Partnership with industry
solves problems.
Our industry council is world-class.
PNWER and their partner organizations, the Washington Technology Industry Association, Alaska Travel Industry Association and Future Borders Coalition work together to ensure the direction and drive of the program - but they don’t do it in a vacuum.
The Industry Council is the group of northwest businesses that have worked with Congregate to advise on the state of the travel and tourism landscape, mentor program participants and to work alongside the Congregate cohort to address the challenges facing the travel and tourism sector.
The Industry Council also includes the companies that have chosen to work with Congregate Cohort Companies on pilot projects as an industry partner.
Industry Partners commit to work developing a problem statement that can then be socialized with the innovation community to find a solution. This problem is something specific to your company that they want to pilot with a startup company. Past projects have included an augmented reality display at the Northwest Event Show and collaboration on VR shopping experiences.
Industry partners work with cohort companies on specific project needs. Here’s what you can expect as an industry partner:
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You will work with Congregate to identify a specific need within your company that can be solved by a pilot program with a startup.
Industry partners then develop project need statement that can be shared with applicants.
You’ll have the chance to review the applicant startups to determine a small group you want to work with.
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These startup companies want to work with you on your pilot project, so you can expect to need to meet with them just as you would with a consultant. We estimate 1-2 hours per week will be required.
By the end of the accelerator, we anticipate the pilot project either have begun, or an MOU for future collaboration is in place.
“The Congregate Program led us to ideas and projects that we would never have thought of otherwise.”
— Molly Schlobohm, President & COO
Read the current Industry Partner Project Opportunities
