1. Is Girlmade only for women, or can men apply as well?
We like to stay true to our mission of “Helping women play big.” In order to do that we require that each team that goes through our program has at least one female co-founder with equity stake (No, boys, you can’t add you sister to the team, in order to get into the program). So, yes, teams with men and women can apply.
Having said that, we believe that the more diverse a team, the most robust and resilient it is. We like teams that have a mix of women and men in the founding team.
2. What types of companies are you looking for?
We are looking for teams that are:
- Passionate- They know the “why” behind their company. These teams usually, but not always, are solving a problem that they have experienced firsthand or believe passionately in. These know it’s not about them. It’s about seeing something bigger come to fruition.
- Gritty- Startups are not for the weak, the inflexible, or the risk-averse. There will be times where we will force our teams to question everything they believed to be true. Teams need to be able to fail and get back up and keep going.
- Self-aware- Every person that enters our program needs to have a sense of self-awareness. They need to know what they are awesome at and what they suck at. Without this self-awareness they will not succeed. No one co-founder can do this on their own. They need to find people who complement their skills and surround themselves with people who are better than them. To know thyself is key.
- Ethical- character matters. It especially matters when one is leading a team to accomplish something big. There will be several forks in the road, and we like the founders that will do the right thing most of the time. And when they mess up, the ones that can admit that and are willing to make it right.
- Givers- There is an unspoken law of the universe, and we call it “startup karma.” The law states that you have to give more than you get. Giving can take many forms, passing on helpful articles, a warm intro to an investor or ally, etc.
- Audacious-Founders who think really BIG. Bootstapped companies, lifestyle businesses, and service-based businesses (restaurants, PR agencies, etc) are great, but we are looking for the teams who are looking to solve big problems. Ones that can be scaled globally.
- Aware of the need for an Exit Strategy-All startups should have an exit strategy. Knowing if you are an acquisition target is crucial.
What verticals are you looking for?
Batch 1 (Fall 2013): Completed. This batch was extremely diverse. There was a fashion product, a consumer beverage product, a Saas product, an EdTech app, alternative energy team, and a biotech team. We found that the diversity of the teams was a very good thing.
Batch 2 (Fall 2014): Vertical agnostic. All veritcals are welcome. We focus heavily on the team, idea, their passion in depth of knowledge around their space, and their exit strategy.
Batch 3 (Spring 2014): Maker Batch: Drones, hardware, and 3-D printing
We are in Nevada after all. Nevada is in the perfect position to be a petri dish for startups in the drone space. We are one of six test drone (UAV) sites in the nation. Just a little over an hour away is the Silver Springs airport which has been designated as drone flight testing area. The University of Nevada, Reno, which is less than a mile away has a newly minted Drone minor program. Some of the industries that we see drone companies disrupting are the film industry, commercial photography, agriculture, delivery services, emergency services.
What is the length of the accelerator program?
The accelerator program is 3 months long and ends with a Demo Day where each team will get 6 minutes to pitch their startup to investors. Most of that time the teams are working on their products, testing their hypothesis about the the market, building their team, developing solutions, meeting with customers, etc. There are also scheduled meetings with the entire class and with the program directors.
Do I have to live in Reno, NV in order to apply to the Accelerator?
No. However, if you are accepted into the program, we expect you to move to Reno for a minimum of three months (the duration of the program). Our team can help you to find a place close to Startup Row for that three months, sort out transportation and find a roommate if need be. We also have a partnership with the Ross Manor, a apartment building on Startup Row that will accept short-term leases of 3 months.
If I move to Reno for three months will I need transportation?
No. We have a great public transportation system and food and grocery close to the locaiton of the the accelerator program as well as housing. All is within walking distance.
What types of scheduled meetings can I expect?
Each team will have a standing thirty minute meeting each week. In addition, we will bring in speakers who are experts in a particular startup subject. Other one-off events include a Saturday day trip where we rent a van to drive to Silicon Valley to have meet one-on-one with investors and mentors in a central location.
Do I have to have my corporate entity set-up before the before the program starts?
No. Not unless you are applying for the Reno Accelerator Fund to receive the additional $20,000 convertible debt. They require that you have a city business license, which of course would require that you are at least operating as an LLC.
Who are the mentors for the program?
Many of the mentors are included on the Mentors page, however, our program is based on the idea of hurdle-based mentorship. Some mentors are local, while others live around the U.S. and mentor meetings can be held with those mentors via Skype or Google Hangouts.
After the first week or so of the program, we have a good idea based on the teams’ intake interview what their immediate hurdles are. We then approach mentors within our network who we think are particularly suited to help. We have also had teams request that we reach out to a particular industry guru as a mentor. We have also been successful in doing so.
What is hurdle-based mentorship?
This idea is based off the premise that the nature of startups is such that everyday startup founders and their teams are facing several hurdles, some of which will make or break their company. We partner teams with mentors who can guide them through the toughtest of hurdles. Often startups founders don’t even know what they don’t know. Mentors are like a second set of eyes and bring experience that can
How can younger women in the community get involved?
We know that “If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.” Sheryl Sandberg
There is a lot of talk about changing the ratio of women founders. We want to be “doers” of this mission. The accelerator program is designed to be a shining example of the women who are “doing” it. The ones who are risking it all! It is our hope that the younger women will see that it is possible to start a company, create a product, and solve big hairy problems, raise money, and have an exit.
We welcome any young girls in the community to sit in on any of the classes that we have.
I am a corporation and would like to collaborate with Girlmade?
We love to work with corporations. We look specifically to work with companies that we believe support our resolute mission ”to help women play big.” If you think your company qualifies, please feel free to contact us at [email protected] to set up a call to discuss a win-win scenario.
I am an angel investor, how can I get more involved?
There are a few options: you can apply to be a mentor, partner with Girlmade to support the production of events, or discuss the possibility of investing into the Girlmade Fund (Limited Partnership) for a particular batch. Contact Ashley Jennings at [email protected] to discuss.
I am a high school student, how can I get more involved?
Take a look at our Events Calendar. High schoolers are allowed to attend any of our open to the public events for free. Also take a look at our Internships page. If you are driven and passionate about female entrepreneurship we can work out some sort of way for you to gain skills in an area and to be able to be a part of the buzz. Contact [email protected] for more info.
I am a student in college, how can I get more involved?
Every semester we offer a few internship opportunities. If one looks good to you, please feel free to apply. You can also apply to the program while you are still in college, as long as you take the semester off in order to be fully committed to the program and your startup. Contact [email protected] for more info.
I am a teacher, how can I get more involved?
We would love to book a time to come speak to your class about female entrepreneurship. Please contact us if you have any other creative ideas on how we can collaborate with your students, or ways in which we can help.