Appalachian State University alumnus Tyler Norwood '12 aims to inspire people who want to launch businesses but don’t know how to take 'that first step.'
A recent Forbes.com post, How To Score $150,000 To Launch A Startup, details how the business management and entrepreneurship alumnus is helping the next generation of entrepreneurs build concepts, find partners and raise capital through a new startup generator program.
Norwood's organization, Antler, is partnering with New Lab to launch the effort, which varies from the traditional venture capital funding model because this investment will be in creative individuals, rather than their existing business concepts.
"Founders have complete autonomy to decide who they want to start a company with," said Norwood. "What we do is provide a cohort of 100 of the best talents from thousands of applications to select from, and a program that gives founders lots of opportunities to work and test relationships before making a final partnership decision."
Norwood has a wealth of experience globally working with top investment firms and technology start-ups. He earned his degree in management from Appalachian in 2012 and served as a speaker for the Walker College of Business' Global Opportunities Conference in 2018.
Entrepreneurs can submit a LinkedIn profile to apply for the startup generator program online. Learn more or read the original Forbes.com post.
About Entrepreneurship at Appalachian
Entrepreneurship is a crucial tool for economic development, especially in Western North Carolina, where many traditional industries have declined in recent years. The future economic development of Western North Carolina is critically related to the region's ability to grow from within. As a reflection, student interest in entrepreneurship is growing at Appalachian, and the Walker College of Business is committed to fostering students' entrepreneurial energy and ambition. With support from the Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial-minded students create and launch businesses through an accelerator program in Peacock Hall and receive hands-on advice and experience through co-curricular and outreach programs. Housed in the Walker College's Department of Management, Appalachian offers a minor in entrepreneurial studies to non-business majors and a minor in advanced entrepreneurship to business majors. Learn more at management.appstate.edu/academics.
The New Lab hub in Brooklyn
PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW LAB