First phase of Bradley’s Brave Launch deemed a success

Brave Launch, the first phase of the inaugural business accelerator program sponsored by Bradley University’s Illinois Small Business Development Center and the Turner Center for Entrepreneurship, has been deemed a success.

Of all the exciting and groundbreaking ideas for business that were collected, 10 were selected to participate in the first-year program.

Brave Launch, which focuses on Central Illinois, is the first program of its kind. It was developed to help entrepreneurs advance their businesses using a groundbreaking curriculum and interaction in the real world. The applicants for the program included startups, small businesses, corporate innovation teams, and students and faculty from Bradley. Brave Launch includes seven weeks of classroom activity and a model for real world business development.

The following teams that were selected to make a final pitch during a public event on Nov.10: ALM Productions (PopXFit) in Peoria; Eat & Evolve in East Peoria; Golf Score Changer in Clinton; Natural Fiber Welding in Peoria; Notionovus in Morton; OSF Healthcare in Peoria; SAE in Peoria; The Oakford Group in Peoria; The Pizza Peel in Lacon; and Weightmaster in Peoria.