Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com January 11, 2016 • Hartford Business Journal 5 ReSET expands flagship accelerator program By Matt Pilon mpilon@HartfordBusiness.com H artford-based Social Enterprise Trust, also known as reSET, is think- ing bigger as its startup accelerator program enters its fourth year in existence. The nonprofit has redesigned its Impact Accelerator, opening it up to startups across the country, with the help of a $50,000 grant it won from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The money will also allow the socially- concious reSET to switch to a pay-what- you-can model for participants, as opposed to a flat fee in previous years. Participants will have access to free legal, financial and business mentors, co-working space, and networking with industry contacts and potential funders. A $25,000 funding pool aimed at companies judged to have the best viability also waits at the end of the program, which includes monthly summits on topics like business model design, customer acquisition and strategy, as well as additional workshops. Participants are also eying $100,000 in com- petitive loans to be awarded this year from the nonprofit's Social Enterprise Investment Fund. The accelerator has accepted 22 compa- nies, double what it has allowed in the past when there were two programs per year. Four of the companies are from outside Connecticut, including one from California, according to Rosie Gallant, reSET's direc- tor of programs, who said it was the most competitive application round in the young program's history. "The reason we changed it is we want it to be more interactive and more flexible for busy full-time entrepreneurs," Gallant said. For Mike Cocuzza, president of Man- sfield hardware startup Enviro Power LLC, which was accepted into this year's accelerator, the goal is to make sure his business plan is sound enough to go out to potential financial backers to fund a second prototype of the company's micro combined-heat-and-power generator. "The fact that there is potential funding attached to it doesn't hurt," said Cocuzza, who recently received backing from an angel investor. Mark Roser, president of Hebron's Keep- Sight, is developing an online eye test for an eye disease called macular degeneration, which robbed him of sight in his left eye 20 years ago, before many treatments were available. Because detecting the disease early can be vital, he wants patients to have a better way to keep tabs on their vision in between doctor visits. Roser is also drawn to the potential fund- ing from reSET, which would help him get KeepSights patented tests, currently only existing in paper form, online. Roser, who previously consulted for Pfizer on product development, said he also wants the program to help shift his focus, which for the past eight years has been zoned in on clinical trials. "The key goal for us is to really shift us from product development, which is a lot more about the medical proof that it works, into the business mode of getting corporate sponsorships and getting distribution chan- nels opened up," Roser said. n PDS has been meeting the needs of the construction industry since 1965. Our dedicated team of design and construction professionals welcomes the challenge of serving its past and future customers on their most demanding projects. 107 Old Windsor Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002 (860) 242-8586 | Fax (860) 242-8587 www.pdsec.com DESIGN BUILDERS • GENERAL CONTRACTORS • CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS SPOTLIGHT ON: Commercial Litchfield Insurance Group | Avon, CT PDS served in the role as General Contractor for a two story 4,000 square foot interior renovation of new office space. The renovation was a full gut of the existing facility consisting of new carpeting, wood flooring, ceilings, walls, millwork, doors, painting, toilet accessories, sprinkler, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical. This project was completed within a fast track two month span and finished within budget. Project Size: 4,000 SF PDS ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION, INC. THINK • PLAN • BUILD Mark Roser (left) of Hebron's KeepSight and Mike Cocuzza of Mansfield's Enviro Power will join approximately 20 other companies in reSET's latest accelerator program cohort. H B J P H O T O | M A T T P I L O N

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