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"There's good news for startups and wannabe entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia after Singapore-based JFDI Asia announced it has opened applications for the next installment of its accelerator program: the JFDI Bootcamp 2013.\r\n\r\nJFDI (Joyful Frog Digital Incubator) ran its first 100-day accelerator this year and given its success, which saw more than 60 percent of the 15 startups raise at least SG$650,000 (US$530,000), the company has decided to run two separate programs in 2013.\r\n\r\nEach program will provide participating companies with SG$25,000 (US$20,500), with over SG$100,000 (US$82,000) in technical facilities, an impressive line-up of mentors, office accommodation and introductions to more than 100 early-stage investors.\r\n\r\nJFDI was the first in Southeast Asia to be accepted to Techstars'\u00A0Global Accelerator Network and the announcement proudly calls it &amp;quot;the longest-running, most successful seed accelerator program in Southeast Asia,&amp;quot; but there will be at least one significant change in 2013. SingTel-Innov8 -- the VC arm of Asian telecommunications giant SingTel -- is no longer the lead (and indeed named) sponsor since JFDI is now working with a range of operators across the region.\r\n\r\nThe sum takeaway is that this is the accelerator program that aspiring entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia must apply for. Here's what Hugh Mason -- co-founder and CEO of JFDI Asia -- says of the benefits.\r\n\u201CIndependent valuations prove that we increase the value of start-ups by a factor of 4\u20135 in 100 days. Just as important, we probably cut a year or more off the time it would take an independent business to achieve traction. That\u2019s why we call it an accelerator. Informally, we also call it a \u2018bootcamp\u2019 because it is a life-changing intense experience, like basic military training for entrepreneurs.\u201D\r\nBatch 2 is scheduled to begin in Singapore on 14 February 2013 and the approximate finish date is 24 May 2013. Dates for the second program of 2013 are still to be finalized.\r\n\r\nEarlier this week, JFDI announced a partnership with fellow Singapore-based early-stage investor Golden Gate Ventures, and 2013 looks set to be an even bigger and better year for the folks at the Joyful Frog Digital Incubator.\r\n\r\nFull information about the 2013 JFDI programs can be found on its website\u00A0while Mason, formerly\u00A0a producer for the BBC\u2019s science and technology show\u00A0Tomorrow\u2019s World,\u00A0has put together a more interactive overview in the video below.\r\n\r\nBonus: We ran a (lengthy) interview with Mason last year in which he reveals many of the aspirations and goals of JFDI. You can read that here.\r\n\r\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;amp;amp;v=zSwaBEDMsB8\r\n\r\n\u27A4\u00A0JFDI Asia | The JFDI Asia Bootcamp\r\n\r\nHeadline image via\u00A0Brandon Alms\u00A0/ Shutterstock"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://thenextweb.com/asia/2012/12/05/jfdi-asias-acclaimed-bootcamp-incubator-returns-applications-for-2013-program-now-open/>