The Catalyst Accelerator team welcomed back the #CADCO cohort to Colorado Springs for Session 3 of the program on May 2nd. The team was thrilled to have Two Six Technologies back as the Session 3 Sponsor, especially since they had generously sponsored Session 1 earlier in the cohort. We cannot run an Accelerator without our community of support. THANK YOU for your generous donation!
During week nine of the #CADCO cohort, the team hosted a total of nine subject matter experts who presented to and met with each cohort company throughout the week. Early in the week, the group had the pleasure of hearing from Mike Schmidt with Imprimis, who spoke with the companies about i2’s unique i2ACT Assessment and Compliance Tool. The cohort also had the opportunity to participate in a session on creativity led by Ryan Hill. Ryan explained that there is no cookie cutter model for creativity, and everyone has the capacity to be creative, no matter what job they perform on a daily basis. His session ended with a FourSight assessment that revealed each participant’s unique problem-solving style. Wednesday wrapped up with a cohort dinner at COATI, a trendy food hall and brewery in downtown Colorado Springs.
Additionally, the companies heard from two of the Catalyst Accelerator’s #CADCO Demo Day Sponsors – Aileen Berrios, the Executive Vice President – Director of Business Solutions Group & Business Development at 5Star Bank, and Brian Ormsby, the Founder and CEO of Pantheon Solutions. Aileen presented on why it’s so important for a small business to find the right bank for government contracting. She shared her expertise with the cohort by stating, “As a specialized banker at 5Star Bank, I have been providing comprehensive solutions to government contractors and businesses in Colorado for years. With extensive expertise in the intricacies of government contracting and a thorough understanding of market trends, my team and I have successfully helped numerous clients navigate the complex world of commercial banking. We take pride in tailoring our services to suit the unique needs of each business, offering competitive rates and personalized guidance. At 5Star Bank, we don’t just provide financial support, we establish lasting partnerships with our clients to help them achieve their goals.” During Brian’s session, he spoke about how to create a compliant accounting system, unallowable costs, and pricing. After meeting with the companies, he offered some advice to the group. He said, “Remember to maximize your profit in a contract bid. There are many things the government will not pay for, and profit is the only way to stay above water.”
On Thursday, Greg Sears briefed the companies on ManTech (one of the Commercial Navigators for the #CADCO cohort) in the morning and later met with the companies in the afternoon. In the evening, the cohort enjoyed a Star Wars themed “May the Fourth be With You” happy hour. The event was well-attended and allowed the companies to make more connections with government and industry leaders and other cybersecurity experts.
At the end of the week, Joseph Marney from defyDesign walked the group through tips and tricks for video recording and production. Joseph has worked with the Accelerator team since the program’s inception and will be filming and creating the videos for the #CADCO Demo Day event on June 1st. On Friday, the companies also had the chance to meet with and hear from Kimberly Tebrugge, who shared her passion for strategy and branding, and explained why curating culture is necessary for the health of a company. Then, Dr. Gaudreault spoke to the cohort about Space Operations Command (SpOC). At the end of the day on Friday, the group attended a Switchbacks game, a local Colorado Springs soccer team. The week ended on a perfect note and the Accelerator team was grateful for the chance to connect more with these incredible companies!
Thank you to each of the subject matter experts who donated their time to speak with the #CADCO cohort and answer their questions. The Catalyst Accelerator team is looking forward to the next on-week with this awesome group!
