Smart & Circular Accelerator Program

The gBETA Smart Manufacturing / Industry 4.0 accelerator program is a free, seven-week initiative operated by gener8tor, a nationally ranked startup accelerator. The program targets early-stage startups within the smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 sectors, and is hosted in Indianapolis, Indiana. Although physically hosted in Indianapolis, the program is nationally accessible, offering both virtual and in-person components. gBETA is designed to help startup founders refine their business models, gain mentorship, and prepare for potential investment through subsequent accelerators or seed funding rounds. The accelerator runs multiple times annually in various cities across the United States. Each cohort selects up to five companies through a competitive application process. Participants benefit from individualized coaching and mentorship by the gener8tor team, weekly educational sessions known as "Lunch & Learns," and extensive mentor and investor networking opportunities such as “Mentor Swarms” and “Investor Swarms.” The program culminates in a final showcase event where participants pitch to a curated audience of investors, mentors, and customers. Additionally, companies gain access to over $1 million in vendor deals and perks from partners like IBM Cloud, Rackspace, Amazon, Paypal, Zendesk, Hubspot, and Microsoft. To be eligible for participation, applicants must be early-stage smart manufacturing or Industry 4.0 companies based in the United States. Founders must be able to commit at least 85 percent attendance to the program, ideally reaching 100 percent. The weekly time requirement includes 5 to 7 hours of structured programming, not including independent work on the business. Applicants should be open to feedback, willing to share non-proprietary business details with mentors and investors, and ready to actively pursue fundraising or sales growth. Participants are expected to be coachable, responsive, and capable of functioning in a fast-paced environment. The gBETA Smart Manufacturing / Industry 4.0 Spring 2025 program will begin on May 29, 2025, and end on July 31, 2025. The application deadline is May 12, 2025. No investment is made during the program, and gener8tor does not take equity from participants. Post-program support includes continued access to the gener8tor network, pitch sessions called Lightning Rounds, and opportunities to participate in industry conferences and partner introductions. Interested applicants can direct inquiries or schedule office hours with the program's director, Davide Dantonio, via email at davide@gener8tor.com. The program's structure is built to foster growth through team strategy meetings, expert-led discussions, and ongoing alumni support, all at no cost to the selected companies. This opportunity provides a strong foundation for startups aiming to secure funding and expand their reach in the smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 ecosystems.