Program Details

What is BootStrap?

A contest for startup technology companies to take their business to the next level. The selected companies will get a furnished office space in the heart of downtown Wilmington’s Central Business District, consultation with some of Wilmington's most successful entrepreneurs and other prizes to help them succeed.

When is BootStrap?

Applications should be submitted no later than 5:00 pm on April 20th, 2012. A panel of judges will narrow the field of applicants down to 20 businesses. After all finalists have been interviewed, winners will be selected and awarded their office space.

The Selected Company Will Get:

  • Office Space: The Double Eagle at 404 North Third Street comes complete with parking, free secured bandwidth internet, a conference room and kitchenette/break room. BootStrap winners get 90 days of free rent and The Double Eagle will offer flexible terms to those who desire to stay long term, or even month-to-month. Visit the website for the Double Eagle.
  • Support from the Community: A weekly brown bag lunch series will feature roundtable discussions of various entrepreneurial and industry supporters (lawyers, accountants, other high growth entrepreneurs, real estate professionals, etc).
  • Design Services: TayloeGray will provide business cards, a basic web site and design assistance when and where needed.
  • Publicity: Wilmington Downtown Inc. (WDI) will provide the marketing push to get your company initial notoriety upon launch. Additionally, WDI will network your company with others in the downtown community so that when you need something, it’s only a call away.
  • More Coming Soon.

Why call it BootStrap?

It’s about boot strapping your idea, and bringing it to life. It’s about taking a company to the next level. BootStrap is designed to create an environment for success and to bring people together to collaborate on great ideas. BootStrap honors Wilmington’s heritage as a hard working blue collar town, with contemporary tech edge. So let’s go Wilmington, let’s BootStrap!

 

Apply

Tell us about your company! Fill out the blanks to the right and upload a one-pager covering your business concept, your team and how you plan to acquire customers. Think short and sweet. Give us the info we need to see that you are downtown Wilmington's next great company.

The process for selecting BootStrap ILM's first company will be:

  • All Applications are due by April 27th.
  • Judges will interview a select group of companies to determine the winners.
  • The winners will be notified after April 30th.

Apply for BootStrap here:

About Downtown

Downtown Wilmington is an ideal location for businesses of all sizes. Whether you're a one-person shop or a corporate headquarters, our downtown will suit your needs. Home to city government offices as well as federal and county courthouses, downtown is the heart of our city. You'll find the main branches of most major banks here, as well as a full range of business services and conference facilities. Getting here is a breeze, with immediate highway access to all major points in the southeast. You'll find downtown is a short drive to the airport as well as the beaches, and pretty much everywhere in between. The pedestrian-friendly Riverwalk, an approximately one mile boardwalk that frames the Cape Fear River, brings a steady flow of foot traffic to the area. Since downtown offers both metered parking and several convenient decks, access is easy for visitors and locals alike.

The Harmony Of Old & New

Working in beautiful downtown Wilmington almost feels like play. A skyline of ornate steeples frames an area rich with landmark buildings, restored historic homes, and lots of southern charm. Walking along a street still paved with its original bricks, you'll marvel at the harmony between historic artifacts and modern day advancements. The mighty Cape Fear River beckons, boasting a Riverwalk that will eventually span from bridge to bridge. Having a bustling business district just outside your office is invigorating, not to mention inspiring. Shopping, dining, and entertainment choices abound, as do friendly locals, gorgeous views, and the feeling that you've found the perfect balance between the past and future.

A Great Place for Technology Companies

Downtown Wilmington continues to grow as an ideal location for an emerging technology company. From PPD's Worldwide Headquarters to national technology companies to boutique web development shops, Downtown is a great place to find a home for your growing company. The new Wilmington Convention Center and construction of the six-story Courtyard Marriott Hotel ensure that downtown Wilmington will enjoy a prosperous and dynamic future. We encourage you to become a part of it!

Here are just a few of the great technology companies that make downtown Wilmington their home:

  • BluZeus
  • Blue Tone Media
  • Bons Eye Design
  • Digit Effects
  • Gig Salad
  • Inclinix
  • Power Card
  • PPD
  • SpecialtySoft
  • TayloeGray
  • Waverider Design
  • Wide Open Technology

Sponsors

The following are some of the organizations and companies that are supporting this program. If your company would like to support this program, please contact WDI for more information on how to participate.

Questions / Comments

Have A Question About the Program?

Contact John Hinnant at Wilmington Downtown Inc.

  • Phone: (910) 763-7349
  • Email: john (at) wilmingtondowntown.com

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