There still may be life for the two-year-old Raleigh Innovators Initiative.

A spokesperson for Citrix confirms that the software and services firm is moving ahead with plans to shut down a global Startup Accelerator program as part of financial cutbacks. But that decision doesn’t mean it is ending participation in the Raleigh Innovators initiative, and a top Red Hat executive told WRAL TechWire that the Hatters remain interested.

Also supportive of continuing it is a third partner, HQ Raleigh.

In a report Wednesday, tech publication ExitEvent declared that the Innovators program would continue with or without Citrix. However, in response to queries from WRAL TechWire, Red Hat did not declare absolute commitment.

Jesse Lipson, the founder of ShareFile which he sold to Citrix and who is a big advocate for startups in the Triangle, told ExitEvent he would support Innovators even if Citrix did not. Lipson oversees Citrix operations in Raleigh at the building’s sparkling new headquarters.

Will Citrix return to Innovators?

Uncertainty has swirled around what would happen to the Innovators program, which put on a “graduation” ceremony of sorts for several startups in Raleigh on Tuesday. Reports began circulating three weeks ago that the program as well as the Citrix accelerator were on life support.

But on Wednesday, the Citrix spokesperson left open the door for the company’s continued involvement in 2016.

“Through our recent operational review, Citrix decided to focus on a core portfolio of products and to increase operating margins through cost savings. This required our management team to make many difficult business decisions, one of which included a wind-down of the Citrix Startup Accelerator program,” Julie Greer, senior director of Citrix Corporate and Thought Leadership PR, told WTW.

She then noted that what Citrix had pledged for the 2015 startups involved in the Innovators program had received promised support.

“The 2015 Innovators Program in Raleigh just wrapped up with a Demo Day [Tuesday] and participants ‘graduated’ and received variable grants as planned.”

Grants up to $25,000 were part of the program. Seven startups went through the first program in 2014 followed by 12 in the just-completed group.


Innovators Program

On a website about the program, Citrix touted several highlights:

“In 2014 we had a fantastic cohort of entrepreneurs for our first Innovators Program in The Research Triangle. Below you can see all the teams below from our demo day in December of 2014.

“For 2015 we have expanded our Innovators Program to include not only our existing partners, Red Hat and HQ Raleigh, but also a clean technology track sponsored by the Cherokee-McDonough Challenge.

“Our signature 12-week Innovators Program embraces core principles of design thinking, lean startup and modern leadership to enable both early-stage startups and corporate teams to rapidly test and validate their business models in the market.”


So what will happen next?

“In the coming months, we will be taking a look at plans for a 2016 Innovators Program along with our co-sponsors Red Hat and the Cherokee fund,” Greer said.

WTW then asked: “This sounds as if Citrix is still holding the door open at least partially for a continuation of the program in some shape or form. Correct?”

Greer’s response: “Yes, that is correct.”

What about Red Hat?

Beyond Cherokee and Red Hat, the Innovators program also includes the City of Raleigh and HQ Raleigh, which offers space and support services for new and emerging companies.

Red Hat is open to ideas about how to press ahead, according to DeLisa Alexander, executive vice president and chief people officer at Red Hat.

“Red Hat has enjoyed working with Citrix, Cherokee, HQ Raleigh, and the City of Raleigh on the Raleigh Innovators Program,” Alexander said. “We look forward to conversations around an Innovators Program in 2016 and beyond.”

Of the 12 teams presenting earlier this week, four were “intrapreneurial” teams from Red Hat and Citrix. Three others which focused on cleantech were backed by Cherokee. The remaining five were early-stage tech-focused ventures.

HQ Raleigh, meanwhile, is very supportive of keeping Innovators going.

“Yes. The program is a unique asset to Raleigh’s entrepreneurial community, and we’re committed to seeing it succeed and grow,” HQ Raleigh’s Allyson Sutton told WTW late Wednesday when asked if HQ would continue its support.

“We plan to continue as a major partner in the effort,” she added.