Halifax startup hub Volta has opened applications for its free LEAP program, which aims to prepare entrepreneurs to submit an application to a startup accelerator, such as Creative Destruction Lab or Techstars.

Created in 2019 and headed-up by venture capital veteran Toon Nagtegaal, training will be held over four half-day sessions. Nagtegaal was a co-founder of Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Atlas Venture, which has been in business since 1980 and specializes in backing life sciences companies.

To be accepted, startups must be looking to raise a round of venture capital funding, want to improve their sales process and be planning to apply for entrance into a startup accelerator.

The sessions will cover topics such as creating a 24-month business plan and customer identification. The deadline to apply is April 13, with the program running from May 2 to 5, and an application form can be found here. If anyone misses the deadline to apply, Volta's website says it is now accepting applications for future cohorts on a rolling basis.