[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1522907745109{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The distinctive 12-week accelerator program created by startup, product and investment experts Stella Labs, SEED San Diego, and Product Rebels is accepting applications for its first cohort of female-led businesses.

Girls just wanna have a viable business model. That’s the tune three startup advocates are humming as they join forces to launch Ad Astra Ventures, a new San Diego-based business accelerator focused on female-led startups.  To be a part of the program, founders must have revenue, paying customers, and a female on the founding team. Applications are now open and will be accepted until January 31. After a rigorous pre-program sprint session on February 12, selected finalists will have the opportunity to join the first cohort, which begins on February 27.[/vc_column_text][mk_blockquote font_family=”none”]“The program is unlike any other, taking a holistic philosophy of entrepreneurship, which will transform each woman who goes through the program,” said Allison Long Pettine, founding partner of Seed San Diego and one of three women launching Ad Astra Ventures. “There are several unique elements including one-on-one business and leadership coaching, specific female-centric curriculum, and a semi-customized program based on each founder’s strengths and opportunities.”[/mk_blockquote][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1522907125788{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The Ad Astra Ventures partnership showcases the expertise of experienced men and women in the San Diego startup ecosystem – led by Silvia Mah, Allison Long Pettine, and Vidya Dinamani – who are connected to incubators, venture groups and institutions. The goal is to have the industry-agnostic cohort receive funding, rigorous curriculum, a startup champion lead, and a robust group of mentors, allowing them to exit the 12-week program with product, customer and market clarity and a compelling business case that leads to subsequent investments.[/vc_column_text][mk_blockquote font_family=”none”]“Ad Astra Ventures wants to find the best founders who are building high-growth businesses and equip them with the tools necessary for continued growth,” said Dr. Silvia Mah, Executive Director of Stella Labs. “Not only are we enabling businesses to thrive by focusing on success factors we’ve identified through our years of experience as investors and VCs, but we’re looking at everything we do through a female-focused lens.”[/mk_blockquote][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1522907169220{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]According to Dow Jones VentureSource, “…venture-backed companies that include females as senior executives are more likely to succeed than companies with only men in charge,” yet women-led companies received just 14 percent of capital in 2017, according to Forbes contributor Geri Stengel via Pitchbook.[/vc_column_text][mk_blockquote font_family=”none”]“We’re forming Ad Astra Ventures to address this gap,” said Vidya Dinamani, co-founder of Product Rebels. “We know there are many excellent female leaders and we want them to excel.”[/mk_blockquote][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1522907232671{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Ad Astra will allow, Stella Labs, one of the venture’s partners to offer a third program, one that compliments their already established Launch & Scale Intensives. The Ad Astra program is designed to meet the needs of determined startup women that already have established, high-growth startups with existing revenue streams and paying customers who are looking to experience out of this world success.

If you want to know which Stella Labs programs best meet your needs, think of it this way:

  • If you have a new business idea, right out of the gates, our Launch Intensive can get you launched in 12 weeks.
  • If you are an existing business, Revenue of <$50,000, need to scale to a different target market, or pivot your services for higher growth, Scale Intensive is the program for you.
  • If you are a weekend or midnight warrior, burning the candle at both ends, join our Virtual Accelerator program and work through multiple modules YOU need for your business, on your own time and schedule.
  • If you are a high growth startup, Revenue of >$50,000, have paying customers, need an influx of angel capital, willing to give away a small amount of equity, Ad Astra Ventures is the program to best meet your needs.

About Ad Astra Ventures:

Ad Astra Ventures is a 12-week business accelerator program for revenue generating female-led startups focused on growth. The organization’s unique application process allows accepted applicants to go through training customized to the cohort. As a result of the program, organizations will be poised to raise capital or organically triple existing revenue. For more information and to apply, please visit https://adastra.ventures/.

About Seed San Diego:

Seed San Diego is a small group of investors determined to change the landscape for investing in San Diego. The organization prides itself on its candor, asking startups and burgeoning businesses the tough questions that help startups move past hurdles and create businesses poised for revenue generation and growth. For more information, please visit www.seedsandiego.com.

About Product Rebels:

Product Rebels offers comprehensive product training through its online curriculum, and in-person coaching to provide businesses with the tools to revolutionize their product and customer experience. Product Rebels prepares busy founders, startup leaders and product managers to approach every task with a customer-learning mindset. For more information, please visit productrebels.com.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]