Patty Simonton, Big Table Institute

The DMV entrepreneurial ecosystem is rich in assets. Our region boasts a highly educated and diverse workforce, world-class universities, proximity to federal agencies, and deep expertise in regulated and mission-driven sectors such as govtech, cybersecurity, defense, life sciences and biotech, and climate.

Of course, the ecosystem also has well-documented challenges, as anyone who has tried to access resources in this region can attest. Beyond the logistical challenges caused by unrelenting traffic and differing policies across jurisdictions, the ecosystem is woefully fragmented. It is also shaped by long government procurement cycles, and often oriented toward consulting or services before productization. Early-stage risk capital is notoriously harder to access than in coastal urban tech hubs, and many founders are second-career professionals balancing entrepreneurship with other obligations.

Between fragmented jurisdictions and notoriously difficult access to early-stage risk capital, the journey for a startup here is often uphill. That is why I am thrilled to welcome Foundervine to the region as they launch their first US-based accelerator.

A New Kind of Support for a New Kind of Founder

Foundervine has spent the last eight years pursuing their mission to “transform society by making innovation open to anyone, anywhere.” I am heartened by the organisation’s commitment to supporting founders from low socioeconomic backgrounds, first time founders, and those without inherited networks or early capital. Proactively inclusive accelerators not only expand who gets to participate in the ecosystem, but in broadening the pipeline of entrepreneurs, they help to bring in voices and perspectives that are often excluded, but essential for building solutions that actually work for real communities.

Sometimes a foot in the right door is all it takes.

Why This Program Stands Out

The Foundervine program structure will hit all the usual bases, with 25+ hours of live workshops, 1:1 coaching, and pitch prep. Still, there are a few features that I see in their offerings that will help differentiate it.

• Alternative Funding Mastery: First, the Foundervine program includes a focus on alternative funding pathways, where founders will learn about grants, CDFIs, crowdfunding, and revenue-based funding in addition to the more traditional (but far less accessible) equity capital models. Given the growing concentration of capital in the VC markets and how expensive it is for founders, it’s vital for ESOs to help founders understand that equity capital should only be used if every other form of funding has been considered.
• A Focus on Financial Health: Second, the program prioritizes an introduction to key financial metrics. This is important because so many founders, many of whom do not have any background in business or finance, try to avoid the details of their financials as long as possible. Unfortunately for them, if the numbers don’t add up, a startup won’t get funded no matter how polished the pitch.
• A Hybrid Model Designed for the DMV: Third, a hybrid model will help facilitate broader participation from startups across the region while still providing ample opportunity for founders to develop the kind of relationships that can only happen in person.

Are You Ready to Scale?

For their inaugural US cohort, Foundervine is seeking ventures where digital tech or AI is a core part of the value proposition.

If you are a founder ready to turn your domain expertise into a scalable company, the time to act is now. This isn't just another program; it's a "foot in the right door" that could change the trajectory of your business.

Apply Now

About the Author

‍Patty Simonton is the founder of the Big Table Institute, a new organization that convenes and empowers all mission-driven professionals and stakeholders within the impact economy to collaboratively create transformative, market-driven change in communities across the country. Certified by IEDC as an Entrepreneurship Development Professional, Patty has spent much of her career working with startups and seeking ways to facilitate greater entrepreneurship and impactful innovation. She was the former director of Bethesda Green's Innovation Lab, a federally recognized entrepreneurship support program, and is currently a board member for the Maryland Business Innovation Association.