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Target launches retail startup accelerator

Target has launched a startup accelerator with a little help from Techstars and West Stringfellow, former chief product officer at Big Commerce and Rosetta Stone.

October 19, 2015

Target has launched a startup accelerator with a little help from Techstars and West Stringfellow, former chief product officer at Big Commerce and Rosetta Stone, according to TechCrunch.com.

Stringfellow, who will lead the program, said the aim is to "accelerate our own innovation at Target" and to build up the startup community in Minneapolis.

"We intend to make Minneapolis and the Twin Cities the epicenter of the Silicon Prairie and the epicenter of retail innovation," Stringfellow told TechCrunch.

Ten companies will be selected to work out of the Target offices for three months next summer, where they'll be mentored by Target executives and other local entrepreneurs and business leaders.

"We're going to be very broad in terms of the categories of companies we're accepting," said Stringfellow, who encouraged anyone to apply who sees "where Target can add value to their company or they can add value to Target."