StartR Inclusion

StartR Inclusion, formerly referred to as mystartupXX, is an accelerator created to increase and encourage diversity in entrepreneurship, through mentorship, education, and funding—specifically the inclusion of women as technology start-up founders and CEOs. Program participants take part in workshops that are focused on different aspects of launching start-ups. Each start-up is introduced to mentors and they meet regularly to monitor and encourage their progress.

All UC San Diego undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students and recent alumni that have a business idea are accepted into the program. All the teams must have a woman or a member of a traditionally underrepresented population (people of color and LGBT, for example) in a leadership role. Still, a team is not required at the time of application and the team leader will get help with the team building process. The team members should preferably be UC San Diego students.

Selected participants are required to participate in all program activities and events, attend meetings with mentor(s), and provide project updates. Every year, ten teams are accepted into the program. A prototype is not required at the time of application, and teams with ideas in all stages of development are welcome to apply. All applicants and alumni are granted access to the StartR Inclusion alumni network and are invited to networking events. The program is seven sessions over ten weeks, and applications are accepted until October.

Program participants partake in and receive the following:

• Pre-seed funding and prototype development assistance
• Workshops and education programs focused on building a company

• Co-working space for meeting with team members and developing strategies
• Invitations to networking events to build and expand their network

• Specialized mentoring and one-on-one coaching throughout the duration of the program