About CAN BE
What CAN BE Offers
Acceptance Criteria
Community Benefits
Educational Partnerships
CAN BE Staff

CAN BE Program Entry Criteria (PDF 30Kb)

Ideal Candidates

Ideal candidates for admission are new venture or spin off innovators with technological product ideas or knowledge-based business concepts. Examples of acceptable technology areas include, but are not limited to, software, electronic hardware, Internet/web-based, multimedia, biotechnology, nanotechnology, industrial, energy-related, information, engineering, and manufacturing-related technologies. CAN BE gives preference to companies possessing or developing proprietary technologies but this not the sole criterion for selection. Certain service-oriented businesses, such as in business/financial services arena, are not precluded from participation. Selection for admission into this broad-based program is accomplished on a case-by-case basis as a means to eliminate the preclusion of potential clients that may not fall within the aforementioned areas specifically.

Entry into Program

It is the policy of CAN BE that a complete business plan be submitted to CAN BE and approved by the selection committee. The applicant will have an appropriate timeframe in which to make corrections during which time CAN BE can offer assistance. Wilkes University Small Business Development Center, Pennsylvania's Pennsylvania Open for Business and U.S. Small Business Administration provide business plan development support and other information relevant to new business ventures.

Graduation
Since the first three years of any start-up are typically the most critical, most companies should plan to take advantage of the Incubator's affordable rent and business services for three to five years. As businesses become self-sufficient enough to move out of the incubator and contribute to the economic growth of the region, other early-stage enterprises take their place.