Esosa Ighodaro, co-founder of CoSign, a social media shopping app, found that being part of an accelerator was beneficial in fundraising. Through the Seamless Accelerator program in Michigan, the company raised $1.4 million. Ighodaro now focuses on helping other founders raise funding as the founder of AcceleratorCON in Brooklyn, NY. The event brings startups and accelerator leaders together in a pro-sports draft-style event, with notable speakers and representatives from various accelerators in attendance.
With only 2.3% of venture capital going to female founders and less than half a percent to Black founders, Ighodaro aims to break down barriers in the relationship-based tech investment industry. AcceleratorCON allows founders to connect directly with investors, eliminating the need for a ‘warm introduction,’ which can be difficult for those outside traditional networks. Ighodaro, also a venture scout, sees this initiative as an opportunity to expand connections and increase diversity in the investing space.
As a VC-in-residence at Pipeline Angels and a venture scout for BBFI, Ighodaro’s goal is to help underrepresented founders make connections that lead to successful fundraising. Studies show that accelerators can significantly increase funding for startups, leading to higher survival rates or successful acquisitions. Recognizing the lack of resources for entrepreneurs of color, Ighodaro co-founded Black Women Talk Tech to provide a community and resources tailored to their needs.
Through Roadmap to Billions conference series, aimed at helping founders build valuable businesses, Ighodaro is working to bridge the gap for founders unaware of accelerator opportunities. By creating a network for founders to connect with investors and accelerators, she hopes to provide valuable resources for startups, especially underrepresented founders. The virtual AcceleratorCON event, previously held due to flash flooding in New York, now offers an in-person platform for startups to gain access to capital and support.
The AcceleratorCON event, sponsored by Microsoft, Oracle, and TechStars, has attracted about 500 registered attendees, focusing on connecting founders with investors and accelerator leaders. Ighodaro’s experiences as a founder led her to recognize the need for new entrepreneurial communities and opportunities for founders to access resources. By bringing together startups and accelerators at AcceleratorCON, she aims to create valuable connections that can help underrepresented founders secure funding and thrive in the tech industry.
