Investor Accelerator

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investor Accelerator

Diversifying the investor table

The Doyenne Investor Accelerator is an 8-week program designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge to invest in startups. 

Currently, women occupy less than 9% of all Venture Capitalists across the U.S.A., and 70% of all VCs identify as White Males. In 2022, startups led by teams of mixed gender or all women received just 20% of VC funding. We know that women are more likely than men to invest in women-led ventures. By increasing the number of active women investors within the startup ecosystem, we aim to close the funding gap for women-led ventures. 

The Investor Accelerator blends online learning, virtual workshops, and partnership events to build women’s financial knowledge and ability to evaluate companies, make smart investments, and remain engaged after deals are made. We do all of this while keeping legal and tax implications in mind to explain risk and create a safe space where questions are encouraged for increased learning.

Gain the skills to become an investor.

Join the next Investor Accelerator cohort.

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investor accelerator outcomes

  • Gain vocabulary associated with investing in startup ventures

  • Know the financial requirements of various types of investors

  • Source potential investment deals

  • Understand different investment arrangements and important associated terms

  • Learn the personal tax implications of investing in ventures, necessary documents, and how to file

  • Meet with seasoned investors and service providers who can support building your startup investing portfolio

 

The experience

The Investor Accelerator contains 3 phases

 The Doyenne Investor Accelerator is divided into three major phases that build on each other over the course of the 8 weeks. Participants receive a workbook for each phase and attend a combination of live workshops (with Q&A) and on-demand webinars.

Phase 1: Being an Investor & Startup Investment Vehicles


What does being an investor mean? And what are the different requirements and options for being an investor? During the first three weeks of the program, participants will learn about financial requirements, the impact of women investors on the startup & investing ecosystem, Different types of investors, and legal structures & tax implications for investment options.

Phase 2: Managing and Evaluating Deal Flow


In the second phase, participants learn how to find and evaluate companies to invest in:

—Sourcing investment options
—Evaluating company pitches
—Due diligence
—Investment types
—Terms
—Live practice seeing entrepreneur pitches and evaluating documents

Phase 3: Post-Investment Management


What happens after you write the check? In phase three, participants learn how best to serve and advocate for the entrepreneurs and ventures within their portfolio and their options for getting their money back to be able to invest again.

additional details

connecting & Empowering next generation investors

    Investor Accelerator Kickoff Event

The first step in the Investor Accelerator experience is to build community within the cohort. The cohort will be working closely with each other over the 8 weeks, we are in this together and we create a space where you can be honest, vulnerable, and accepted for your experiences, background, level of knowledge, and personal story you bring to the group.

    Celebration & Conclusion of Program

The program ends with Doyenne Investor Accelerator participants coming together to discuss learnings, next steps, and continue conversations.

    Additional Opportunities throughout the 8-week journey:

Peer Coffee Sessions: As a cohort, you have the opportunity to schedule coffee meetings with other Investor Accelerator participants and/or Doyenne program team leaders—either one-on-one or as groups to learn from each other and strengthen your network.

Introductions to Investor Networks: Doyenne works with other investor networks and will provide you with opportunities to meet these individuals & groups.

Access to Entrepreneurs Seeking Investment Dollars: Doyenne's Triple Threat Venture Training program runs at the same time as the Investor Accelerator program to create opportunities for both programs' participants to support each other's learning and growth along their journeys. Doyenne also works with many other women entrepreneurs who are seeking investors and will create opportunities for Investor Accelerator participants to meet with these entrepreneurs.

Most weeks, you'll need to set aside 2 to 3 hours. 

The 8-week Investor Accelerator is laid out to meet your goals within the program and also accommodate unexpected life responsibilities. If you are unable to attend a live virtual workshop, you will get access to the recording. All pre-recorded webinars and supporting materials will be provided via the Doyenne Learning Lab platform.

All workshops during the Investor Accelerator will be conducted virtually with links and calendar invites sent to participants ahead of time.

(Workshops are live events with time for Q&A. Webinars are pre-recorded seminars without a Q&A.)


Session

When

Who

Kickoff Event

September 21

4:00 - 5:30 PM

Participants

Facilitators

Angel vs. Syndicate vs. Individual Investor options |webinaR

Week of September 25

Participants

Being an investor | workshop

October 5

4:00 - 5:30 PM

Participants

Facilitators

Panelists

Deal flow - Where to find investment seeking ventures | Panel Discussion

October 12

4:00 - 5:30 PM

Participants

Facilitators

Equity Investments, 

Notes, and Safes| webinar

Week of October 16

Participants

Investor rights | workshop

October 19

4:00 - 5:30 PM

Participants

Facilitators

Cap tables | Webinar


Week of October 23 

Participants

Loss & Gains within 

Investment Deals | webinar

Week of October 30

4:00 - 5:30 PM

Participants

Facilitators

Entrepreneur & Investor Exit Experiences

November 2

4:00 - 5:30 PM

Participants

Facilitators

Guest Speaker

Celebration Event

November 9

4:00 - 5:30PM

Participants 

Facilitators

*Webinar programming to be viewed on the participant’s own schedule during the week listed

On average, program participants should expect to spend 4-6 hours per week on program-related events, preparation, and homework. 

Gain the skills to become an investor.

Join the next Investor Accelerator cohort.