Rent the Runway and UBS announce finalists for accelerator program

By

Obi Anyanwu

Published
Mar 11, 2016

Rent the Runway Foundation and UBS on Thursday announced the 150 female-founded startups that have been selected to participate in the Project Entrepreneur Weekend Intensive in New York City. Among this group are 12 companies that will pitch their businesses to a panel of experts for the chance to be in a five-week accelerator program and receive a cash prize of $10,000.

 
The pitches will take place during the Project Entrepreneur Weekend Intensive on April 9-10, 2016 in New York City. Finalists will join over 150 women founders and co-founders from 26 states for sessions on actionable steps and resources to turn their companies into economically impactful companies.
 
"Our goal is to level the playing field so women entrepreneurs have the tools and opportunities necessary to build high-growth, high-impact companies," said Jennifer Hyman, CEO, Rent the Runway. "The Weekend Intensive and venture competition will bring us one step closer to this goal." 

The finalists for the competition are Adventurely, Cake, Claire, CortexMD, Itsbyu, Mia Pielle New York, Pak’d, PMS Bites, Queen of Raw and Sodium Analyte Level Test (S.A.L.T.) LLC. The companies and founders will present live on April 10 at the Conrad Hotel. Two additional teams will be determined during the Weekend Intensive.
 
"The female founders participating in Project Entrepreneur are among some of our country's most promising talent," said Lori Feinsilver, UBS Head of Community Affairs & Executive Communications, Americas. "Even more, 50% of the founders attending the April Intensive are ethnically diverse women.  To be a part of the changing face of the start-up community is inspiring, and we're excited for what the future holds for these ventures."
 
Rent the Runway co-founders, Jennifer Hyman and Jenny Fleiss, and Lori Feinsilver of UBS will host the intensive and will showcase successful New York City-based female business owners and others who will share their knowledge about starting a business. The guests include Bethanny Frankel, Founder & CEO, Skinnygirl; Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, Co-founder of Gilt Groupe/Co-founder of GlamSquad; Carley Roney, Co-founder of TheKnot.com and XO Group; and Satya Twena, CEO/Creative Director Satya Twena Fine Millinery, Makins Hats and Sol a Mer;
 
Rebecca Minkoff, Susan Lyne, President, BBG Ventures at AOL, Janine Shelffo, Co-Head of TMT, UBS Investment Bank and others will judge the competition.
 
Rent the Runway Foundation and UBS launched Project Entrepreneur in September 2015 to address that women are starting more businesses than ever before, but only 4% generate $500K or more in annual revenue, and that women count for less than 10% of founders at high growth firms. The Initiative includes a venture competition, 5-week accelerator program, robust digital hub, and multi-city events.