The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association), the global accounting organisation formed by CIMA and the AIPCA, and CPA.com are seeking new applicants for their joint startup accelerator programme, which focuses on innovation in accounting, finance and regulatory technology.
The accelerator has attracted interest from early-stage companies in 14 countries since it launched in 2017. Successful applicants for the programme’s third class can tap the expertise of senior leadership of both the Association and CPA.com, as well as an accomplished advisory group with diverse backgrounds in entrepreneurship, accounting and finance. They also gain access to Certified Public Accountants (CPA) firm leaders, Chartered Global Management Accountants (CGMAs) in major companies, and other influencers within the profession. In addition, they can qualify for up to US$25,000 (around R375,000) in funding.
“The accelerator was instrumental in our shift upmarket, which is proving to be essential for us,” said Blaine Bertsch of DryRun, a cash flow forecasting software startup that participated in the programme last year. “We’ve also increased our visibility and credibility in the market, which will help us grow much faster.”
Applications for the latest accelerator class are due 30 November 2019. Selections will be made by early 2020. Companies that are chosen will be featured next June at AICPA ENGAGE, one of the leading accounting and finance conferences in North America, and in December 2020 at the AICPA/CPA.com Digital CPA Conference, which specialises in accounting technology and practice development topics.
“We offer deep insight into the rapidly changing dynamics of the accounting profession for participants in the accelerator,” said Lawson Carmichael, chief operating officer of the Association. “In turn, we understand that innovation in the profession can come from all sources and we want to embrace and support change and better quality.”
The startup accelerator programme is open to entrepreneurial companies worldwide. Companies in South Africa and across Africa are encouraged to enter. To be eligible, companies should be:
- At seed or pre-Series A stage (with some exceptions)
- Have a working product or service
- Focused on accounting technology or regulatory technology solutions
CIMA Africa Regional VP Tim Simba said:
“Entrepreneurship is a vital source of creating income and employment in Africa. What’s more, the accelerator programme encourages start-ups to utilise new technology to transform their business operations. Early-stage FinTech and EdTech companies will also benefit from strategic insights, market access and funding. This initiative is a contribution from the Association and CIMA to encourage innovation and employment creation in Africa.”
For questions about the programme, please contact Mark Brooks, the Association’s associate director of innovation and strategic partnerships, mark.brooks@aicpa-cima.com, or Kacee Johnson, strategic advisor for CPA.com, kacee.johnson@hq.cpa.com.
To apply, please visit the startup accelerator programme page at aicpa-cima.com/accelerator.html.
