From a company that makes wireless USB devices to a North Idaho business that makes cider, Ignite Northwest may have with its third class its most diverse group of companies to date, says CEO Bill Savitz.

“We’ve got a total of 18 companies—10 in Spokane, four from Hayden, and four from the Tri-Cities,” says Savitz, who notes that executives from the businesses not in Spokane will have the opportunity to attend class sessions remotely.

Ignite Northwest is a nonprofit business accelerator that formed last year to help young tech companies overcome early startup challenges. Specifically, Ignite is designed to help companies with working prototypes that already have entered the marketplace, but need a boost to become even more successful.

The third class started Aug. 23 and will conclude Nov. 8.  Graduation and demonstration will take place Nov. 15. 

For its spring session, Ignite piloted a remote participation feature to include companies from the Tri-Cities in partnership with Fuse SPC, that area’s equivalent of Ignite here.

Savitz says Ignite has also partnered with the Panhandle Area Council, which helps serve startups in Idaho’s Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, and Shoshone counties.

While vetting applicants for its third class, Savitz says Ignite had a strong crop of businesses not representing the technology sector.

“We’re excited to welcome our newest class and are pleased to see the growth in remote participation. It opens doors to many new partnerships,” Savitz says in a statement that Ignite Northwest released after the class started.

CEOs from the 18 companies will complete a rigorous 13-week session. In addition to class time, they will be given personal advisers with industry expertise to help guide them as they build and grow their business models. Companies not selected are encouraged to reapply for the spring 2017 session.

Ignite is located in a second-floor suite at 714 N. iron Bridge Way. Its board of directors includes longtime business community members such as Savitz; Kim Zentz, former Innovate Washington CEO; and Washington State University Spokane Chancellor Lisa Brown.