Google grants $65,000 to bolster female entrepreneurship in Oklahoma through accelerator programs
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Google has awarded $65,000 to support Oklahoma accelerator programs for female entrepreneurs.
This grant from Google will fund StitchCrew, an Oklahoma-based accelerator that develops public-private partnerships to connect traditionally overlooked entrepreneurs with the capital, network, and resources they need to build and scale companies across the region.
Funding from Google will support four initiatives to help women entrepreneurs overcome barriers to growing their businesses.
"Prevailing systems of established regulations, societal norms, systemic and structural barriers make scaling a business particularly challenging for women and BIPOC entrepreneurs," said StitchCrew Founder Erika Lewis. "Google has been a valuable partner in our efforts to empower women and jumpstart a vital part of our state's economy".
The Cherokee Women Entrepreneurs Accelerator is a program aimed at addressing the challenges faced by Cherokee women in the entrepreneurial landscape. The program is a collaboration between the Cherokee Nation, which brings a cultural heritage and commitment to supporting its citizens, and the University of Tulsa, which brings knowledge in entrepreneurship education and ecosystem development.
The Latino Accelerator program, run in partnership with The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City, provides a learning platform for the next generation of Latino-owned businesses in Oklahoma City to develop a path to grow their businesses to one million dollars in revenue. StitchCrew connects entrepreneurs with business experts who will guide them in their approach to building scalable business models and compound revenue.
The grant will also fund the creation of an accelerator program for women-led companies building tools, products, and services that support women and working families, as well as inclusive employers to retain participation in the labor force.
The grant also enables up to 20 women entrepreneurs to join VEST, a peer network of professional women that provides executive coaching and mentorship.
"StitchCrew's innovating programming illuminates the path to success for Oklahoma women entrepreneurs," said Andrew Silvestri, Google's head of Public Policy and Community Development. "Women founders receive only about three percent of funding and face obstacles to grow their businesses. By supporting focused programs, we can close the startup gender gap and foster an economy that's more inclusive, accessible, and equitable".
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