Dentsu Aegis Network, a leading multinational media agency, announces the return of Female Foundry for its second year.
Female Foundry is a prestigious accelerator program that educates, mentors and helps in sustaining fund access to female-founded startups leveraging on technology.
Female Foundry, Female Founders and West Tech Fest open the program to western female techpreneurs and Southeast Asian based female entrepreneurs from now until October 19.
This six-week program mentors, develops and helps fund tech-enabled startups.
In addition to education and mentorship, the program culminates with a demo day to help secure possible second-round funding, a key hurdle for female-led startups in this region.
In this years program, Silicon Valley-based venture capitalist and Founder of ACTAI Global, Bill Tai will join as both an adviser and judge on demo day.
Photo Credit: Female Foundry
Key driver of the Female Foundry initiative and CEO of iProspect Asia Pacific, Joanna Catalano said, “Dentsu Aegis Network is thrilled to lead the industry in supporting female entrepreneurs from emerging markets. We continue to support initiatives which leverage tech for good and drive meaningful and lasting change in society. Building on the success and learnings from last year and in partnership with leading influencers, we are delighted to welcome our second cohort of founders.”
The shortlisted applicants will be partnered with senior industry mentors like Darshini Santhanam, APAC Marketing, Microsoft Advertising, Paula Taylor, executive director & co-founder, West Tech Fest, as well as Katarina Hasbani, general manager of Female Founders.
Apart from the program, the winner of the demo day will be sponsored to travel and join the West Tech Fest, Australia’s innovation festival held in Perth. They will present their winning idea at the 2017 Startup challenge in December.
Nick Waters, CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network Asia Pacific, said that Female Foundry helps prepare budding startups through support in providing them with necessary tools, networks, skills, and strategy that enables them to thrive in the digital economy.
“Through Female Foundry, we hope to provide a platform that will support and empower women in emerging markets where 80% of the global middle class will live in 10 years.
“Next year, we plan to extend the program into Latin America and Africa as part of our plan to roll Female Foundry out to 30 markets around the world in 30 months.”
Applications for Female Foundry is open from now until October 19, 2-17.
Interested applicants can apply at www.thefemalefoundry.com
