By ILT Academy
Entrepreneurs are the life force behind economic growth in North Dakota. According to a 2022 report from the US Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, North Dakota is home to 75,256 small businesses that employ 55.7% of the state’s workforce. This March, early-stage entrepreneurs in North Dakota will gain a powerful new education resource joining the ranks alongside programs like gener8tor and Emerging Prairie.
ILT Academy (an acronym for “I Like That”) is a virtual platform for business education scheduled to host its inaugural North Dakota virtual cohort, the first in a 2-year partnership with the North Dakota Department of Commerce. Each cohort gathers between 20-30 students who learn together in a digital platform, eliminating constraints for innovators based outside metro areas like Fargo-Moorhead. Entrepreneurs starting businesses in North Dakota are welcome to apply before the application deadline on March 05, 2024.
Since its founding in 2020, ILT Academy has championed the growth of over 500 founders in the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota. The free, 10-week intensive training allows for hands-on learning and networking events with ecosystem partners, investors, lenders, and other entrepreneurs. The program gives participants an innovative framework for moving from idea to product while validating their business model.
Program Success Stories
Clare Richards, Co-Founder and CEO, Impacks
“ILT Academy has offered a number of opportunities to Impacks within the startup ecosystem. We’ve been able to hone our message and pitch investors through the ILT Academy programming. One of those pitches ultimately led us to a VC firm investment of $745,000, which has allowed us to grow to 5 employees and break into multiple markets faster.”
