Spark The Southeast

The Spark the Southeast Project is a first-of-its-kind capital formation initiative designed to increase angel investment, support early-stage startups, and catalyze innovation in undercapitalized Southeastern states.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Access to Capital Is Holding the Southeast Back

In the Southeast startup ecosystem, a steady decline in capital deployment paired with a limited number of investors are forcing early-stage startups to seek funding outside of the region, relocate headquarters, or shut down operations hindering the regions innovation growth.

BUT, Spark The Southeast changes that! 🔥👇

Sparking Capital Formation with a New Approach

Spark the Southeast Project unlocks early-stage capital by preparing startups to be truly capital-ready, training first-time angel investors through trusted ecosystem partners, and offering a 5–10% cash rebate to new angel investors on qualifying investments made in Southeast-based startups.

How It Works

Train New Investors

Ecosystem partners across the Southeast train and onboard first-time angel investors, expanding the regional investor base.

FOR INVESTORS

Prepare the Startups

Square One Startup School trains early-stage founders through its 10-week, fully remote pre-accelerator, focused on capital readiness, fundraising fundamentals, and investor engagement.

FOR STARTUPS

Reward New Investors

Qualified angel investors receive a 5–10% cash rebate (up to $2,500) for investing in eligible Southeast-based startups.

Cash Rebate

The Bigger Vision.

With many Angel Investment Tax Credit programs across the Southeast expired, this initiative serves as a real-world feasibility test to inform how those programs can be revived. By piloting an incentive-driven model today, we generate the data, outcomes, and partnerships needed to shape future policy—while immediately unlocking capital for startups in underserved regions.

The impact is clear: more investors entering the market, more capital deployed locally, and more startups able to stay and scale in the Southeast.

Become A Partner

FAQs

Spark the Southeast Project is a capital formation initiative powered by Square One Startup School that increases early-stage investment in the Southeast by preparing startups to be capital-ready, training new angel investors, and offering a cash rebate incentive on qualifying investments.

The project is designed for three groups:

  • Early-stage startups based in the U.S. Southeast seeking first-time angel investment
  • Angel investors, especially first-time or emerging angels looking to deploy capital locally
  • Ecosystem partners such as accelerators, incubators, angel groups, and economic development organizations

Eligible startups must:

  • Be headquartered in the U.S. Southeast
  • Be early-stage (pre-seed or seed)
  • Have raised less than $250,000 in outside capital

**Priority is given to startups that graduate from Square One Startup School’s pre-accelerator program.

Eligible investors must:

    • Be based in the U.S. Southeast
    • Prepared to deploy capital by September 30, 2026

**Priority is given to first-time angel investors and those who have recently completed an angel investment training program between October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026.

Qualified angel investors may receive a 5–10% cash rebate, up to $2,500 per investor, for investing in eligible Southeast-based startups. Rebate eligibility depends on the startup’s location, stage, and participation in Square One programs. Please see example below:

Unlike traditional tax credits that require state legislation, Spark the Southeast Project pilots an incentive-driven investment model today. This approach allows us to deploy capital immediately while generating real-world data to inform the potential revival of statewide Angel Investment Tax Credit programs across the southeast region in the future.

Eligible startups must be headquartered in one of the following states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, or West Virginia.

This is not a grant program. Investments are made directly between angel investors and startups. The cash rebate is an incentive provided to investors and does not impact startup equity terms.

Investors can participate by joining through one of our ecosystem partners or by applying directly (here). First-time angels will receive training and guidance before making investments in eligible startups.

Startups can apply to participate in Square One Startup School’s pre-accelerator program (here). Eligible graduates gain priority access to the Spark the Southeast investor network and rebate-eligible capital. Eligible startups can also participate by gaining capital-readiness training through one of our ecosystem partners or by applying directly (here)

Square One Startup School was awarded the 2025 SBA Growth Fund Accelerator Challenge to fund phase one of the Spark the Southeast Project. In addition to funding from the SBA, this project is supported through a combination of philanthropic, public, and ecosystem partner funding focused on increasing early-stage capital access in underserved regions.

We welcome partnerships with organizations that support founders, investors, or regional innovation. Partners help train investors, source startups, and expand capital access across the Southeast. Email us at founder@squareoneschool.com