Prosper Capital opens applications for 2016 class

St. Louis, Missouri – Prosper Capital, a division of Prosper Women Entrepreneurs (PWE), a program aimed at identifying, coaching, and advancing women-led companies, is pleased to announce it is now accepting applications for the Spring Prosper Capital Startup Accelerator class. Women with big-market ideas or startups in technology, healthcare, and consumer-product industries are encouraged to apply.

Prosper Capital invests $50,000 in up to six woman-led startups accepted to the accelerator program and gives participants access to world-renowned mentors, resources, introductions and a curriculum designed specifically for  their business. Applications for the Spring 2016 Accelerator will be accepted through Oct. 23, 2015.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced Prosper Capital as a winner of the 2015 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition. The 80 winners represent 39 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and were celebrated at the White House Demo Day to showcase America’s entrepreneurial potential and the need for Americans to pursue bold, game-changing ideas.

“Prosper Capital is unique in the field of accelerators,” said Mary Jo Gorman, MD, MBA, lead managing partner of Prosper Capital and Founder/former CEO of Advanced ICU Care. "We are one of few startup accelerator programs that focus solely on women-led businesses, and, as far as we know, there is no other accelerator that provides follow-on funding for selected companies. We’re excited to announce that multiple companies from our first round of Startup Accelerator participants have already received follow-on funding.”

In July 2015, Prosper Capital held the final closing of its Prosper Startup Accelerator Fund, at the maximum size proposed to investors. The ground-breaking fund targeted a minimum of $2 million and closed at the top end of its range, at $3 million. This announcement came only 10 months after fundraising officially began, with funds raised primarily from local sources, 70% being women investors.

The three-month program, based in the heart of St. Louis’ innovation district, will begin on Jan. 19, 2016. Participants are required to be in St. Louis for two days a week while the program is in session. 

Did you know St. Louis is emerging as one of the nation’s most concentrated locations for financial and information service companies? Also, its universities offer some of the best entrepreneurship programs in the country, and it is within 500 miles of 33% of the U.S. population.

“We want women with big-market product ideas, and we will pull out all the stops for them,” explained Gorman. “Our experience has been developed by experts in entrepreneurship, negotiation, branding, business development, and sales.”

Prosper Capital’s applicants have drawn from more than 70 cities, 9 countries, and 3 continents. In addition to the capital investment, participants work with mentors such as Maxine Clark, founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop, and receive multiple introductions to corporate leaders and companies such as Centene Corporation. Companies founded from Prosper Capital’s last class include SmartMonitor, SanusEO, Bookalokal, Kite Readers, and more. 

“Prosper Capital has incredible value,” said Anoo Nathan, CEO, SmartMonitor, a California-based company providing monitoring and tracking solutions for people with chronic health conditions. “In addition to connections with investors, the program was a launching pad for engagement with healthcare partners, payers, and benefit managers.”

Source: Prosper Women Entrepreneurs