What’s happening:
Chloe Capital is hosting a three-month accelerator for tech founders of Seed through Series A stage companies from underrepresented and historically marginalized backgrounds. This marks Chloe Capital’s fourth year partnering with the New York City Economic Development Corporation as one of four organizations selected to operate an accelerator within the Founder Fellowship, a program dedicated to supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs building tech and tech-enabled businesses across New York City. Fifteen companies from New York City will be selected to participate in Chloe Capital’s accelerator.
Who we’re looking for:
Chloe Capital’s Founder Fellowship is open to any applicant who resides in New York City, including those led by founders from underrepresented backgrounds. We are specifically seeking companies building innovative tech solutions in Energy, Workforce, and Health. Applicants should be Seed to Series A stage, ready for investment, and actively raising. Finally, we are looking for companies that have traction, momentum, and are ready to scale.
What we’re offering:
What makes our program unique, first and foremost, is direct access to capital. Our program includes funding opportunities, peer-to-peer and expert mentoring and coaching, investor connections, networking, and educational programming delivered through virtual and in-person sessions. All participants will receive lifetime access to Chloe Capital’s national resource database and our custom growth kit with dozens of discounted services.
Founders | 2026 Cohort
Chloe Capital’s Founder Fellowship is in partnership with New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).
Chloe Capital’s Founder Fellowship is in partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).
TIMELINE
March
Accelerator Begins. The accelerator will launch with a cohort founder kick-off meeting, during which we will review the timeline of events, expectations, and opportunities. We will send out a pre-program survey to all founders, and host a roundtable to discuss ideas, experiences, and share the unique challenges faced by participants. During the kickoff month, founders will work virtually with team members from Chloe Capital to create individualized work plans and receive access to Chloe’s resource database.
April
Introducing the Ayana “Signature Module” — a dedicated founder-focused educational session facilitated by Dr. Lesley Robinson, Co-Founder of Ayana. This module integrates founder identity, strengths-based leadership, and entrepreneurial mindset into Chloe Capital’s Founder Fellowship experience.
In addition to this new offering, Chloe Capital will continue to engage with founders virtually for mentorship, workshops, and networking events with partners across technology and innovation sectors. Founders will also learn how to apply for additional funding opportunities such as SBIR and STTR programs, and will be connected with strategic and corporate partners to demo or pilot products, develop case studies, and receive invaluable feedback.
May
Chloe Capital will connect founders with near-peer mentors to focus on developing or refining their pitches through virtual engagements. Founders will then pitch investors during a live in-person gathering. During the event, each founder will be afforded the opportunity to fast-pitch their company, followed by a feedback session for each team, and networking between founders and investors.
June
During our final month, we will hold a founder roundtable discussion to debrief experiences, deep-dive on challenges diverse founders face, and share additional resources. Chloe Capital will host an in-person showcase to increase founders’ access to capital and visibility among investors and strategic partners.
Chloe Capital is committed to investing a minimum of $300,000 in at least three companies. Companies will be considered for investment upon successful completion of the program. In addition, each founder will gain access to free and discounted business services, mentorship, and connections to Chloe Capital’s global network of investors. On average, participants in a Chloe Capital program go on to raise $2,000,000 each.
Chloe Capital is committed to investing a minimum of $300,000 in at least three companies. Companies will be considered for investment upon successful completion of the program. In addition, each founder will gain access to free and discounted business services, mentorship, and connections to Chloe Capital’s global network of investors. On average, participants in a Chloe Capital program go on to raise $2,000,000 each.
LEAD & FOLLOW
$100 – $250k
SEED – SERIES A
U.S. & GLOBAL
2026 PARTNERS & SPONSORS
Take a peek at our Program Recap Video and 2025 Booklet
Through this recap, you’ll catch a glimpse of the dynamic energy, the breakthrough moments, and the empowering insights that emerged during the Chloe Capital Founder Fellowship. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a supporter of women-led ventures, or simply someone seeking inspiration, this video is bound to leave you motivated and ready to chase your own dreams.
GROWTH KIT
Next Application Period: Fall 2026
To learn more about the overall Founder Fellowship program, please visit EDC’s website here.
