She Loves Tech startup competition opens for 2022 cohort

She Loves Tech, a global startup competition and accelerator program for women, has opened applications for its eighth season.

She Loves Tech panel at a tech festival in Singapore / Photo credit: She Loves Tech

This year, startups from 60 countries can submit their applications to compete for a total of US$500,000. The rewards include a US$25,000 sum in cash prizes from Teja Ventures and Asian Development Bank Ventures, up to US$100,000 of direct investment from the She Loves Tech Fund, as well as mentorship and networking opportunities.

The competition will last for five months and target tech startups with at least one female founder or a majority female user base. Submissions are set to run until August 14 for the Asia round and September 12 for the rest of the world.

Founded in 2015 by Virginia Tan, Rhea See, and Leanne Robers, She Loves Tech aims to funnel over US$1 billion in capital to women-led businesses by 2030. To date, its annual competition has attracted startups from over 70 countries worldwide.

Globally, female-led startups received just 2.3% of total VC funding in 2020. Meanwhile, in Southeast Asia, companies founded or co-founded by women bagged US$4.4 billion last year, accounting for 17.2% of total startup investment, up from 16.5% in 2020.

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