There’s no question that more women are interested in starting companies. But even as more women launch and run companies, much of the startup world, from tech conferences to pitch events to the media, remains focused on male founders. Young, white male founders.
One big problem, of course, is funding. Women-led companies receive only a small fraction of venture capital and angel investment. The number of women who are investors is dramatically lower, too. Companies that might have soared had the playing field been more level wind up stalling.
Fortunately, there’s a growing ecosystem to support, advise, and fund women founders. It includes accelerators focused on supporting women-led companies, many of which have cropped up in the past few years.
One of the best ways to get the funding and other support your company needs is through your network; that is, if your network includes people who have the skills, experience, and connections you need. Participating in an accelerator is a great way to expand your startup community, as you will work with mentors, investors, and other entrepreneurs while getting a crash course in developing your business and leadership skills.
Each accelerator has its own requirements and program, so its important to do the legwork to find the accelerator best suited to your company, and to the rest of your life.
Here are 10 accelerators for women-led companies:
Avion, San Franciso--This new "pre-accelerator" focuses on Latinas in the tech sector.
Bad Girl Ventures, Cincinnati and Cleveland--This non-profit has a heavy emphasis on education and mentoring offers debt capital.
Equita, San Francisco--This tech-focused program offers seed capital and plans to open a location on the East Coast soon.
Hera Labs, San Diego--Very early stage companies can develop in this program's idea and marketing labs to test their models.
Merge Lane, Boulder--This low-residency program for women across industries has financial incentives on par with leading accelerators, up to $100,000.
Prosper, St. Louis--A low-residency program with a focus on tech, health care and consumer products companies and that makes $50,00o equity investment.
The Refinery, Westport, Conn.--A 12-week, non-residential program in the New York City suburbs that works with companies across industries and provides non-dilutive grants to one or more companies at the end of the program.
Springboard Enterprises, Washington, DC--The pioneering program, founded in 2000, with a wide range of programming including a health care innovation lab in 2016.
Upstart Accelerator, Memphis--For tech companies, a program that includes focus on target customers and a $25,000 investment.
Women's Startup Lab, Silicon Valley--A non-traditional accelerator providing education and networking, based on the Japanese concept of "hito," or human.
