The companies will receive $25,000 each
Melissa Harris CHICAGO CONFIDENTIAL April 28, 2011
It often takes Troy Henikoff and Brian Luerssen of Excelerate Labs less than a minute to toss a pitch into the “obvious no” pile.
There was the dry-cleaner that applied to the incubator, which runs an annual boot camp for technology startups. And the umpteenth deal-of-the-day Web site. And the college freshman who wanted Excelerate’s money and advice but intended to take a hiatus from the business once school resumed.

But arguments over the “maybes” have lasted until 2:30 a.m. as members of Excelerate’s board pare down hundreds of applicants. After funding 10 companies last year….