The Summer Institute, a 12-week accelerator for young companies from a range of sectors, is looking for applicants for its 2020 cohort, and is especially eager for social ventures to apply.

Now in its seventh year, the program is offered by the University of New Brunswick’s J Herbert Smith Centre for Technology Management and Entrepreneurship in Fredericton and accepts applicants from around the world.

Though modern accelerators usually court companies founded on new technology, The Summer Institute has made a name for itself helping small businesses with a range of business models. It has had strong success in helping companies with a consumer product or service, emphasizing the design and human components of bringing their products to market.

“The Summer Institute is designed to help early-stage companies with a big vision that encompasses more than just the bottom line,” said Summer Institute Managing Director Joe Allen. “We look for early-stage ventures that want to make a social impact, as well as an impact to their bottom line. It’s an amazing feeling to see these companies and founders grow and meet the potential we see in them.”

The deadline to apply to the program is Feb. 15. You can find more information and application forms here.

Read Our Coverage of the 2019 Summer Institute Demo Day

The Summer Institute accepts five to seven companies each year to participate in its intensive program. The 2020 program will run from April 27 until July 16. Successful applicants receive stipends for living expenses, prototyping grants, access to workspace in downtown Fredericton, and mentor-led programming aimed at developing sustainable and profitable companies.

The program is a member of the Global Accelerator Network, an invitation-only community of organizations that provide startups with the best resources to create and grow their businesses, wherever they are.

The Summer Institute has helped to launch more than 35 companies since its first cohort in 2014, and prominent alumni include Stash Energy, Koffee Organics, UpFront Cosmetics, and Educated Beards.

"The Summer Institute has made such a huge difference in my business and my personal growth,” said UpFront Cosmetics Founder Alicia Sharp, who graduated from the 2019 program. “I was able to make my vision laser-sharp and grow my business more in 12 weeks of the program than I had in the previous 12 months on my own and my growth since the program has been astronomical.”