Summary:
Esosa Ighodaro raised $1.4 million for her startup through an accelerator.
AcceleratorCON aims to connect startups with accelerators, featuring prominent speakers.
Only 2.3% of venture capital goes to female founders; less than 0.48% to Black founders.
Startups in accelerators raise 50-170% more than those not in programs.
Ighodaro founded Black Women Talk Tech to support scalable entrepreneurs.
Meet Esosa Ighodaro
Esosa Ighodaro, co-founder of CoSign, discovered firsthand the transformative power of business accelerators while raising $1.4 million for her startup through the Seamless Accelerator program. "The accelerator was a great stepping-stone as a first-time entrepreneur, teaching me how to clearly define our problem, navigate fundraising, and understand what investors look for," she shares.
AcceleratorCON: Bridging the Gap
Now, Ighodaro is channeling her expertise into AcceleratorCON, an event set for November 8 in Brooklyn, NY, aimed at connecting startups with accelerators. The event features two tracks: one for startup founders and one for accelerator leaders, fostering direct connections in a format reminiscent of a pro-sports draft.
Prominent speakers include Seth Godin and Ankur Nagpal, alongside experts from notable organizations such as ERA NYC and TechStars. With around 500 registered attendees, this initiative is poised to make waves in the startup ecosystem.
Empowering Underrepresented Founders
Ighodaro highlights the stark reality that only 2.3% of venture capital goes to female founders, and less than 0.48% to Black founders in 2023. "Investing in tech is still a very relationship-based industry," she notes, emphasizing the challenge for those outside traditional networks. AcceleratorCON aims to change that by enabling direct connections with investors, a vital opportunity for those lacking established networks.
The Importance of Accelerators
Research indicates that startups involved in accelerators raise between 50-170% more than their non-participating counterparts and are more likely to survive or be acquired. Ighodaro aims to extend these opportunities to people of color and women, as studies show that participation in accelerators significantly increases funding likelihood.
Building Community
Ighodaro co-founded Black Women Talk Tech to create a supportive community for scalable entrepreneurs, offering resources tailored to their needs. With over 3,200 accelerators listed, she recognized a gap in access to these resources and is determined to bridge it.
Excited to host AcceleratorCON live after a previous virtual event, Ighodaro is committed to creating opportunities for underrepresented founders to secure essential capital.
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