---
title: 'Bend launches VentureBox with a different take on the accelerator model. Startups pay to play.'
date: '2012-01-27T17:38:25-08:00'
type: post
word_count: 435
char_count: 2828
tokens: 566
categories:
  - Bend
  - Oregon
  - Startups
tags:
  - accelerator
  - Bend
  - pay
  - Startups
  - venturebox
---

# Bend launches VentureBox with a different take on the accelerator model. Startups pay to play.

[Molly Young of *The Oregonian*](http://www.oregonlive.com/small-business/index.ssf/2012/01/new_startup_lab_venturebox_lau.html "New startup lab VentureBox launches in Bend with 7 Oregon companies") highlighted Bend’s [VentureBox](http://www.venturebox.org "VentureBox") today, a new accelerator in central Oregon.

The new accelerator takes the typical startup accelerator models—like [Portland Seed Fund](http://portlandseedfund.com "Portland Seed Fund"), [Upstart Labs](http://upstartlabs.com "Upstart Labs"), and [PIE](http://piepdx.com "PIE")—in a different direction. Like 180 degrees different.

Now, before I say anything more, it’s important to note that I work for a startup accelerator (PIE). And I’m a big fan of anything that helps startups. Also, I don’t see VentureBox as a competitor. And I’m sincerely hoping that they help the Bend area startup scene. The more the merrier, quite frankly.

That said, what jumped out at me—[and others](https://twitter.com/#!/thesethings/statuses/163051692714233856 "@thesethings")—was the way that they had tweaked the model. You see, to participate in this accelerator the startups don’t get capital. They pay the mentors, ala the university system.

> The cost to go through the VentureLanch is $1,500 per company. You will need to incorporate a company during the semester, which will cost money, and you may have other business expenses. VentureBox works to reduce the cost of launching a new business by working with our sponsors to help create scholarships for our Founders. There is a good chance an organization in the Central Oregon community will step up to provide a scholarship for you so don’t let the tuition cost keep you from applying.

So $1,500 to get in. And when you graduate? You provide 2% equity of your company to VentureBox, too.

> If an enrolled Founder graduates or continues to the last 30 days of the program, the enrolled Founder is asked to contribute two additional fees. First, the Founder is asked to grant a warrant for 2.0% of their company stock to join a Bonus Pool of shared equity upside with VentureBox’s Mentors and Staff.

In a day and age when the most successful accelerators—[Y Combinator](http://ycombinator.com "Y Combinator") and [TechStars](http://techstars.org "TechStars")—are finding ways to [give their startups more funding](http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2011/09/another-100000-for-every-techstars-company.html "Another $100,000 For Every TechStars Company") and [more funding](http://techcrunch.com/2011/01/28/yuri-milner-sv-angel-offer-every-new-y-combinator-startup-150k/ "Start Fund: Yuri Milner, SV Angel Offer EVERY New Y Combinator Startup $150k"), this approach seems, well, backwards.

But maybe that’s just me.