Applications are open online through Sept. 6 for early-stage startups with roots in West Virginia. Five companies will be selected to participate in the program, which kicks off Oct. 1-2. The program is designed to help founders accelerate growth, refine their business strategies and prepare for investment.
Made possible through the generous support of Quality Insights, the accelerator provides founders with a world-class experience at no cost and without requiring any equity in their companies. Participants receive individualized coaching, access to national experts and opportunities to build meaningful relationships with investors and entrepreneurial leaders.
“West Virginia has no shortage of entrepreneurs with bold ideas,” said Tricia Ball, executive director of Marshall University’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “What many founders need is access—to experienced mentors, trusted advisors, investors and a network that can help them move faster. gBETA provides all of that while allowing founders to remain rooted in West Virginia as they build companies capable of competing on a national stage.”
Throughout the seven-week program, founders receive:
• Two one-on-one coaching sessions each week focused on accelerating progress toward key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Weekly educational sessions covering topics such as revenue models, comparable companies, legal considerations and sales
• Weekly Mentor Swarms with local and national subject matter experts
• Access to gener8tor’s extensive national network of mentors, investors and resources
The program concludes with an Investor Swarm, where participating startups receive feedback from more than 25 investors before presenting their companies during a public showcase celebrating the cohort’s progress.
Since launching in 2025, gBETA at Marshall’s iCenter has completed two cohorts, helping participating startups generate more than $3 million in investment and create new job opportunities in West Virginia. The fall 2026 cohort builds on that momentum by continuing to connect entrepreneurs with the resources, expertise and relationships needed to launch and grow scalable businesses. The program is part of a broader effort to strengthen the state’s innovation ecosystem and create new pathways for entrepreneurship and economic development.
“I’m thrilled for our third cohort to take advantage of the momentum we’re building and gener8tor’s network,” said Bill Kuhn, program manager for gBETA at Marshall’s iCenter. “I really enjoy meeting founders where they are, understanding what they need to reach their next stage, and connecting them with the mentors, investors, and resources that can help them move forward. Each cohort strengthens the entrepreneurial community we are building across West Virginia.”
The accelerator has a slight preference for startups aligned with Marshall University’s six areas of distinction: advanced energy, advanced manufacturing, aviation, cybersecurity and digital forensics, health care and entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurs interested in applying can learn more and submit an application by clicking here or visiting bit.ly/gBETAMarshalliCenter.
A virtual information session covering the program will be held Monday, Aug. 24, from 6-6:45 p.m. To access the session, click here, or visit bit.ly/gBETAInfoSession. The session is an opportunity for founders, mentors and investors in West Virginia and beyond to learn about the opportunities gBETA at Marshall’s iCenter provides and to get more familiar with the team.
For more information, contact Kuhn by email or call 304-521-3043.
About Marshall University’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (iCenter) at Marshall University is committed to helping organizations innovate, grow, and create lasting impact throughout West Virginia and beyond. Through entrepreneurship education, innovation programs, accelerator initiatives, and business support services, the iCenter serves as a catalyst for economic growth and business success across the region.
About gener8tor
Gener8tor fosters innovation ecosystems through its accelerator programs, venture capital funds, and skills-based workforce initiatives. With a strong track record of supporting high-growth companies, gener8tor operates accelerators across 29 U.S. states and six other countries, working with over 300 startups per year. To date, gener8tor has worked with more than 2,200 startups that have cumulatively raised over $3 billion in financing and employ a workforce surpassing 15,800 people.
About Quality Insights
As a West Virginia-based health improvement organization since 1973, Quality Insights partners with community organizations, health care providers, and patients to find what’s working, learn from each other, and solve problems together. Through information, education, and hands-on support, including its sponsorship of gBETA at Marshall’s iCenter, Quality Insights is advancing its mission to improve health.