About the US Women in Tech Accelerator

The US Women in Tech Accelerator is a vital program dedicated to empowering women-identifying founders who are developing innovative solutions to advance economic mobility and ensure equitable access to essential services across the United States. This initiative, now in its second cohort, is a collaborative effort with the Standard Chartered Foundation, underscoring a shared commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth.

Mission and Values

The core mission of the accelerator is to address the significant funding gap faced by women founders. Historically, all-women founding teams have received a mere 2.4% of venture capital funding over the past three decades, a disparity that hinders innovation and equitable access to resources. The program is designed to directly confront these barriers by supporting early-stage, tech-enabled startups led by women. It values impact creation, job generation, and the scaling of solutions that contribute to nationwide economic mobility.

Program Structure and Benefits

This accelerator is structured to provide comprehensive support to its participants. A key benefit is access to 1:1 coaching with an investment analyst, focusing on the crucial aspects of building robust financial models and compelling financial narratives. This personalized guidance is instrumental in preparing founders for future investment opportunities. Furthermore, the program offers grant capital, with two startups selected by their peers to receive USD 25,000 each. This non-dilutive funding is intended to help these ventures further scale their impactful solutions. The program aims to support 10-12 women-led, impact-creating, tech-enabled startups, fostering a strong peer network and collaborative environment.

Eligibility and Focus Areas

The program targets legally registered, US-based, for-profit businesses with fewer than ten employees. A critical requirement is that at least one full-time founder must identify as a woman, encompassing cisgender, transgender, and non-binary individuals. Eligible startups must be revenue-generating with less than USD 100,000 in annual revenue, possess a minimum viable product (MVP), and have raised less than USD 1.5 million in equity. Crucially, these tech-based or tech-enabled solutions must address economic mobility or access to essential services in specific areas. These include increasing access to affordable healthcare and wellness, equipping care workers, strengthening community-integrated solutions, innovating in education, broadening accessibility for marginalized communities, reducing barriers to employment, empowering financial literacy, advancing generational wealth, and creating access to essential services that unlock economic opportunity.

What Participants Can Expect

Participants can expect an intensive and supportive environment focused on strengthening their business fundamentals and preparing for growth. The program's emphasis on financial analysis and peer-selected grant capital provides tangible resources for scaling. Beyond direct financial and analytical support, the accelerator fosters a community among women founders, enabling networking, shared learning, and mutual encouragement. The structured approach to addressing specific problem statements ensures that participating startups are aligned with critical societal needs, enhancing their potential for both impact and investment.