The start-up process is messy and unpredictable: licensing intellectual property, producing a manufacture-ready prototype, lining up customers, raising money - all critical and all daunting.

The Jones Milestones/Foster Accelerator program helps early-stage, student-led companies through those decisive first six months.

The Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship has $165,000 in funding for student start-ups coming out of the Business Plan Competition, the Environmental Innovation Challenge, or UW's entrepreneurship coursework.

Jones Milestones/Foster Accelerator companies receive:

• Mentoring from a committee of entrepreneurs and investors
• Guidance creating a list of measurable milestones
• Monthly meetings with an advisory board and monthly progress reports
• Connections to the Seattle entrepreneurial community
• Up to $25K in follow-on funding (if milestones are met)
• Workspace in the new Herbold Innovation Lab in Dempsey Hall

If you're serious about starting your company, and willing to devote the time and energy needed to get your start-up off the ground, the Jones Milestones/Foster Accelerator may be for you!

Apply now for the 2013 Jones Milestones/Foster Accelerator.

Deadline: Monday, July 8, 2013. The Jones Milestones/Foster Accelerator committee will interview teams on Wednesday, July 17 from 9:00 AM - noon on campus, and you'll be informed by Monday, July 15 if the committee has chosen your company for an interview.