The Washington Technology Industry Association announced Tuesday that 32 companies had been selected for its ninth annual Founder Cohort. Nine are from King County’s Eastside.
The virtual program helps seed-stage startups grow and scale over six months by following a roadmap designed to guide them through their next milestones as they navigate increasing revenue, securing investment, and growing the team, according to WTIA. More than 200 startups have gone through the previous eight cohorts since the program began in 2018. The virtual program is free to apply for and participate in, and no equity is exchanged.
WTIA’s goal is to help invest in its ecosystem and use its connections, sponsors, and partners to support the next generation of companies via mentorship, education, coaching, and connections. It also wants to connect early-stage entrepreneurs with peers in similar stages to build cohorts of connected founders that grow together, according to WTIA's website.
Among the 32 companies in the cohort: 14 have women founders, co-founders, or executives; six have woman CEOs; 19 have nonwhite founders, co-founders, or executives; and 16 have nonwhite CEOs, WTIA said. Nine companies are located outside King County.
Each company features at least one product in development and annual revenue less than $1 million.
The companies selected, including cities where Eastside companies are based: Acuity PPM, Bellevue; AeonCharge; AllTruth; Antengo Inc.; Chassi Inc., Renton; CO2ign Art; Collegey Inc.; CountOn; DocNexus; DreamCare, Mercer Island; Govonestop; Greenlight Bio Oil LLC; Homeostasis Systems Corp.; Huddle Local, Issaquah; Hugsi, Bellevue; Jeeva health; Nomi.care; PeerStorage, Issaquah; Pie Trap Studios, Renton; Planted Materials; PulseDNA; Purpose Platform; Rowr; Serve Reserves Technologies; SharpArrow Medical; Terrantic Inc.; Thig.io; Unum Game; Ven Inc.; VZR, Inc., Issaquah; Ydrive.ai, Bellevue; and ZeroQ Foods.
