Riga TechGirls pre-acceleration program SPRING UP - your journey to become investable starts here!
Apply by October 10, 2023 23:59
SPRING UP has been designed to empower early-stage startups led by diverse teams with at least one female founder.
By fostering a supportive environment, building community, and providing tailored mentorship, expert guidance, and resources, we aim to help you develop your products and gain the know-how, insights, and skills that are needed to make your startup investable.
The need for more diversity within the startup ecosystem has been a persistent issue. Only 23% of startups in Latvia have at least one female shareholder and only 7% of them have an all-female founding team, globally this number is a bit higher – 15%. Also, just 10% of all VC capital in Europe is raised by mixed teams and only 2% – by all-female-led ventures.
Underrepresented founders, especially those with female leadership, face numerous barriers that hinder their access to mentorship, resources, and investment opportunities. This program addresses the need for an equitable and supportive platform that empowers these founders to turn their startup ideas into successful ventures.
The program is free of charge and equity-free, consists of 3 phases, and will happen in a hybrid format starting on November 7, 2023, and will end on June 19, 2024
• CURRICULUM: practical and hands-on 6-week-long hybrid module where founders will gain insights into critical startup topics through workshops, seminars, and educational sessions led by industry experts and investors
• MENTORSHIP: individual one-on-one 6-month-long guidance from experienced mentors who understand the challenges faced by early-stage founders
• PROTOTYPING: Hands-on 6-month-long prototyping and development phase where startups bring their ideas to life with expert guidance and an option to get Riga TechGirls “Tech Mentor” mentees support
applications
open
20.09.-10.10.
evaluation and
interviews
20.09.-10.10.
program
kick-off
07.11.
Curriculum phase:
workshops, seminars,
practical tasks
nov – dec 2023
mentoring and
developing
your prototype
jan – jun 2024
interim
demo day
21.03.
grand
demo day
19.06.
Apply by October 10, 2023 23:59
Tailored curriculum and practical, skill-building workshops
Through hands-on learning, we’ll share practical tips and methodologies to tackle key challenges for any early-stage startup founder.
Networking and comprehensive mentorship
To connect and empower founders, we bring together a community of local startup ecosystem representatives, venture capitalists, and experienced startup founders.
Participating startups will be paired with mentors whose expertise aligns with their specific needs and challenges. Through regular one-on-one sessions, founders will receive personalized guidance and insights to fuel their growth.
Access to Investors
Throughout the program, startups will have opportunities to connect with a wide range of investors, including angel investors, venture capitalists, and impact investors. We facilitate networking events, pitch sessions, and investor meetups to bridge the gap between startups and potential backers.
Peer-to-Peer Learning
Collaboration is essential for startup success. SPRING UP program fosters a collaborative learning environment where founders can exchange ideas, share experiences, and learn from each other’s journeys. Regular stand-ups, group sessions, and peer-to-peer support create a strong sense of community within the cohort.
Team up with tech enthusiasts (trainees, novices, newcomers)
As a part of the prototype building phase, we provide your startup with an opportunity to onboard Riga TechGirls Mentorship program’s “Tech Mentor” mentees for mutually beneficial collaboration – you can get technical support while building your prototype and mentees can gain real-life practical experience.
Demo Days
During the program’s journey, participating startups will showcase their progress and growth during Interim and Grand Demo Day events. Both events will provide a platform for founders to pitch their refined business models to a curated audience of investors, industry experts, and potential partners.
The program is looking for early-stage startups, fulfilling the following criteria:
• Latvia-based startup idea with at least one woman founder
• Building an innovative and scalable tech product or service
• Have developed a business plan and a strong understanding of the needed prototype
• Fully committed to the entire duration of the program (minimum of eight hours per week)
• Business English knowledge (most of the online classes will be in English);
• Demonstrating traction in terms of users and/or revenue, or having an MVP is not mandatory
but will be considered a plus!
▸ Applcations are open until October 10, 2023
▸ Evaluation of applications from October 10 until October 20, 2023.
▸ Apply to pitch your startup idea at RIGA COMM Women in Tech conference on October 6th,
2023 – get a conference ticket, instant exposure, win prizes and bonus points for selection
▸ Selected applicants will be invited for an interview with the Evaluation committee
▸ All applicants will receive the Evaluation committee decision by October 22, 2023
Alise gurenko
Alise is Riga TechGirls co-creator and Startup project lead. Alise an Experienced Manager with a demonstrated history of working with Startups, Culture, and Marketing projects. Skilled in Planning, Communication, and Customer Relations. Has a strong program, project, and partnership management background, B.sc. degree in Communication and M.A. focusing on Culture Management, Business, and Creative Industries.
Anna Andersone
Anna is the CEO, mentor, and program creator at Riga TechGirls. Anna has been actively involved in the development of the Latvian start-up ecosystem for more than 10 years, co-founding design technology start-ups berta.me and FROONT, actively working on the board of TechHub Riga, and creating THE MILL, a co-creation space for programmers and designers. She is also an active advocate for women’s empowerment and gender equality.
Aiva Staņēviča
Aiva works on the board of Riga TechGirls and her main areas of expertise are website development, event hosting, and education.
Aiva believes that the ability to use different technologies is a huge resource for achieving better results – both in everyday life and in the learning process. Technology is not scary, you just need to know how to present it correctly!
We invite mentors, experts, and partners to join us in this initiative to create a more inclusive and vibrant startup landscape.
If you are interested in collaboration opportunities, please contact us – springup@rigatechgirls.com
This program is created
with the support of Riga
City Council
Community partners:
