gener8tor gBETA Accelerator Program Announces the St. Thomas 2022 Cohort

Nationally ranked venture capital firm and accelerator start-up, gener8tor, announced the gBETA Accelerator start-up companies selected for its St. Thomas summer 2022 cohort. This year’s cohort includes Axon Athletics, Drvn, COYABLU, Virontir and Jay Victoria.

Each company was recruited from the University of St. Thomas alumni network with at least one founder being a graduate of the University of St. Thomas. The gBETA St. Thomas program is an industry agnostic accelerator with the 2022 cohort representing a wide range of industries, verticals and stages. The companies will significantly impact the Minneapolis and St. Paul community through their products, services and stories while also providing innovative solutions to the challenges they address.

“Being a Tommie (St. Thomas) alumna myself, I am thrilled to be working with the five selected Tommie founded start-ups in this accelerator,” said Megan Baniecke ’22, gBETA St. Thomas director. “The St. Thomas alumni network is committed to giving back to the St. Thomas community, and this accelerator program is a perfect example of how we are able to do just that. With not only alumni founders but also many alumni mentors and investors of the university, we are surrounded by Tommie support.”

The program kicked off July 14 with the start-ups, and will continue working with the gener8tor team over the course of seven weeks to meet mentors, gain customer traction and pitch to investors. The program will conclude with the gener8tor showcase on Sept. 20 as a community event for Twin Cities Startup Week, which will highlight each of the five companies. RSVP to join.

gBETA St. Thomas partnered with the University of St. Thomas Schulze School of Entrepreneurship to offer this free accelerator program to the students and alumni of the university. With a flourishing entrepreneurship department at the university, innovative Tommie entrepreneurs are able to receive support even after graduation through the gBETA St. Thomas program.

gBETA St. Thomas is an impactful program available to St. Thomas students and alumni, and we are very proud of this year’s cohort participants,” said Dr. Sheneeta White, associate dean of the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship. “The learning, mentoring and connections made will propel each of these start-ups forward and open greater doors of opportunities for them.”

The gener8tor gBETA Accelerator program is a free, seven-week accelerator program at gener8tor that works with five start-ups at a time for no fees and no equity. Each cohort is limited to five companies to ensure meaningful engagement with the gener8tor team, network and other resources. Participants receive intensive and individualized coaching and access to gener8tor’s national network of mentors, customers, corporate partners and investors.