Project 2.8
An Accelerator.
A Network.
A Community.
For Women, By Women
12%
Only 12% of decision makers at venture capital firms are women. A majority of VC firms still don’t have a single female partner.
2.8%
In 2019, women-led startups received only 2.8% of venture capital funding. That number has since decreased.
2020
Since 2020, our mission has been to ensure female founders have equal access to capital as their male counterparts.
Our Mission
The name, Project 2.8, was chosen in 2020 because it represented the percentage of female founded companies funded by VC’s. That number has since diminished. Our mission is to ensure female founders have equal access to capital and the same opportunities as their male counterparts.
What We Offer
Founded through Columbia Venture Community in 2020, Project 2.8 is a startup accelerator serving early stage, pre-seed startups led by female founders who are current students or alumnae of Columbia University.
Each cohort is made up of 10 startups and is industry agnostic. We do not currently invest in, or take equity from, any participating startups. Our fourth cohort will begin in September 2023, and culminate in a pitch session to investors in October 2023.
All leadership, instructors and mentors are volunteers.
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Our Program
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Instruction
From Growth Hacking to Lean Methodology, Fundraising to Navigating the Cofounder Relationships, our curriculum covers many topics that new founders will need to ensure success. Over the span of 8 weeks, the cohort virtually participates in a series of workshops and lectures led by subject matter experts. In addition, we provide pitch training sessions. The program culminates in a final pitch session to non-affiliated investors.
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Mentorship
With the support of the Columbia Venture Community we have a wide network of investors, founders and startup enthusiasts within and outside of Columbia who are willing to give their time to our founders, serving as mentors throughout the accelerator and beyond. Founders who participate in the cohort will be given the opportunity to schedule one-on-one sessions with the mentors of their choosing.
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Network
Without a doubt, the true strength of Project 2.8 is in its community and the network that it provides. Thirty strong and growing, we are a group of incredible women who are willing to share, engage, and develop strong relationships in and outside of the project space. Every founder struggles with isolation and feeling overwhelmed. We provide a community of support as founders work towards achieving success within their startups.
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Céline Gauchey
CO-DIRECTOR
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Lisa Smith
CO-DIRECTOR
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Shashi Srikantan
FOUNDER