TiE Atlanta is partnering with LaunchPad2X for ACCESS, its newest entrepreneurship program that is aiming to close the mentoring and funding gap between women- and minority-owned businesses in the Southeast US.

LaunchPad2X (LP2X) helps women entrepreneurs make the critical transition from founder to CEO through high-level training, access to resources, and a supportive community of other women CEOs and mentors. The innovative LP2X program has graduated over 175 female women Founder/CEOs with an impressive success rate. The LP2X mission fits perfectly with this new program from TiE Atlanta.

“Women-led companies are underfunded in a way that is oddly disconnected from performance stats. Male-led ventures grab an astonishing 95% of venture funding, despite the fact that women-led new businesses grow faster and reach profitability sooner” says LP2X founder Bernie Dixon. “In the aftermath of the pandemic, there is an urgent need to give women led companies the support they need to develop the products and services that will spur job creation and help lead the economic recovery. As we focus on scaling LP2X to other cities, we look forward to partnering with TiE and its global reach, and its common goal of supporting underserved women and minority founders.”

ACCESS will set the stage for business owners to present their product or service to established angel investors from TiE Atlanta. Qualifications for the competition include that the business must be in the Early Stage, Seed, or Seed+ funding stage; at least one female or minority founder/cofounder, post revenue and based in the southeast US. The business that places first will receive an angel investment of $50,000 and an opportunity to present at TiECON Atlanta 2020.  

Further investments of an additional $50,000 will also be provided to at least two more companies.  All companies that qualify for ACCESS will be mentored by real-life entrepreneurs who represent the lifeblood of TiE and want to give back by building the next generation of entrepreneurs.

JP James, president of TiE Atlanta and co-chair of TiE Atlanta Angels added, “Both organizations believe in the power of mentoring and connecting emerging entrepreneurs with the right investors. We couldn’t think of a better partner than LaunchPad2x as we gain momentum behind ACCESS.”

The program aims to pave in-roads for minority and women-owned businesses to build their companies and networks not only here in Atlanta, but at an international scale, thanks to TiE Global’s international impact.

ACCESS is now accepting applications until May 15. Qualified participants will be announced by June 5, 2020; and screened and approved participants will go through a qualifying round on July 11, 2020. The finalists will be announced on July 14 and will present to investors on August 19, 2020.

TiE Atlanta Angels is the angel investment group of TiE Atlanta and has made over $4 million investments into 17 companies since August 2017, with a primary focus on high growth entrepreneurial startups across all industries. The angel group has worked on a disciplined investment model and has invested in companies seeking Seed through Series A funding. Through this model, TiE Atlanta Angels has become one of the fastest growing, high impact angel groups in the Southeast.