The document provides an overview of a new accelerator program called "17" that aims to identify startup companies working on solutions aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. The program will convene experts, conduct research, accelerate selected startups, and help deploy them globally. It will initially operate one accelerator but plans to expand to a network of 17 accelerators within 5 years. The goal is to leverage private sector solutions and capital to address large-scale social and environmental challenges.

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“No society can surely be flourishing and happy of which by far
the greater part of the numbers are poor and miserable.”
— Adam Smith
Global Business
Accelerator
2016

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The Status Quo is Broken
Countless billions of dollars have been deployed into “solutions” to the world’s most difficult problems.
Yet, in 2016, more than 2 billion people live on less than $3 a day, close to 800 million people lack adequate
food, and the earth’s climate, soils, water supplies, and other resources remain under dire stress.
Traditional approaches to these problems treat symptoms but not root causes and rely too often on
ephemeral solutions.
Capitalism, the most powerful and durable economic force on the planet, can create a foundation for
sustainable societal and environmental change. To date, however, it has not been effectively unlocked at a
scale to truly serve the greater good. While some businesses are addressing problems, the large-scale social
and sustainability outcomes promised by traditional impact investing have yet to manifest in significant
influential way.
‘17’ is a world-class business accelerator and incubator focused
on identifying the world’s top startups to advance market-based
solutions to address the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The 17 Opportunity
We live in an exciting time for entrepreneurialism! Around the world we see energy and creative thinking
surrounding marketplace-based solutions. Many of these ideas, however, are rough-hewn and not grounded in
demand-based market fundamentals. Success will require elimination of market frictions between do-gooding
and actual large-scale adoption.
17 goes well beyond traditional impact investing by leveraging research, educational, and government
resources to find opportunity within the most intractable global problems and by developing global
partnerships to sustain these new ventures in the complex and changing landscape of 21st century economies.
The Game Changer

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In 2015, the global community adopted 17 goals to secure the long-term well being of humanity.
The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to end extreme poverty and eliminate hunger;
stabilize the climate and secure the environment; promote peace and justice; and set us on a path
to sustainable development.
The Global Goals
For Sustainable Development
“There is no ‘Plan B’ because we do not have a ‘Planet B.’
We have to work and galvanize our action.”
— Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary-General

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Overview
Global Business Accelerator Program
Goals
17 is a completely different approach.
By selecting and accelerating startups that have high-growth potential and viable business models,
17 leverages the power of the market to address the most vexing problems on the planet.
Effective Use of Capital
17 places philanthropic and investor capital more strategically
by matching entrepreneurial solutions to global problems and
creating viable and profitable enterprises.
Identify-Specific Problems
Through engagement with SDG stakeholders, 17 identifies
regional and global market opportunities.
Branding / Reputation
17’s convening events will bring together global thought leaders
and stakeholders, and will become known as the major forum for
exploring the use of private sector capital to address the SDGs.
Innovation
17 harnesses entrepreneurial drive to leverage new and
innovative technologies to address global, social, and
sustainability issues.
Talent Pool
17’s accelerators will create a pool of high-value startups and
innovators that can address challenges being faced by global
corporations today.
Press
17 and its partners will provide a steady stream of eyebrow-
raising stories of industry innovation being applied to the world’s
most pressing problems.
Financial Reward
17’s approach of utilizing for-profit startups to address
the UN SDGs is realized over time by new, ongoing and
sustainable revenues that result from investments in these
innovative enterprises.
DEPLOY
17 works directly with each startup team
to introduce them to our international
network of corporations, institutions, and
organizations, ensuring that their technology
and businesses are supported in the most
effective way.
CONVENE
17 leverages input from stakeholders with
deep knowledge of SDG focus areas to
illuminate specific target challenges, uncover
promising technologies, identify market gaps,
and create a strategic framework for each SDG
accelerator. 17 then conducts an exhaustive
search to find and develop the most promising
startups from across the globe to address
the challenges.
ACCELERATE
Each selected team participates in an intensive 12-week
development program preparing them for investment,
development and growth. Our proprietary curriculum uniquely
addresses hundreds of issues facing startups today.
REPLICATE
17 operates year-round to create partnerships with
a network of accelerators to generate a continuous
flow of innovative companies. As one set of teams
graduates and goes to market, another set of teams is
being selected.
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17 utilizes the world’s largest research and implementation networks to find opportunity within
each of the 169 targets that make up the 17 SDGs. Many technologies, innovations, and knowledge
that could change the world remains locked away in research labs. These ideas, combined with the
thousands of people at work in development agencies and NGOs, are a vastly underutilized resource
for change and an unrealized opportunity for market innovation.
STRATEGY
The 17 Convene team will work with research organizations, foundations, donors,
and investors to chart a strategy to find innovative entrepreneurial solutions to the
169 SDG targets.
RESEARCH
17 will build relationships with researchers, aid agencies, and corporations to
support new ventures. At the same time, 17’s approach to strategy and analysis
will ensure that every 17 venture is deeply integrated with, and informed by,
thought leaders addressing cutting-edge understandings of the world’s most
challenging problems.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
17 will work directly with academic, government, non-governmental, and
private sector organizations to move promising innovations and technologies
into the market.
ENGAGE
17 will engage directly with the world’s experts in the SDG targets to find creative
market-based solutions to global problems.
SYNTHESIS
17’s Convene program provides comprehensive analyses of the human and market
dimensions of the SDG problems.
CONVENE continued
1 CONVENE
Convene

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The 17 Innovation Summits will be signature events that draw global attention to the problems
addressed by the UN SDGs and create strategic foci for the17 accelerator program. In partnership
with our funders, 17 will develop global summits that focus on select areas within the SDGs.
In these events, we will place thought leaders and stakeholders alongside entrepreneurs and
business executives to design a strategic framework for market-based solutions to global problems.
The 17 Innovation Summits will draw global attention to the problems we aim to solve, and focus
innovative entrepreneurial minds on the challenges most deserving of their attention.
CONVENE
Convening workshops will be held for each accelerator class, focused on specific
areas within or across the SDGS.
STAKEHOLDERS
Global stakeholders, including corporate and foundation executives, government
officials, academic experts and key members of the public will work side-by-side
to understand the problems and opportunities embedded in the SDG targets.
PARTNERS
The Innovation Summits will engage the institutions experienced in particular
geographies and issue areas. Such expertise will minimize risks, improve the
breadth and depth of solutions, and set the stage for the long-term partnerships to
support the deployment of 17 enterprises into global marketplaces.
KNOWLEDGE
The 17 Innovation Summits will produce new insights into the most complex
problems on the planet and create a new venue to share our collective insights
and understanding with the world.
THESIS
The 17 Innovation Summits will generate the thesis for the accelerator classes
and set the stage for the deployment of these ventures into the world.
1 CONVENE
17 Innovation Summits
Understanding Global Challenges and Identifying Opportunities

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3-8monthstocompletethisprocess
30days
Application Process
Initial Scoring
Ranked Interviews
Initial Assessment
Extended
Formal Interview
Final Vote
Legal Due
Diligence
Program
Start
Initial Interview
17’s unique application process
is required for all candidates.
Each candidate is assessed to ensure
they meet our criteria (eg. seed stage,
technical co-founder, etc).
A selection committee reviews and
votes on each candidate, based
on the strengths of the application.
The selection committee meets in
person and discusses the candidates
in ranked order.
In-person and video interviews are
conducted with each candidate company.
As many interviews as necessary are performed
to answer queries from committee members
(typically 2-3 interviews).
The 17 committee votes to invite the candidate
(the candidate must accept immediately).
17’s legal and financial teams collect company
information, review and send contract.
17 evaluates and selects innovative startups from around the world—those that have the best
probability of commercial viability—on a continuous basis to ensure that each company enters the
program at optimal readiness and that their innovation is directly applicable to the identified SDG
accelerator thesis.
ACCELERATE continued
The Selection Process
How it Works
2 ACCELERATE

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ROI TEAM
17 collaborates with our partners to identify, monitor, and review Return on Investment
(ROI) throughout the entire program.
FACILITIES
17 provides a branded world-class facility for the teams to share.
MENTORS
17 has an extensive network of business and thought leaders who engage with and
advise our startup companies. Mentors come from all over the world and have direct
knowledge of the problem and how to build and scale a successful business.
CURRICULUM
In concert with our accelerator partners,17 has a proprietary curriculum that immerses
the teams in a structured step-by-step process toward success.
STAFF
17 provides a full-time staff to oversee and operate its accelerator programs.
BEST PRACTICES
17’s accelerator curriculums are learning-based and adapt with insights gained from
previous classes, market conditions, and incorporation of other new business insights.
The curriculums will also be tailored for particular geographies and SDG areas.
EVENTS
17 plans and hosts events to support the program, like pitch and industry events, as
well as sponsor-hosted events.
OTHER BENEFITS
Each team, during their participation in the 17 Accelerator Program, receives resources
including legal, accounting, consulting, financial, software, marketing, and design.*
An intense 12-week process where, at its core, exists a laser-focused approach to developing a
scalable, evidence-based, and commercially viable value proposition.
Accelerate ACCELERATE
2 ACCELERATE

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PARTNERS
17 identifies potential partners that can provide entrée to numerous unique
geographies, facilitating market access and success. This process is ongoing and
begins at 17’s convening stage.
CULTURE
17 provides a dedicated team to interface with the startups to ensure the teams
fully understand the culture and business environment into which their enterprise
will be deployed.
RELATIONSHIPS
17 connects startups with organizations with in-region knowledge and experience.
These organizations—aid agencies, corporations, NGOs—may help facilitate
market access and success.
INCUBATE
Under some circumstances, startups may need to be further incubated before being
launched into a particular geography. 17 provides resources and services to some
startups to better ensure their success when they launch.
SUPPORT
Working with our partners on the ground, 17 helps provide ongoing support and
services to the startups to ensure they gain traction.
17 works directly with each startup team to introduce them to our international network of partners
—corporations, aid agencies, and NGOs—ensuring that businesses are established in new markets
in the most effective ways.
Deploy
Empowering New Companies to Address the
World’s Largest Problems
3 DEPLOY

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Possible accelerator
locations, Year 5
REPLICATE
4
Accelerator partners will be chosen on
the basis of strategic location, experience
and their agreement to operate according
to 17’s foundational principles and in
accordance with 17’s mission.
17 will create and operate approximately 3 new accelerators per year, based in strategic locations
throughout the world. By the end of Year 5, 17 will oversee a network of 17 accelerators. Each
accelerator location will run 2 classes of 10 startup companies annually.
4 REPLICATE
Replicate
Scaling Solutions Globally
Year 1
20 teams
1 accelerator
location
Year 2
60 teams
3 accelerator
locations
Year 3
160 teams
9 accelerator
locations
Year 4
240 teams
12 accelerator
locations
Year 5
340 teams
17 accelerator
locations

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Timeline
PHASE 1:
Convene
August 2016
Identify SDG for accelerator
Identify stakeholders for this SDG sector
Convene with stakeholders and establish goals
Conduct assessment
Identify market gaps and opportunities
Establish communication plan
Create accelerator thesis
January 2017
Launch PR
Start accepting applications
Start selection process and due diligence
Develop custom curriculum and programming
September–November 2016
Develop sector research reports and SDG white papers
Develop application criteria
Develop mentor network
Develop branding, marketing and communication assets
Launch seed fund
Implement communications and marketing plan
March–April 2017
Finalize startup selection
Begin Convene process for accelerator cohort 2 (new SDG)
June–August 2017
Accelerator program in Boulder
May 2017
Legal and administrative
September 2017
Assessment and review
Pitch event
Funding push begins for teams
October - December 2017
Teams enter marketplace
Integrate teams, as necessary, into regional networks
Incubate teams, as necessary
Connect teams with funders and corporations
Funding rounds continue
PHASE 2:
Accelerate
PHASE 3:
Deploy
August
September
October
November
January
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

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Total Capital
Raised
$24.27M
Percent Generating
Revenues
75%
Total Jobs Created
151
Current Portfolio
Value
$100.3M
Number of
Accelerated Teams
33
Average Seed
Capital Raised
$615K
The Boomtown Accelerator is located in 5,500 square feet in the middle
of downtown Boulder, Colorado, ranked by Kauffman Foundation as the
top startup city in the country. Boomtown is a member of the Global
Accelerator Network and has major sponsorships with American Express
and Comcast Labs.
Accelerator Partner
About Boomtown
Boomtown Historical Performance

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17’s operational team possesses the experience and range needed to
tackle the world’s most pressing and complicated problems and it does
it using a completely new approach. Team members come from a variety
of arenas: business, investment, marketing, academia, and policy. This
range of perspectives and backgrounds provides 17 with the ability to
skillfully address dynamic and shifting business, organizational, and
sustainability challenges.
About Us
17’s Operational Team
ROBERT SCHUHAM
Marketer, Investor, Entrepreneur
Rob is a Speaker, Investor, Mentor, and
Advisor to early stage startups in the Tech,
Adtech, IoT, Fashion, Food, Lifestyle, and other
industries. Rob is also a founder or co-founder
of numerous marketing, advertising, and digital
agencies consultancies.
MICHAEL WILLIAMS
Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
Mike brings more than 25 years of business
leadership experience to 17. He enjoys
startups, building world-class teams,
inspiring excellence, and creating business
cultures based on performance and innovation.
He has been a key contributor in creating
exits generating in excess of $650M in
shareholder value.
JASON NEFF
Scientist
Jason is a professor who has done research
on environmental change in locations all
over the world. Neff has authored over
100 research articles, as well as a digital
environmental science textbook.
TOBY KROUT
Entrepreneur, Investor,
Startup Coach
Toby co-founded Boomtown, a startup
accelerator in Boulder, Colorado, in 2013 where
he currently serves as the Executive Director.
Boomtown’s mission is to understand and
continuously improve the modern accelerator
model for the benefit of entrepreneurs. His
startups currently enjoy an 86% survival rate,
and 75% of them are generating revenues.
BEN WEBSTER
Policy Expert
Ben has extensive experience in environmental
policy. He has worked in the University of
Colorado Boulder’s administration, as a senior
staffer for the US Congress, and as an analyst
for both the US EPA and the Natural Resources
Defense Council.

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“Be a global citizen. Act with passion and
compassion. Help us make this world safer
and more sustainable today and for the
generations that will follow us. That is our
moral responsibility.”
- Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary-General
“Promise us that you will keep your
commitments and invest in our future.”
- Malaba Yousafzai, Nobel Prize Laureate

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WHAT’S
YOUR
VISION?

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Contact
Michael Williams
CEO
720.410.9000
mike.williams@17accelerator.org
www.17accelerator.org
17 is a non-profit 501c3 project of the Futurity Foundation