New Castle County today announced that it has partnered with 1313 Innovation, the Emerging Enterprise Center and area business mentors to offer an intensive 12-week business accelerator program to underrepresented entrepreneurs.

First Founder’s Accelerator will feature instruction, one-on-one mentorship and hands-on help building the foundation for successful companies.

“We win the future when our local job creators have the support and tools they need to turn their great ideas into reality, and that’s what NCCinnovates is all about,” County Executive Matt Meyer said. “We are proud to partner with Garry Johnson, a leading local entrepreneur, and members of our local business community to offer First Founder’s Accelerator to help ten promising start-ups develop their business plan, refine their pitch and strategize opportunities to leverage funding sources. Apply today at first-founders.com!”

Entrepreneurs can apply through January 24 at first-founders.com for a chance to participate in First Founder’s Accelerator. Participants who are selected will attend weekly classes beginning in mid-February at1313 Innovation, a co-working space in downtown Wilmington.

Participants will also have access to co-working space at the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce Emerging Enterprise Center, a business incubator that helps start-up businesses learn entrepreneurial skills and build sustainable models.

“As a business student at the University of Delaware, I travelled the country learning from top investors and successful start-up founders who created thriving companies we all recognize today, and I’m bringing some of what I learned from them back home to New Castle County to empower aspiring entrepreneurs,” said Garry Johnson, who developed the First Founder’s Accelerator and will lead the weekly accelerator sessions. “The First Founder’s Accelerator is an opportunity for you to connect to the resources, mentors and community that you need to be successful in the innovation economy.”