Cohort 1 · Applications Open April 7, 2026

Where
Small TownTalent
Takes Off.

White Rabbit Accelerator is a 4-month program investing in Rogue Valley entrepreneurs — plus 12 months of post-cohort quarterly meetings to keep graduates accountable and growing. Mentors, makerspaces, co-working, and a community that shows up — right here in Ashland.

Apply as Founder See the Program
White Rabbit Accelerator Cohort 1 · 2026
4
Months
5–10
Founders
14
1:1 Sessions
Aug 8
Demo Day
What We Learned
BUILT ON
THE BEST.

We studied YC, Techstars, and 500 Global — then adapted what works for small-town talent and community-first entrepreneurship.

Y Combinator

Talk to Users. Build. Iterate.

Weekly milestones, deep customer discovery, and a high-stakes Demo Day create undeniable accountability. Peer cohorts generate organic pressure and knowledge that no solo founder gets alone.

Techstars

Mentorship at the Center.

The "Give First" philosophy puts expert mentors beside founders from day one — not in a lecture hall, but in real 1:1s. 74% of Techstars companies raise capital within 3 years because relationships open doors.

500 Global

Great Ideas Exist Everywhere.

500 Global proved world-class support doesn't require a tech hub. Their 4-month format and diverse cohorts produce more resilient businesses — and that blueprint works in Ashland just as well as Austin.

White Rabbit Accelerator
Our Edge

Your Town Is Your Unfair Advantage.

Big-city accelerators ship you back home after Demo Day. We start there. Your customers, suppliers, and supporters are already in the room — and so are we, for 14 months after you join.

No equity sold. No debt taken. No relocation required. Just real mentorship, real resources, and a community that shows up.

The Journey
4 MONTHS.
7 PHASES.

A structured, milestone-driven journey from application to Demo Day — plus 12 months of post-cohort quarterly meetings so graduates stay accountable long after the program ends.

0
Pre-Program

Setup & Selection

Weeks –4 to 0 · Mar–Apr 2026

Applications open April 7. Review, interview, select 5–10 founders. Mentors matched. Resources confirmed. Slack workspace live.

ApplicationsCohort SelectionMentor Matching
1
Month 1

Foundation

Weeks 1–4 · May 5 – Jun 1, 2026

Kickoff at White Rabbit Co-working. Founders meet mentors, complete Business Baseline, and set SMART goals. Orientation to all local resources.

Kickoff EventOnboarding 1:1sBusiness BaselineSMART Goals
2
Month 2

Build & Validate

Weeks 5–8 · Jun 2 – Jun 29, 2026

Minimum 10 customer discovery conversations. MVP built and tested. Grant applications reviewed. Warm introductions to Rogue Valley stakeholders.

Customer DiscoveryMVPGrantsNetworking
3
Month 3

Grow & Refine

Weeks 9–12 · Jun 30 – Jul 27, 2026

Traction sprints, peer feedback roundtables, business model refinement. Founders document proof of progress. Demo Day narrative begins.

Traction SprintsPeer FeedbackModel Refinement
4
Month 4

Finalize & Launch

Weeks 13–16 · Jul 28 – Aug 7, 2026

Pitch deck finalized and rehearsed twice. One-pager prepared. Demo Day logistics locked. Invitations sent to community, stakeholders, and press.

Pitch DeckRehearsal 1 + 2Final All-Hands
★
Week 17

Demo Day — August 8, 2026

Saturday · Ashland, Oregon · Public Showcase

The Rogue Valley shows up. 5-minute pitches, Q&A, networking reception, awards, and celebration. Stakeholders, mentors, local press, and community all in the room.

5-Min PitchesCommunity Q&ANetworkingAwards
+
Post-Program · 12 Months

Post-Cohort Quarterly

Nov 2026 · Feb 2027 · May 2027 · Aug 2027

Every graduate commits to four 1-hour quarterly meetings over the 12 months following Demo Day. We track progress against the SMART goals set in Month 1, measure economic impact (jobs created, revenue growth), and use that data to secure future grants for the accelerator.

4 Quarterly MeetingsSMART Goal ReviewEconomic ImpactGrant Data
What You Get
LOCAL RESOURCES.
REAL SUPPORT.

Every founder gets access to Ashland and Rogue Valley's best infrastructure. No commute to Portland required.

🐇
White Rabbit Co-working
Ashland, Oregon
Professional co-working home base for all cohort members. Meeting rooms, hot desks, high-speed internet, and a community of local entrepreneurs.
Expert Mentors
Multiple Disciplines
Weekly 55-minute 1:1 sessions with mentors matched to your industry. Specialists in operations, marketing, finance, product, legal, and more.
Small Grants
Case-by-Case Basis
Access to small grants reviewed individually based on need and stage. Application writing support provided. Connections to local and state funding programs.
Community Network
Rogue Valley Ecosystem
Warm introductions to Rogue Valley stakeholders, chamber of commerce, local press, and Oregon Entrepreneurs Network. Your network grows every week.
Key Gates
PROGRAM
MILESTONES.

15 key checkpoints from kickoff through your first year post-program — so every founder stays on track and accountable long after Demo Day.

Week 1
Program Kickoff
Cohort meets. Agreements signed. Communication norms set. Visions shared.
Director
Wk 2–3
Business Baseline
One-page snapshot: customers, revenue model, current state, top 3 obstacles.
Founder
Week 4
SMART Goals Set
4-month goals finalized with mentor. Specific, measurable, time-bound.
Mentor
Week 6
Customer Discovery
10+ real conversations complete. Insights presented at all-hands. Pivots documented.
Founder
Week 8
MVP Live
First version tested with 3+ real users. Grant applications submitted if applicable.
Founder
Week 10
Mid-Program Review
Formal check-in. SMART goal progress measured. R/Y/G status assigned per founder.
Director
Week 12
Traction Evidence
Documented proof: sales, signups, LOIs, partnerships, or community support.
Founder
Week 14
Pitch Deck Draft
8–12 slide deck submitted to mentor. Problem · Solution · Market · Traction · Ask.
Founder
Week 15
Rehearsal 1
Dry-run in front of mentor panel. Scorecard and action list returned within 24h.
Mentor
Week 16
Demo Day Ready
Final pitch polished. Logistics confirmed. Guest list locked. One-pager printed.
Admin
Aug 8
🎯 Demo Day — Public Showcase
5-min pitches · Q&A · Networking reception · Awards · Celebration. Ashland, Oregon.
All
Q1 · Nov 2026
Post-Cohort Meeting #1
3-month check-in. Review SMART goal progress, early traction metrics, and immediate post-program obstacles.
Director
Q2 · Feb 2027
Post-Cohort Meeting #2
6-month check-in. Measure revenue growth and jobs created. Document economic impact for grant reporting.
Director
Q3 · May 2027
Post-Cohort Meeting #3
9-month check-in. Assess growth trajectory, partnerships formed, and capital raised since Demo Day.
Director
Q4 · Aug 2027
Post-Cohort Meeting #4
12-month final review. Full economic impact report: jobs created, revenue growth, community contribution. Data used for future grant applications.
Director
The Commitment Continues
BEYOND
DEMO DAY.

Graduation isn't the finish line. Every White Rabbit graduate commits to four quarterly meetings over 12 months — keeping SMART goals alive and building the economic data that funds future cohorts.

Q1
3 Months Post-Program · Nov 2026
Early Traction Review
1-Hour Meeting · Remote or In-Person

First look at post-Demo Day momentum. Where are you vs. your SMART goals? What's working, what stalled, and what do you need in the next 90 days?

Q2
6 Months Post-Program · Feb 2027
Growth & Impact Check
1-Hour Meeting · Remote or In-Person

Midpoint review. Revenue growth, jobs created or retained, and partnerships formed. This data goes directly into grant applications for Cohort 2.

Q3
9 Months Post-Program · May 2027
Capital & Scale Review
1-Hour Meeting · Remote or In-Person

Assess funding raised, team growth, and community impact. Identify any pivots and reset goals for the final quarter of the accountability window.

Q4
12 Months Post-Program · Aug 2027
Full-Year Impact Report
1-Hour Meeting · Remote or In-Person

The complete picture. Jobs created, revenue growth, capital raised, community contribution. This report is the foundation for every future grant the accelerator applies for.

Why We Track Economic Impact

The Rogue Valley's economic development depends on measurable results. Every job created, every dollar of new revenue, every partnership formed by a White Rabbit graduate is documented and reported. This data makes the accelerator fundable — so more founders get the support you received.

Jobs
Created & Retained

Tracked quarterly across every graduate. Reported to SOREDI, city, and county grant programs.

Revenue
Growth Since Baseline

Measured against the Business Baseline set in Week 2–3. Real numbers, real proof of program ROI.

Mark Your Calendar
Saturday
August 8, 2026
Demo Day · White Rabbit Accelerator · Ashland, Oregon
JOIN US FOR DEMO DAY.

Watch Rogue Valley's next generation of entrepreneurs pitch their businesses. Network with local stakeholders. Celebrate what's possible when small-town talent gets real support.

Apply as Founder → Become a Mentor