The Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) has once again stepped up to strengthen the startup ecosystem of Washington state. With its 13th Founder Cohort Accelerator Program kicking off, a carefully selected group of 19 startups has been given the opportunity to scale their ventures into successful, impact-driven businesses. This program resonates deeply with me, as someone who has navigated the challenges of founding startups across Europe and built ecosystems that blend innovation with community-driven initiatives.
The WTIA Founder Cohort Accelerator Program stands out because of its emphasis on building not only businesses but also founder communities. From personal experience in both leading and participating in accelerator programs, I’ve learned that mentorship, collaboration, and networking are often more impactful than flashy pitches or superficial funding numbers. As we analyze the news about WTIA’s latest cohort, let’s explore what makes this initiative relevant, celebrate the new entrants, and pull actionable insights for startup founders globally.
Iterating on Success: Why WTIA’s Approach Matters
The foundation of WTIA's program is its focus on creating a nurturing environment for early-stage tech startups. The four-month accelerator is designed to provide vital resources including mentorship, networking, and deep dives into key issues like scaling revenue streams, fundraising strategies, and team building. The fact that Washington state startups that fit specific criteria, including a demonstrated value proposition and annual revenue under $250k, are selected ensures tailored support for companies that need it most.
In Europe, where I’ve participated in accelerators like Yes! Delft and Brightlands, I’ve seen how regional focus can catalyze tech ecosystems. While WTIA keeps this regional lens, the alumni's $400 million in collective follow-on funding proves that the impact of these programs extends far beyond geographic confines.
Spotlight on Innovation: The 19 Startups Selected
The recent announcement for 2025 introduced us to 19 startups from diverse industries, showcasing Washington’s growing role as an innovation hub. For founders, looking at such a cohort can offer actionable inspiration. Let’s break down this roster of participants:
- Aira Security: Cybersecurity solutions in an increasingly tech-dependent world.
- Cr3ate.ai: AI-driven solutions that optimize operations and insights, a market that’s red-hot in Europe as well.
- Devplan: A tech-enabled approach to streamline product development.
- DrunR: Lifestyle AI applications addressing a niche vertical.
- InnoMat.AI: Advanced materials powered by AI, a field positioning Washington as a deep-tech breeding ground.
- Koniva: A SaaS tool with team collaboration at its heart.
- LemiLeap: AI-driven e-learning, reflecting broader global trends in EdTech.
- NailedIT: Simplifying everyday tasks with tech, a core principle of successful startup ideation.
- Color42 (by Nurano Labs): Pushing boundaries in immersive experiences.
- Oikyo: Data-driven solutions for smarter communities.
- Optimly: A SaaS product designed to streamline processes, likely targeting operational inefficiencies.
- Pilotlight: Innovating sustainable solutions.
- REearthable: Cementing sustainability in the real estate space.
- Rising Wines Collective: Niche markets in wine and community, proof that traditional industries can still innovate.
- Saltwyk: Soil tech innovating for sustainable agriculture.
- SkyTax: Tax tech, an often-overlooked but critical area ripe for disruption.
- Tato: Consumer-driven personalization tools.
- VRenity: Immersive solutions in the VR space.
- Unlisted stealth startup: Often in entrepreneurship, the "stealth mode" approach builds intrigue while perfecting product-market fit.
Would such diversity be possible in an under-connected ecosystem? The answer is no. The WTIA has successfully created a pipeline where companies ranging from SaaS to sustainability and deep tech gain the tools to grow.
A Game Guide: How Founders Can Maximize Accelerator Success
Many of the 19 startups in the WTIA cohort are at the pivotal stage of finding market fit, building sustainable revenue streams, or looking for funding. For founders within or outside of existing accelerators, below is a checklist to ensure that time spent in such programs leads to concrete results:
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Embrace the Community: One key insight I’ve gained is to avoid treating mentorship as a transactional experience. Deep engagement often opens unexpected doors, be it a co-founder, client, or strategic partnership.
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Put Your Vision Front & Center: Within accelerators, especially ones running peer mentorship programs, remember to share your "why." In a network-based program like WTIA's, other founders can become your loudest advocates.
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Balance Learning with Execution: While shared workshops on fundraising and scaling are invaluable, customize learnings to your immediate needs. For example, if improving your pitch deck is critiqued during a workshop, make those changes immediately.
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Leverage Mentor Introductions Intelligently: In my time as CEO of CADChain, I learned that a successful introduction doesn’t result from having coffee; instead, focus on how the connection can amplify mutual missions.
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Get Creative with Networking: WTIA has blended virtual and in-person activities. If you’re ever enrolled in a hybrid program, innovate with tools like LinkedIn or virtual collaboration platforms before attending in-person networking events.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Trying to Do It Alone: In my early entrepreneurship days, I tried to "solo" through programs, it didn’t work. Draw on coworking and collaboration culture right away.
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Skipping the Activation Stage: The cohort provides mock pitches, demo days, and investor meetings. Many startups don’t act on the momentum gained there. Schedule immediate follow-ups to solidify new connections.
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Underestimating the Preparation: Whether pre-pitch preparation or addressing early-stage operational holes, lack of preparation during accelerator stages can waste weeks of potential growth.
Violetta’s Perspective on WTIA’s Future
What WTIA achieves year after year is an accelerator that builds businesses and a sustainable approach to regional innovation. From my experience as a serial entrepreneur and active member of various incubators, I see great value in scaling this model internationally. WTIA’s ability to pair hands-on education with tailored support mirrors efforts found in places like Europe’s Startup Nation frameworks.
The tech ecosystem worldwide is increasingly leaning toward mission-driven innovation, something startups such as REearthable and Saltwyk represent. Programs aligning with this vision will not only thrive but likely lead in producing the next generation of unicorns.
A Last Call to Action for Entrepreneurs and Ambitious Founders
Whether you’ve already built prototypes or are brainstorming your first idea, there’s much to learn from initiatives like WTIA’s 13th Founder Cohort Accelerator Program. Beyond the opportunity to scale, such programs encourage a mindset that combines technical rigor with creative exploration. Startups from small sectors such as sustainability or niche fintech will particularly benefit from aligning with accelerators offering tailored mentorship.
If you’re serious about bringing your own project to life, explore programs like WTIA or similar regional accelerators. Let’s commit to building thriving global networks, one innovative startup at a time.
FAQ
1. What is the WTIA 13th Founder Cohort Accelerator Program?
The WTIA 13th Founder Cohort Accelerator Program is a four-month initiative aimed at supporting early-stage tech startups in Washington state by offering mentorship, networking, and resources needed to scale their businesses. Learn more about WTIA Founder Cohort Accelerator Program
2. How many startups were selected for the WTIA 13th Cohort?
A total of 19 startups were selected for the 13th WTIA Founder Cohort Accelerator Program. Check out GeekWire’s announcement on WTIA 13th Cohort
3. What kinds of businesses were chosen for the accelerator program?
Selected startups span diverse industries, including AI, cybersecurity, lifestyle tech, sustainability, immersive VR, e-learning, SaaS, and niche markets like wine and soil technology. Explore the full list of startups
4. What kind of support does WTIA provide to participating startups?
WTIA offers tailored mentorship, workshops, networking opportunities, and guidance on scaling revenue, fundraising, and team-building. Participants also access discounts, coworking space credits, and introductions to investors. Learn more about WTIA Startup Support
5. Does the program take equity from participating startups?
No, WTIA's cohort program is a no-equity initiative that provides free participation for selected startups. Discover details about the program’s structure
6. Who manages and administrates the WTIA 13th Cohort?
The program is managed by the Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA), with Koki Sato as its program manager. Meet WTIA
7. What is the history of WTIA’s Founder Cohort Accelerator Program?
Since its inception, the WTIA Founder Cohort has helped over 300 startups, with alumni collectively raising over $400 million in funds. Check out WTIA cohort success stories
8. When does the WTIA 13th Cohort run?
The program began in November 2025 and will continue through February 2026. See WTIA Cohort Timeline
9. How can startups join WTIA’s Founder Cohort Accelerator Program?
Startups headquartered in Washington state with annual revenue below $250,000, a team or co-founder, and at least one customer or user are eligible to apply. Learn how to apply to WTIA Cohorts
10. Are there similar programs in other regions?
Yes! For instance, Europe has accelerators like Yes!Delft and Brightlands, which focus on region-specific entrepreneurial support similar to WTIA’s approach. Discover Yes!Delft accelerator program
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.