A class of five entrepreneurs is scheduled to graduate today from the second session of FoundersPad, the Bend-based business accelerator, which is in search of entrepreneurs to fill spring slots.

“Whether they are concept, launch or growth-stage businesses, we invest time, expertise and capital to help spirited founding teams bring innovative ideas to market,” said Molly Mount, program manager for FoundersPad.

FoundersPad, formerly called VentureBox, began in fall 2011 and offers a 12-week program twice a year that provides mentoring, networking and education to help startups get off the ground, Mount said.

The next FoundersPad session is scheduled to start in April, and applications for up to 10 openings are being accepted through March 15, she said.

FoundersPad isn’t a typical classroom experience, said Dino Vendetti, co-founder, investor and mentor of the program. Instead of course lectures or tests, he said, it’s a hands-on learning process for the entrepreneurs.

“It’s all about helping them progress more quickly,” he said. “We’re putting a lot of emphasis around the business model and the customer development process because those are the two key aspects of any startups that you need to nail early on.”

Of the startups that participated in the first 12-week session, Vendetti said, more than half were able to raise funding, and two went on to win investments at the Bend Venture Conference in October.

Next month, Founders-Pad has scheduled three investor days in Bend, where graduates from session two will make pitches and ask for funding from investors, Mount said. Additional investor meetings will take place in Portland and Silicon Valley within the next couple months.

Vendetti said if entrepreneurs can solve a problem for a business or industry in a unique way, then that’s not only a startupcustomers will flock to; it’s one investors will feel comfortable backing.

“We’re investing our own time, energy and money into this program,” he said. “I’m betting on that entrepreneur to be able to make something out of nothing, to turn their business idea into reality.”

On the Web

To apply for FoundersPad or get more information, visit www.founderspad.com