A Texas Woman’s University Center for Women Entrepreneurs & Stoke Incubator Program
The AccelerateHER incubator program helps early-stage companies develop and test ideas to grow their businesses with a hands-on focus by the program manager, mentors and partner networks.
Through AccelerateHER, women-owned businesses will be selected to receive work space at Stoke, a coworking facility in Denton serving entrepreneurs, remote workers, freelancers, small businesses, and tech-enabled companies. In addition, participants will receive intensive business development training, access to funders and mentorship, and networking opportunities. Participants of the program must show proof that a minimum of 51% of the business is owned by a woman.
Stoke and TWUCWE recently wrapped the fourth AccelerateHER cohort for 2023. Applications will reopen in Summer 2024. If you’d like to be notified when applications open or stay up to date on any AccelerateHER news - please fill out the interest form below.
See what some of the first AccelerateHER cohort have to say about the incubator program!
Program Information
Calling early stage startups and entrepreneurs owned by women and women-identifying founders to apply for the TWU CWE and Stoke startup incubator.
Incubators are programs designed to help entrepreneurs flesh out business ideas, providing participants with resources, contacts, and hands-on support to exit the program with a refined product or service ready to take to market.
Startup founder and entrepreneurs will ideate (develop business ideas, determine product market fit), plan (create actionable, detailed business plans, handle intellectual property), and execute (test ideas, pitch during demo day to incubator community and potential investors).
You get
Free work space at Stoke during the 5 month program
Access to staff + mentors + coworking community (development, design, marketing, social media, biz dev, and more)
Deals & perks from vendors
Support from the Stoke team & network of mentors and partners
Introductions and access to investors
We offer
Resources, contacts, and hands-on support to startups
Weekly workshops with curated speakers
1:1 mentoring
Opportunities for business development
Introductions to potential customers
Exposure through marketing channels
Pitch practice and professional coaching
We expect
Startups that have been accepted into the program agree to participate fully in the networking, education, mentorship, and events planned to help incubate their business.
Weekly workshop participation
Working from Stoke/program office
Engaging fully with mentors, investors, and potential customers as introduced or facilitated by TWU or Stoke
In this recording of an“Ask Me Anything” -style discussion about AccelerateHER, graduates of past cohorts, Stoke, and TWU Center for Women Entrepreneurs representatives share about their experience in the program and take questions from attendees who are interested in applying.
Past AccelerateHER Cohorts
AccelerateHER In The Press
“The partnership with Stoke “underscores the charge” of TWU’s CWE, which is to facilitate the economic development growth of women in Texas, Shannon Mantaro, Senior Director of Operations, and Entrepreneurial Leadership for the JNIWL said. “During these times of uncertainty, we are especially pleased to be able to help the recipients of this program accelerate the success and sustainability of their businesses,” she said.”
-Dallas Innovates
“As the cohort works its way through the program, it will be required to use its knowledge and mentorship to set and achieve milestones based off of the individual company. Some of the local entrepreneurial experts helping lead the program include Mary Anne Alhadeff, head of the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership at TWU; Emily Roden, CEO of Ready Rosie; and Aaron Powell, founder and CEO at Bunch Bikes.”
-NTXINNO