NDSU business student Dieumerci Christel and his company, Enlight, have been selected to participate in the Techstars Accelerator in Austin, Texas. He is the first NDSU student to be selected by the start-up accelerator.

Techstars has selected more than 1,600 companies from across the United States since its founding in 2006. Fewer than one percent of applicants are chosen into their cohorts. In exchange for six percent common stock, each company accepted into Techstars receives $20,000, plus a $100,000 convertible note in addition to access to a diverse network for life and over $1 million of perks.

“I’m excited for adding a new member to my ongoing family of supporters through my startup journey,” Christel said. “This Techstars family is even bigger and badder.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the accelerator will be conducted online, but Christel plans to visit Austin at the end of the program to take advantage of his new professional network.

Christel is co-president of the NDSU Entrepreneur Club and has been selected as a WeFunder Workaway Founder and Future Founders National Cohort member. His startup, Enlight, is an app that helps teachers learn about their students so they can be more effective in their teaching.

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