Rolling admissions · Rolling admissions
Springboard Enterprises is a nonprofit accelerator network formed in 1999 by media executive Kay Koplovitz (founder of USA Network) and co-founder Amy Millman, created to close the gender gap in venture capital after Koplovitz’s research found women received just 1.7% of annual VC funding. Its 2000 demo day is the baseline for its track record today. Springboard accelerates women-led companies in technology, life sciences, and healthcare through a network of 5,000+ advisors, investors, and mentors. Rather than one program, it runs a rotating slate of named cohorts, including the Women’s Health Accelerator (since 2024) and, new in 2026, the Longevity Accelerator, a five-month program on the aging economy. It also runs the New York Fashion Tech Lab (since 2014) and Dolphin Tank, a continuous pitch-and-feedback program. Springboard takes no equity in its companies. Since 2000, it has worked with 950+ portfolio companies, 90% of which have raised capital, and alumnae have created more than $77B in value across 28 IPOs and 10 unicorns. It ranked No. 78 on TIME and Statista’s inaugural 2026 list of America’s Best Incubators and Accelerators.
Frequency
Rolling
Duration
Varies by program — typically 5 to 9 months per cohort
Investment
None — no direct funding provided to companies
Equity
None — equity-free program; funded by sponsors and donors
Program fees
None — nonprofit funded by sponsors and donors
Where
USA
Sectors
Biotech, Fashion, HealthTech, Technology
Stages
Seed, Series A
Eligibility
• Early-stage or seed-to-Series-A, with demonstrated traction such as revenue, pilots, users, or partnerships
• Seeking growth capital, strategic partnerships, or investor visibility
Selection process
• Review by Springboard’s expert network and program council
• Cohort or pitch-event selection, typically 8–12 companies per accelerator cohort
Benefits
• Access to a 5,000+ expert network of investors, industry leaders, and mentors
• “Dolphin Tank” pitch-feedback sessions and Demo Day visibility
• Access to Springboard Growth Capital for later-stage follow-on investment
• Ongoing alumnae community and council support post-program
Notable alumni
Network
New York Fashion Tech Lab, Dolphin Tank, Springboard Growth Capital, Women’s Health Council, Longevity Council, Healthcare & Technology Council
Portfolio
950+ portfolio companies since 2000, including 10 unicorns
Funds raised
$77B+ in value created by alumnae companies since 2000
🕐 Sep 2026
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