NEW YORK, April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The New York metro area has been selected as a launch site for an international program aimed at helping early-stage entrepreneurs drive their businesses to the $1 million annual sales level with the goal of creating jobs and economic growth in their communities. This initiative, called the Accelerator Program, is being developed and presented by the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) -- the world's most influential community of entrepreneurs -- through EO's New York chapter. The EO's Accelerator Program will provide emerging entrepreneurial companies with support in three forms: a professionally developed educational curriculum focusing on the steps of building a business, mentorship by established New York-based entrepreneurs, and a peer network for consultation and problem- solving. Partnering with EO on the Accelerator Program is Mercedes-Benz Financial which recognizes the importance of entrepreneurship to the overall economy. "This partnership is a natural for Mercedes-Benz Financial," said Juergen Rochert -- Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Financial. "Working with an organization dedicated to strengthening local economies on a worldwide basis by helping entrepreneurs improve their operations is a perfect fit for our core value of financial and social responsibility. Our customer base, especially Mercedes-Benz dealers in this country, understands and represents the entrepreneurial spirit that EO is dedicated to advance and reinforce." Fran Biderman-Gross, President of Advantages, is spearheading the Accelerator launch for the New York chapter. "When Accelerator is launched in New York on April 24, we will be one of the first cities in the world to participate in this exciting program for start-up businesses," she said. "We are looking forward to helping mentor these young entrepreneurs at a crucial stage in their business development and help them get to the next level to help increase their success and contributions to our local community and economy. Our success will serve as the blueprint for a global rollout." The EO Accelerator Program will deliver quarterly one-day learning sessions, presented by an EO-certified facilitator, to a class of up to 30 local entrepreneurs. In addition there will be opportunities for participants to engage with the local EO Chapter members. Annual tuition is $1,000. The process of choosing participants is selective. To qualify for acceptance in the New York Accelerator program, entrepreneurs must meet the following criteria: own and run their business, be age 36 or younger, and have annual revenues of at least $250,000 (and less than $1 million). Expansion and revenue growth to $1 million and beyond must be key elements of the business plan. EO's New York Chapter will launch the Accelerator Program with a social event at the Friars' Club at 57 East 55th Street at 6:30 p.m. April 24, followed by the first quarterly seminar the next day 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. at The Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO)55 Exchange Place, New York. For information on joining the Accelerator Program, contact Kaere Ballman at 250-391-2959 or email her at . About Mercedes-Benz Financial Mercedes-Benz Financial provides financing for Mercedes-Benz dealers' inventories and their retail customers. Currently, nearly 390,000 drivers in the United States enjoy the benefits of leasing or financing their Mercedes- Benz vehicles through Mercedes-Benz Financial, which is part of DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Americas LLC' s group of companies that operate in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and parts of South America with approximately 5,600 employees. DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Americas is part of the DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Group, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, which operates in over 40 countries and has an employee base of close to11,000 and a global portfolio of approximately $149 billion. DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Group is one of the leading financial services enterprises worldwide. For more information visit http://www.mercedesbenzfinancial.com/ About the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) The Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) -- for entrepreneurs only - is a global community that enriches members' lives through direct peer-to-peer learning, connections to experts and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. EO is the catalyst that enables entrepreneurs to learn from each other, leading to greater business success and stronger communities. EO is comprised of more than 6,400 members in more than 40 countries, with an average member age of 38 and average annual revenue of $13 million. The organization is committed to building the world's most influential community of entrepreneurs. For more information, or to apply for membership, visit http://www.eonetwork.org/ or call (703) 519-6700. For more information on the Accelerator Program visit: http://www.accelerator.eonetwork.org/ DATASOURCE: Mercedes-Benz Financial CONTACT: Jack Ferry of Mercedes-Benz Financial, +1-248-427-3124, ; or Mike Geylin, +1-201-750-3533, , for Mercedes- Benz Financial Web site: http://www.mercedesbenzfinancial.com/ http://www.eonetwork.org/ http://www.accelerator.eonetwork.org/

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