MergeLane formed to accelerate women-led startups with investment, key startup resources

By: InnovatioNews Tuesday November 4, 2014 Tags: Boulder, business accelerator, Elizabeth Kraus, MergeLane, Sue Heilbronner

 

BOULDER - Two serial entrepreneurs and angel investors - Sue Heilbronner and Elizabeth Kraus - have founded a business accelerator with a focus on women-led companies.

MergeLane will discover, accelerate and invest in exceptional women and the companies they run, the founders said. MergeLane aims to bring more women into the startup community and achieve investor returns though the acceleration of high-growth, gender-diverse companies.

"Data overwhelmingly shows that venture-backed, female-run companies produce higher returns," said Heilbronner, who serves as MergeLane's CEO.

"MergeLane is set up to be on par with the leading accelerators in the world."

Although female-run organizations' performance data is extremely positive, only 7 percent of VC-backed startups are run by female CEOs, according to MIT research.

MergeLane said it is committed to providing early-stage, female-run companies with more opportunities to reap the benefits of key resources in the startup ecosystem.

The 12-week accelerator is designed to meet the needs of women-led businesses across any industry. For the first program beginning in February, MergeLane said it will accept eight companies with a guaranteed investment of $20,000 per company and up to $100,000 in discretionary investment upon program completion.

"We have recruited a powerful network of mentors and investors with a track record of catalyzing real and meaningful change," said Kraus, who serves as MergeLane's Chief Strategy Officer.

"Not only do we feel MergeLane will promote change, but we plan on a profitable future."

For more information, visit http://www.f6s.com/mergelaneaccelerator.