Launch and grow your startup with the
WTIA Founder Cohort Accelerator!
Every 6 months, we and our partners support 20 early-stage, technology startups in reaching their next milestones as they navigate growing revenue, securing investment, and building their team. With a mix of group and individual support, WTIA is here to help provide necessary skills and connections to upskill entrepreneurs in Washington.
During the program, Founders will receive:
- Educational curriculum through tracks related to growth, financing, product, and business fundamentals
- Individual mentorship and group coaching with experienced mentors and experts
- Peer mentoring and networking with fellow founders
- Relevant connections to investors, potential partners or customers, and other local leaders
- Free WTIA membership and associated benefits like $10k of AWS credits and discounts on tools like Carta, HubSpot, and more
Blending in-person and virtual interactions for statewide accessibility, our accelerator runs two cohorts annually—absolutely free of charge with no equity taken. Get ready to transform your startup’s trajectory!
Key Dates for Cohort 13
Application Deadline: September 12th, 2025
Selections: October 2025
Program Kick-off: November 13th, 2025
Questions? Contact Koki Sato for more details.
Criteria
The ideal participant will be the CEO and Founder of a venture-scale tech startup that:
- Has a team or co-founder
- Has more than $1 in revenue or fundraising OR has at least one customer/user
- Is below $250k in annual revenue
- Is headquartered in Washington
The typical founder – At the point where their business is becoming real, starting to gain customers or starting to fundraise
Those selected for the program will receive:
- Access to $10k of AWS credits
- Discount on Carta cap table management subscription
- Discount on HubSpot subscription
- Access to WTIA health insurance, business insurance, and 401(k)
- Access to a group of experienced coaches, mentors, and experts
- Access to WTIA Founder Cohort Slack channel
Testimonials
“As a first-time female founder in enterprise technology, starting a new venture was incredibly hard. The WTIA program not only gave me incredible resources, but it gave me a community of other founders that have been the backbone of our success.”
“As a female founder, WTIA helped to level the playing field. I’m certain that it was the connections as well as the training that helped my company secure funding from investors.”
“The Founder Cohort provides invaluable support and resources that are easily a semester’s worth of courses you would have to pay for at an Ivy League school. The mentorship they provided me as a first-time tech entrepreneur was life changing. They helped me turn my innovative ideas into a promising business. Must apply!”
“To this day, I find myself going back to the WTIA for mentorship, comradery, and hand-holding as my company undergoes the various stages of startup life. I love the fact that as my startup grows the WTIA can support me at both the earliest and later stages of my company’s growth.”
Sponsors
Partners
