The Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) is taking applications for its next Founder Cohort program, which has raised more than $100 million in three years to support Washington startups, according to a WTIA blog post. The application deadline has been extended at least until Jan. 16.
The program, which is free for founders, helps between 20 and 25 early-stage companies grow over a six-month period. Working with industry partners, WTIA teaches founders to fundraise, manage a board of directors, attract customers, grow revenue, build their teams, and manage legal, accounting and other corporate governance tasks. The program provides mentorship, investor and business development connections, education and product discounts.
The Founder Cohort program was created in 2018 and is in the midst of its sixth cohort, which will graduate in January. The seventh cohort will kick off with a virtual workshop in mid-February.
To participate, startups must be headquartered in Washington state, have at least one product in development, earn less than $1 million annual revenue and have some type of traction, such as revenue, customers or investment.
The current cohort, announced in August, has 30 participant startups including cloud services company VTeamLabs, climate control data platform provider Microclimates, and gaming company Code 5 games.
"The depth and breadth of knowledge provided in this cohort is profound for first time founders and entrepreneurial veterans alike. As a first time founder, I have grown tremendously in my knowledge base through the Founder Cohort program at WTIA," Shawna Ruff, CEO of business strategy and user experience design firm Intention Labs, said in the latest blog post.
WTIA Founder Cohort sponsors include Clark Nuber, Denali, Fenwick, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Now CFO, Rippling, Seed IP and Wilson Sonsini.
