What Springboard Enterprises does

Springboard Enterprises (legal name Springboard 2000 Enterprises, Inc.) is a Washington, DC-headquartered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2000 with the mission of accelerating the growth of women-led companies in technology and life sciences. The organization operates four primary accelerator programs: the Longevity Accelerator, the Women's Health Accelerator Program, the Healthcare & Technology Accelerator Program, and the New York Fashion Tech Lab (founded in 2014). It also runs the Dolphin Tank pitch event program and maintains dedicated advisory councils (Longevity Council, Women's Health Council, Healthcare & Technology Council, NYFTLab Expert Network) that provide ongoing mentorship to portfolio companies.

Unlike traditional venture accelerators, Springboard is equity-free and operates as a nonprofit, funded through a mix of program/application fees ($200 application fee plus $3,300 program fee for the Longevity Accelerator), corporate sponsorships, and individual donations. Strategic sponsors include Accenture, Eli Lilly, and Manatt for health programs, and AEO Inc., Gap Inc., J.Crew Group, lululemon, Saks Global, The TJX Companies, and Tapestry for the NY Fashion Tech Lab. The distribution model is application-based through the company's website, supplemented by corporate partnership channels for program delivery.

Springboard has cumulatively accelerated 950+ companies, which are reported to have created $76 billion in value, achieved 28 IPOs, and produced 10 unicorns. Notable alumnae include Canva (Melanie Perkins), Zipcar (Robin Chase), The RealReal (Julie Wainwright), EverlyWell (Julia Cheek), Medable (Michelle Longmire), and Aura Biosciences. The organization is headquartered in Washington, DC, with reported activity in the United States, Australia (via SBE Australia), and across 14 countries through Dolphin Tank events in 42 cities. Headcount is reported as 11-50 employees.

Name

Springboard Enterprises

Legal name

Springboard 2000 Enterprises, Inc.

Website

https://sb.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Springboard Enterprises is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 that accelerates women-led technology and life-sciences companies via equity-free accelerator programs, advisory councils, and the Dolphin Tank pitch event series, supported by corporate sponsors and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator Services

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB)

Keywords

• Startup accelerator services
• Women entrepreneurship programs
• Venture growth support
• Nonprofit business accelerator
• Mentorship investor network

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Springboard charges application fees and program fees to accelerator participants. For the Longevity Accelerator, there is a $200 application fee plus a $3,300 program fee. These fees help cover the cost of delivering the high-touch accelerator experience while allowing Springboard to sustain and expand access for future women-led companies.
2. Sponsorship and Donations: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Springboard generates revenue through sponsorships from corporations and individual donations. The organization welcomes voluntary tax-deductible contributions to help continue providing access, mentorship, and opportunity for women-led companies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Springboard Enterprises operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit accelerator that delivers equity-free, application-based programs for women-led companies in technology, healthcare, and life sciences. Its offerings include intensive accelerator cohorts (Longevity Accelerator, Women's Health Accelerator, Healthcare & Technology Accelerator, NY Fashion Tech Lab), the Dolphin Tank pitch event series, and ongoing advisory councils that connect founders with investors, corporate partners, and industry mentors to support capital raising and scale-up.

Product overview

Springboard Enterprises operates as an equity-free nonprofit accelerator organization that provides a portfolio of programs supporting women-led companies in technology and life sciences. The offering consists of multiple accelerator programs (Longevity Accelerator, Women's Health Accelerator, Healthcare & Technology Accelerator, New York Fashion Tech Lab) that pair companies with tailored advisory teams, along with the Dolphin Tank pitch event program for feedback and connections. Supporting these programs are advisory councils (Longevity Council, Women's Health Council, Healthcare & Technology Council, NYFTLab Expert Network) that provide ongoing mentorship and industry expertise. The organization reports over $76 billion in value created across 950+ companies with 10 unicorns and 28 IPOs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dolphin Tank: Springboard's Dolphin Tank pitch events offer entrepreneurs actionable insights and resources from industry experts and investors, focusing on 'How can we help?' The objective is to provide connections and advice to enable entrepreneurs to overcome challenges and capitalize on opportunities.
• Women's Health Accelerator Program
• Longevity Accelerator
• New York Fashion Tech Lab

Products and services

• Longevity Accelerator A three-part program pairing high-potential women-led companies with advisors, investors, and operators to scale innovation across health, care, housing, and financial independence to extend healthspan and improve how people age.
• Women's Health Accelerator Program A collective voice driving women's health innovation, investment and research through workshops, mentorship, strategic partnerships, and access to growth capital for women-led companies innovating in women's health.
• New York Fashion Tech Lab (NYFTLab) A retail technology program partnering with leading retailers and brands, fostering iteration, validation, and acceleration of technologies to advance the fashion and retail industry through women-led B2B tech companies.
• Dolphin Tank A distinctive pitch event format offering entrepreneurs actionable insights and resources from experts and investors, where solutions, connections, strategies, and investment opportunities are crowdsourced from the audience.
• Healthcare & Technology Accelerator Program An accelerator program combining high-value events and workshops with an impactful community, matching participants with a personal advisory team providing expertise and connections in support of women transforming the healthcare industry.

Quantifiable outcome

• 950+ companies accelerated
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• AEO Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor retail partner supporting the New York Fashion Tech Lab accelerator program. AEO Inc. (American Eagle Outfitters) provides industry expertise, mentorship, and potential pilot opportunities for selected women-led B2B fashion technology startups.
• Gap Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor retail brand partner supporting the New York Fashion Tech Lab. Gap Inc. participates in the accelerator program to foster innovation and technology advancement in the fashion retail industry through partnerships with growth-stage tech companies.
• J.Crew GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetail brand partner for the New York Fashion Tech Lab accelerator program, providing support and mentorship opportunities for women-led fashion technology startups.
• lululemoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive partner in the New York Fashion Tech Lab, supporting women-led B2B fashion technology startups with industry expertise and potential commercial partnerships.
• Saks GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuxury retail partner supporting the NY Fashion Tech Lab accelerator. Saks Global provides access to high-end retail insights and potential pilot opportunities for fashion technology innovations.
• The TJX Companies, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor off-price retailer supporting the New York Fashion Tech Lab program, bringing expertise in off-price retail and value-focused fashion retail strategies.
• TapestrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFashion luxury brand conglomerate (parent of Coach, Kate Spade, Stuart Weitzman) partnering in the NY Fashion Tech Lab to support innovation in fashion technology.
• AccenturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor sponsor of Springboard's Women's Health Accelerator Program, providing consulting expertise, industry connections, and strategic support for women-led health innovation companies.
• Eli Lilly and CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPharmaceutical sponsor supporting the Women's Health Accelerator Program, bringing healthcare industry expertise and potential pharmaceutical partnerships for portfolio companies.
• ManattstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services firm sponsor providing legal and business expertise to Women's Health Accelerator Program participants.
• NY Fashion Tech LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit accelerator founded in 2014 by Springboard Enterprises that supports women-led B2B fashion technology startups. The program facilitates relationships between growth-stage tech companies and global retailers.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: One of the largest global accelerator operators with vertical-specific programs including Techstars Healthcare; provides direct peer comparison on accelerator mechanics, though for-profit and equity-taking vs. Springboard's nonprofit model.
• Y Combinator: The dominant startup accelerator; comparable on cohort-based programming and Demo Day format, but much larger, equity-taking, and not women-focused - sets the bar for founder brand competition.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Large global accelerator platform with industry-specific programs (health, fintech, retail, brand & retail) and an extensive corporate partner network; comparable to Springboard in vertical specialization and corporate-sponsored program structure.
• 500 Global (500 Startups): Large multi-program accelerator with global cohorts and corporate partnerships; relevant peer on programming model and sponsor-led cohort delivery despite divergent equity and sector focus.

Emerging players

• MATTER (Chicago): Healthcare-specific accelerator and incubator that pairs corporate sponsors with early-stage healthtech startups; directly comparable to Springboard's Healthcare & Technology and Women's Health accelerators in vertical and structure.
• Female Founders Fund: Early-stage venture fund exclusively backing women-led companies; targets the same founder pool as Springboard with seed capital - represents downstream competitive pressure rather than direct accelerator overlap.
• All Raise: Nonprofit focused on accelerating the success of women in the tech and venture ecosystem; closely aligned with Springboard's women-led mission and nonprofit structure, though focused more on talent and capital formation than startup cohorts.

Direct peers

• Village Capital: Nonprofit impact-focused accelerator running cohorts in healthcare, fintech, climate, and other verticals; directly comparable in equity-free, sector-specialized cohort model and corporate sponsorship structure.
• Mass Challenge: Global nonprofit startup accelerator with a large portfolio and cohort-based programs; comparable to Springboard as an equity-free, sponsor-supported accelerator operating multiple vertical programs at similar scale.
• gener8tor: Mid-sized accelerator running multiple cohort-based programs (including healthtech and corporate-sponsored programs); direct peer on operating multi-vertical cohorts alongside Springboard.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SpringboardEnt
• Facebookfacebook.com/springboardenterprises
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/springboard-enterprises
• Instagraminstagram.com/springboardent

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments44 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Springboard Enterprises