The WTIA Founder Cohort program, in collaboration with its partners, supports 20 early-stage technology startups every six months. The initiative is designed to help companies reach their next milestones by providing essential skills and connections for navigating revenue growth, securing investment, and building their teams. It offers a blend of group and individual support tailored to upskill entrepreneurs throughout Washington state.
Program Benefits
• Educational curriculum through tracks related to growth, financing, product, and business fundamentals.
• Individual mentorship and group coaching with experienced mentors and experts.
• Peer mentoring and networking opportunities with fellow founders.
• Relevant connections to investors, potential partners or customers, and other local leaders.
• Free WTIA membership and associated benefits.
• Access to $10,000 in AWS credits.
• Discounts on tools such as Carta for cap table management and HubSpot subscriptions.
• Access to WTIA health insurance, business insurance, and 401(k) plans.
• Access to the WTIA Founder Cohort Slack channel for community engagement.
Program Structure
• Cohort Size: 20 early-stage technology startups.
• Frequency: Two cohorts are run annually.
• Duration: Each program cycle lasts for six months.
• Format: A hybrid model blending in-person and virtual interactions to ensure statewide accessibility.
• Cost: The program is offered free of charge, with no equity taken from participating startups.
Eligibility Criteria
• Role: The ideal participant is the CEO and Founder of a venture-scale tech startup.
• Location: The founder must be based in Washington.
• Traction: The startup must have more than $1 in revenue or fundraising, or at least one customer/user.
• Revenue Cap: The company should have below $250,000 in annual revenue.
• Founder Profile: The program is suited for founders at the point where their business is becoming real, starting to gain customers, or beginning to fundraise.
Key Dates for Cohort 14
• Application Deadline: March 30th, 2026
• Selections: April 2026
• Program Kick-off: May 13th, 2026
Contact Information
• For further details or questions, please contact Koki Sato.
This accelerator presents a valuable opportunity for Washington-based founders to access a comprehensive support system designed to transform their startup's trajectory through education, mentorship, and strategic connections.