business models and finding their first customers. The program will conclude in early December with a demo day where each startup will receive a $25,000 fellowship.

John McIntyre, managing director of the Citrix Startup Accelerator said in a statement, “The emerging startup landscape in the Research Triangle highlights that innovation can happen anywhere. We’ve been extremely impressed with the quality of talent in the local market and the support from the City of Raleigh.

“We’re committed, alongside our key partners, to building a lasting infrastructure to help entrepreneurs create great companies in the Raleigh-Durham area. Having the Cherokee-McDonough Challenge join us significantly strengthens the program and adds another area of focus.”

For more information, visit www.citrixstartupaccelerator.com

www.hqraleigh.com

cherokeefund.com