Funded by JPMorgan Chase, Wave’s TechWomen Rising Accelerator Program empowers female-led tech startups to scale early-stage startups while working to close chronic funding deficits for women throughout the U.S.

 

Tampa Bay Wave, Inc. is proud to announce that we are now accepting applications for its 2021 TechWomen Rising Accelerator program.

Now in its second year, the 90-day TechWomen Rising Accelerator program is offered exclusively to women-led technology companies and is intended to help female entrepreneurs build high-growth startups and promote venture capital investments in female founded companies. 

The program is funded by a $500,000 philanthropic commitment from JPMorgan Chase to Tampa Bay Wave and Embarc Collective as part of the firm’s global initiative to encourage small business development, generate jobs and nurture diverse communities.

“The number of women-owned technology startups in the Tampa Bay area is growing at a record pace, and we want to make sure they have access to resources and capital to succeed” said Michele Grace, South Division Director for Chase Business Banking. “We are thrilled to see the first phase of this program launch and look forward to continuing to support this partnership.”

Companies in the accelerator program will receive a dedicated experienced mentor, one-on-one feedback with notable tech founders, pitch coaching, investment readiness programs and strategic introductions to investors and prospective customers. TechWomen Rising companies will also participate in Wave’s Demo Day at the conclusion of the program. 

“The TechWomen Rising Accelerator is designed to provide women-led companies the resources they need to be successful, while breaking down barriers for all women tech entrepreneurs” said Linda Olson, CEO, Tampa Bay Wave. “We are thrilled for this opportunity to partner with JPMorgan Chase to level the playing field for female entrepreneurs. This is exactly the kind of regional collaboration that can make a lasting impact.”

The program is important, not only for female founders in Florida, but for women-led companies nationwide. Today, only 16 percent of U.S. venture capital funding goes to companies with at least one female founder and just 2.5 percent of funding goes to startups with all-female founders. (Pitchbook, 2019)

Beyond the 90-day accelerator, Tampa Bay Wave provides ongoing support to women-led companies through Wave’s CORE membership program and partners with Embarc Collective on programming for the national Glaring Gap summit which seeks to develop solutions for supporting women in entrepreneurship. Both TechWomen Rising Demo Day and the Glaring Gap summit will be held in the fall during Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Applications for the TechWomen Rising Accelerator are open now through July 31, 2021, with the program launching in late August.

To learn more or apply, visit: https://www.tampabaywave.org/techwomen-rising/ 

Wave is also hosting two “Ask Me Anything” sessions where you can meet the team and ask your questions:

• Thu, June 24th @ 12pm – Register here.
• Wed, July 14th @ 12pm – Register here.