The seventh WTIA Founder Cohort has been selected and includes 30 tech startups from across Washington State. Part of the WTIA Startup Program, the virtual Founder Cohort program reflects our mission to foster a robust, equity-centered technology sector that empowers thriving communities in Washington State and beyond. As such, the Founder Cohort helps seed-stage startups grow and scale in a 6-month timeframe. Specifically, the program provides tech startups with a roadmap that guides them through their next milestones as they navigate growing their revenue, securing funding, and expanding the team.

Founder Cohort participants must be: 

• headquartered in Washington State, 
• have at least one product in development, 
• have annual revenue of less than $1 million, and 
• pass a rigorous application process. 

Led by a committee of experienced tech founders and entrepreneurs — including Dave Parker, a 5x founder, mentor, and author; Susan Preston of SeaChange Fund; and Leslie Feinzaig of Graham & Walker — the program supports each startup and guides them through the crucial stages of fundraising, corporate governance, and customer development.

“Companies typically join Founder Cohort at a critical juncture in their growth trajectory. It takes a village of experts and dedicated partners to help a startup grow and scale from a fledgling business to its next phase, which often determines its future success or failure,” said Nick Ellingson, WTIA Startup Ambassador and Director of Products. “With that in mind, we built the program specifically to serve founders’ unique challenges, and we believe that having a solid network and support system can really help these companies springboard to a level that they might not otherwise achieve as quickly or as efficiently on their own.”

The Founder Cohort program has created a culture of success among the startups we have collaborated with in the past. Since the program’s inception three years ago, participants from six Cohorts have raised more than $100 million in funding. Read more about Founder Cohort participants’ achievements here.

Congratulations to the seventh cohort of founders selected for the program!

Companies selected for the Founder Cohort include: