ICEX Spain Trade and Investment (ICEX) and Red.es announce the second edition of the Desafía San Francisco Immersion Program, led by Mind the Bridge, exclusively designed for female entrepreneurs leading innovative tech startups.
The application period is open until September 13, 2024. Selected participants – women entrepreneurs who are either founders or executive team members of tech startups – will embark on a unique immersion experience in San Francisco, with Silicon Valley as a key backdrop, from November 4 to November 15, 2024.
“Following the success of the Fall 2023 session, another group of Spanish women entrepreneurs will embark on their journey to San Francisco: last year’s cohort included companies like Founderz, Odders, Metricool, Scoolinary, MYHIXEL, LetMePark, and Workdeck, spanning diverse markets, including online education, connected cars, social media analytics, sexual health, immersive VR, culinary education, and enterprise software – commented Bobby Amiri, Head of Startup Products and Services at Mind the Bridge – This latest edition continues to build on the program’s legacy of supporting Spanish women entrepreneurs in scaling their innovative business models globally”.
The Program aims to introduce these leaders to the Silicon Valley ecosystem, equipping them with the experience and knowledge necessary to successfully scale their businesses internationally. The Bay Area remains the global center for technological innovation and transformation, offering startups unparalleled opportunities to reach global markets. The region boasts a vibrant ecosystem with top-tier educational institutions, a robust venture capital network, and numerous networking opportunities.
The Immersion Program
Over the course of two weeks, these entrepreneurs will engage in practical workshops, networking events, and visits to leading tech companies to gain comprehensive insights and leverage the opportunities within one of the most advanced entrepreneurial ecosystems in the world. This experience will also include personalized mentorship and specialized lectures, fostering the creation of a collaborative community of women entrepreneurs.
On October 8th, the selected startups will participate in a preparatory workshop in Madrid. Here, they will learn the program’s details, meet the team accompanying them to San Francisco, and define their goals and expectations for this initiative.
After the immersion program, participants will stay connected with alumni of the Desafía Program, promoting networking and collaboration opportunities among program members.
Participation Requirements
Interested applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a woman entrepreneur with a tech startup (founder or executive team member) offering an innovative product or service.
- Be based in Spain.
- Not have participated in the Desafía San Francisco program previously.
- Have a product or service in the commercialization phase.
- Be in a growth phase with annual revenue increases of over 20% year-over-year.
- Have an ICEX portal profile (the applicant must register with a user profile as a contact for a Spanish company).
- The team assigned by the applicant company must have a good command of English (to be verified during the interview phase).
- The proposed product or service must contribute to one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Application Process
All interested companies must apply through the ICEX portal by 11:59 PM on September 13, 2024. The selection process includes an initial evaluation of the application form, followed by interviews for shortlisted candidates. A maximum of 10 companies will be selected to participate in the immersion program.
For more information and to apply, please visit ICEX.