AccelerateHER History
Stoke works to support and empower entrepreneurs, and one of the ways we are able to accomplish that goal is partnering with the Center for Women Entrepreneurs (CWE) at Texas Woman’s University. We offer the AccelerateHER incubator program in partnership with CWE. Administrators Heather Gregory, executive director of Stoke, and Tracy Irby, director of the Center for Women Entrepreneurs, selects a cohort of women business owners through an application and interview process and then equips them with education, tools, and resources to grow their businesses. We have developed three iterations of this program and have had the honor of witnessing three incredible cohorts participate in the workshops and mentor sessions and make the most of the experience.
The first two years of the AccelerateHER incubator program were held virtually through weekly Zoom meetings and a culminating event, also online. This past year, we were able to meet in person for workshops and mentoring at Stoke. What has remained the same, however, is the quality of the educational content and support offered to these entrepreneurs!
What AccelerateHER Entails
Workshops over the years have been organized based on the needs of startups and business owners. The general flow of the workshops and the order that the content is presented is based on the past iterations of the program and participant feedback. AccelerateHER participants are given preliminary materials and guiding activities to dig into the following areas to grow their businesses:
Business planning, modeling
Workflow mapping
Market research, market fit
Financial models
Capital connections
Building value in business with marketing strategies
Social media marketing
Strategic planning
Content creation
Branding, brand briefs
Streamlining processes
Leadership
Personal brand strategy
Exit surveys after the program’s close have helped develop program materials and content over the years for the most beneficial experience possible for entrepreneurs.
Who Has Participated in AccelerateHER?
We have had a range of lifestyle, creatives, and tech business owners go through the AccelerateHER Program. From Cooks Without Borders (2020) and Menza Art Studio (2021) to CoOp Coaching (2021) and Math With Marcia (2022), participants in the program have varied in industry backgrounds and business offerings, but all have grown and excelled in their endeavors through the program’s activities and offerings.
The Wrap Party for the 2022-2023 Cohort!
On Thursday, February 23, 2023 the AccelerateHER incubator program officially wrapped for the third time with an in person party here at Stoke! Friends, family, business owners, and small business supporters gathered at Stoke to celebrate the achievements of and hear from the AccelerateHER cohort. Each member of the cohort had a table dedicated to demo-ing or otherwise displaying the products or services of their businesses. Attendees visited with the cohort participants to learn about their work and their journeys as entrepreneurs. Juli James, an alum from the first AccelerateHER cohort, facilitated two panel discussions for the evening, based on industry type.
Why apply for the AccelerateHER incubator program?
Incubator programs like AccelerateHER are designed to help early-stage ventures work through many aspects of starting and growing a business. Most programs offer access to office space (you’ll have workspace at Stoke), mentorship (we invite experts in their fields and seasoned entrepreneurs to mentor during the program), business education (all of our workshops are meant to help you with your business endeavors), and networking (your cohort plus our combined networks will become your support and champions!).
The application for AccelerateHER opened on June 12th and will close on July 9th.