Take your existing NH-based micro-business venture further – or your idea to reality!

ACRES, an affiliate of FSB (Franklin Bancorp), is offering a business competition to help grow our New Hampshire business community.

Whether you have an existing business of 5 or fewer employees or an idea for a new micro-business, we invite you to apply and compete for the grand prize of $75,000 cash generously donated from Franklin Savings Bank, plus other benefits!

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Eligibility and Requirements

This business accelerator competition is open to de novo ventures (new businesses) or existing micro-business (fewer than 5 employees) seeking to expand. Other requirements include:

Location

Business must be committed to a New Hampshire location

Job Creation

Business must create at least 1 non-owner job within first 12 months

Age

Applicant/business owner must be 18 years of age or older

Affiliation

Applicants cannot be employees or affiliates of ACRES or Franklin Savings Bank

ACRES Accelerator Competition Schedule

December 4 - February 29

Applications are accepted

March 1

Social event at ACRES in Concord, NH, for all contestants

March 2-11

ACRES team selects semi-finalists and notifies them by mid-March to submit long-form description/application

March 29 and 30

Semi-finalists invited to live pitch to the ACRES team in Concord, NH. Finalists selected!

April 1-30

Finalists invited to attend bootcamp with ACRES consultants to refine their applications into true business plans and create pitch decks

May 29

Finalists’ pitch decks and business plans due

June 14

Finalists participate in final live-pitch round! All contestants and the community are invited to attend the event at Capital Center for Performing Arts in Concord, NH, 3pm-7pm.

December 4 - February 29

Applications accepted

March 1

Social event at ACRES in Concord, NH, for all contestants

March 2-11

ACRES team selects semi-finalists and notifies them by mid-March to submit long-form description/application

March 29 and 30

Semi-finalists invited to live pitch to the ACRES team in Concord, NH. Finalists selected!

April 1-30

Finalists invited to attend bootcamp with ACRES consultants to refine their applications into true business plans and create pitch decks

May 29

Finalists’ pitch decks and business plans due

June 14

Finalists participate in final live-pitch round! All contestants and the community are invited to attend the event at Capital Center for Performing Arts in Concord, NH, 3pm-7pm.

Sponsors

Enhancing New Hampshire as a business-friendly place for startups as a collaboration between Franklin Savings Bank and a team of New Hampshire entrepreneurs; one call to find the solutions your business needs.

– Providing Business consulting

A full-service NH-based law firm providing a wide range of legal services to businesses, individuals, and non-profit organizations; serving clients and communities since 1947, and is one of northern New England’s largest and most dynamic law firms.

– Providing Legal support

Community bankers dedicating themselves to improving the financial well-being of New Hampshire communities, businesses, families, and individuals.

– Providing $75,000 cash prize

Judges

Steve Dupree

President, Foxfire Property Management

Ron Magoon

CEO, Franklin Savings Bank

Anu Mullikin

President, Devine Millimet

Bill Hassey

Retired Professor, Peter T. Paul College of Business

Mike Vlacich

Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs, former Regional Administrator of U.S. Small Business Administration