WBENC is excited to announce the 15 female founders accepted into the 2022 Collegiate Accelerator cohort! Get to know these dynamic up-and-coming female entrepreneurs in advance of the WBENC National Conference.

The WBENC Collegiate Accelerator, previously the Student Entrepreneur Program (SEP), is a premier startup program for collegiate female founders and recent graduates. Being selected for the WBENC Collegiate Accelerator is an honor and unlocks benefits and opportunities within the WBENC network and beyond.

During the next two months, these founders will learn to grow and scale their businesses through a tailored entrepreneurship curriculum, focused on the fundamentals of growth, marketing, business strategy, leadership, and the essentials for an effective pitch. They will receive mentoring from some of the most successful women-owned businesses and America’s largest Fortune 500 companies, while also participating in a showcase of their product or service and pitch competition awarding $20,000 in seed capital grants at the WBENC Conference.

Collegiate Accelerator at the WBENC National Conference

At the WBENC National Conference in Atlanta this June, we encourage all attendees to look out for these female entrepreneurs and support their businesses! All founders, including five 2021 program alums, will have the opportunity to participate in the Collegiate Accelerator Showcase on the WBENC Arena floor.

The Collegiate Accelerator Pitch Competition at National Conference will further showcase the 2022 cohort of amazing founders through a two-round elevator pitch competition, during which they will compete for $20,000 in seed capital cash prizes. First place will receive $10,000, Second Place will receive $6,000, and Third Place will receive $4,000. Round 1 is an individual competition where each founder will present their 90sec elevator pitch to a live audience and judges on a WBENC Arena Stage. Finally, five finalists will be selected to compete onstage during Thursday’s Celebratory Dinner.

Be sure to check the National Conference schedule so you don’t miss these two awesome events and the chance to cheer on these founders! This is an unsurpassed pitch experience that the participants will never forget!

 

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Meet the 2022 Collegiate Accelerator Cohort

15 Female Founders from across the U.S.

70% women of color

Industries Represented

  • Consumer Products and F&B

  • Technology

  • Professional & Technical Service

  • Healthcare

Allison Strickland
CEO/Founder
ATStudy Buddy

Candice Blacknall 
CEO/Founder
GABA Inc.

Jerrica Barksdale
CEO
HER L.I.P.S.LLC

 

 

Jordyn Turner
CEO
ed(you)

Katelyn Williams
Founder/CEO
The Curly Scientist, LLC

Read about Katelyn, the 2021 WBENC WOC Incubator 1st Place Winner

 

Kristen Dunning
Founder/CEO
Gently Soap

Madison Barse
CEO
Full Horizon

 

Maria Vasco
CEO
Uvida Shop

Mona El-Gharby
Founder
CURLē

 

Nesha Steverson
CEO
The Pink Briefcase, LLC

Rachel Domb
Founder/CEO
Rooted Living

 

Sabrina Greco
Founder/CEO
Meld

Sofia Viscuso
C0-founder
Rize

 

Tiffany Gil
Founder
Shezza

Mia Thornton
Founder/CEO
Mainsail Technologies

Read about Mia, the 2021 WBENC WOC Incubator 1st Place Winner