2023 Founder Program
The Gradient Spaces Founder Program is one of Canada’s first equity-free accelerators for 2SLGBTQIA+ and under-estimated founders. Our 12-week-long founder program focuses on the things startups need most: education, mentorship, and community.
Less than 1% of venture capital deals go to 2SLGBTQIA+ founders. Let's change that.
Our mission is to increase the visibility, diversity, and impact of 2SLGBTQIA+ founders in Canada’s innovation economy.
Gradient Spaces is excited to partner with Georgian, a leading Venture Capital firm based in Toronto, to launch our 2023 Founder Program.
Pillars for Success
Our program is designed around things startup founders need most.
Education
We’re here to provide you with the resources to build a business with longevity. You’ll gain the tools, training, and confidence to take your idea to the next level and pitch to investors.
Mentorship
You’re not alone in this! Meet a community of mentors who are invested in your success. Learn from the experience of other successful queer founders across intersections.
Community
Connect with other queer founders, tech entrepreneurs, and investors. Our alumni build friendships and communities of care that outlast the 3-month program.
Program Timeline
The 12-week long intensive will focus on everything from customer discovery to identifying product-market-fit and building a Go-To-Market strategy. The program culminates in a final pitch day where founder’s have the opportunity to meet with investors.
Jan 3 – Feb 7
Feb 8 – Feb 20
Feb 21
Mar 1 – May 31
May 31
✍️ Apply
💬 Interview
📣 Cohort Announcement
🌱 Founder Program
🚀 Pitch Day
Selection Criteria
Our program is designed to support early stage 2SLGBTQIA+ founders. Participants must:
Work at least part-time on their startup
Be developing a tech-enabled solution to address a large market
Be able to identify specific and critical milestones that can realistically be achieved in the next 12 months
Service-related businesses (one on one coaching businesses, consulting companies, single brick & mortar establishments, etc) will only be eligible for our community resources
Questions?
Our program is designed to support early stage 2SLGBTQIA+ founders. This includes:
- Early founders who are developing their ideas
- Solo-founders or teams developing scalable solutions
- Founders open to building an enduring business in a number of different ways, whether through bootstrapping, funding, or otherwise
Yes. However, this program is built by and for 2SLGTBQIA+ and Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, and other under-estimated and under-resourced founders across intersections.
We support any tech-enabled businesses that can scale. We are not industry-specific. Service-related businesses (one on one coaching businesses, consulting companies, single brick & mortar establishments, etc) that are not scalable are not a good fit for our programs.
No, the Founder Program is an equity-free accelerator, which means we do not take any equity nor have any fees thanks to the generosity of our volunteers and sponsors.
The education sessions will be delivered online, and optional social events will be held in person.
Our Partners
Sponsors
In Kind
