Institute for Women Entrepreneur Excellence

What Institute for Women Entrepreneur Excellence does

The Institute for Women Entrepreneur Excellence (IWEE) is a Maryland non-profit corporation established in 2022 to support women entrepreneurs, specifically those qualifying as Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SEDI), primarily based in Maryland. The organization was founded under the umbrella of TEDCO (Maryland Technology Development Corporation) in alliance with four Maryland Historically Black Colleges and Universities — Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore — each of which provides board representation.

IWEE's sole core product is the BRIDGE Program (Building Resources for Investment, Development, and Growth in Entrepreneurship), an eight-week cohort-based curriculum delivered in a hybrid format combining in-person sessions at partner university campuses with virtual participation via Zoom. The program combines weekly three-hour expert-led workshops, one-on-one mentoring (1–2 hours), and applied assignments culminating in pitching presentations. Curriculum areas include financial literacy, strategic planning, investor readiness, pitch deck development, financial statement analysis, loan application drafting, and capital strategy formulation. Applications are accepted online through JotForm, and participation is free of charge.

IWEE has no proprietary technology platform; its operational stack is limited to Zoom, JotForm, and standard web/email infrastructure (oiwee.org, [email protected], [email protected]). The organization does not generate revenue from participants. Operating support comes from TEDCO plus corporate sponsorships (Wells Fargo, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation) and ecosystem partners (Technology Advancement Center). As of 2026, the organization operates with 1–10 employees, a 9-member board (FY2026–2027), and an interim executive director, Teresa Payne-Nunn, appointed in November 2025.

Name

Institute for Women Entrepreneur Excellence

Legal name

Institute for Women Entrepreneur Excellence, Inc.

Website

https://oiwee.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Institute for Women Entrepreneur Excellence (IWEE) is a Maryland non-profit founded in 2022 under TEDCO's umbrella, operating an eight-week BRIDGE Program that delivers hybrid financial literacy, strategic planning, and investor-readiness training to SEDI women entrepreneurs in Maryland in partnership with four HBCUs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entrepreneurship Education and Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAMAKAK

Entrepreneurship, Startup Incubation & Pitch Programs

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/College & Career Enrichment (Mentorship, Internships, Portfolio)

SECONDARYEDAMAHAE

Financial Literacy, Budgeting & Personal Finance

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Entrepreneurship & Business Enrichment

SECONDARYEDAMAHAI

Leadership, Management & Teamwork for Business

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Entrepreneurship & Business Enrichment

SECONDARYEDAMAKAA

Mentorship & Coaching (Career, Academic, Industry-Specific)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/College & Career Enrichment (Mentorship, Internships, Portfolio)

SECONDARYEDAMAHAK

Social Entrepreneurship & Impact Business

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Entrepreneurship & Business Enrichment

Keywords

• Women entrepreneurship programs
• SEDI business support
• Cohort-based training
• Investor readiness workshops
• Small business mentorship

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Nonprofit Funding and Grants: IWEE is a Maryland nonprofit organization established in 2022 with funding from TEDCO (Maryland Technology Development Corporation) and support from corporate sponsors. As a nonprofit focused on economic development and entrepreneurship support, the organization does not generate revenue from program participants but rather sustains operations through grants, sponsorships, and partnerships with state agencies and educational institutions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Institute for Women Entrepreneur Excellence delivers the BRIDGE Program (Building Resources for Investment, Development, and Growth in Entrepreneurship), an eight-week cohort-based program for Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individual (SEDI) women entrepreneurs in Maryland. The program combines weekly three-hour expert-led workshops, one-on-one mentoring, and applied assignments covering financial literacy, strategic planning, pitch deck development, loan application drafting, and capital strategy, delivered in hybrid format at partner HBCU campuses and via Zoom. Participation is offered at no cost, with the program funded through TEDCO grants and corporate sponsors.

Product overview

The Institute for Women Entrepreneur Excellence offers a single core program - the BRIDGE Program (Building Resources for Investment, Development, and Growth in Entrepreneurship). This is an eight-week cohort-based initiative delivered in hybrid format (in-person and via Zoom) that supports women entrepreneurs through workshops, one-on-one mentoring, and applied learning activities. The program focuses on financial literacy, strategic planning, and investor readiness, addressing critical gaps in access to capital for SEDI entrepreneurs. The organization was established in 2022 in collaboration with four of Maryland's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, and University of Maryland Eastern Shore) and operates in partnership with TEDCO.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BRIDGE Program The BRIDGE Program (Building Resources for Investment, Development, and Growth in Entrepreneurship) is an eight-week cohort-based initiative designed for Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individual (SEDI) women entrepreneurs in Maryland. It combines weekly expert-led workshops (approximately 3 hours each), one-on-one mentoring (1-2 hours), and applied assignments covering financial literacy, financial statement analysis, pitch deck development, loan application drafting, strategic planning, and capital strategy. Delivery is hybrid via in-person sessions at partner HBCU campuses and Zoom. Participation is offered at no cost to participants, funded through TEDCO and corporate sponsors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eight-week intensive program with weekly workshops (3 hours), one-on-one mentoring (1-2 hours), and applied assignments culminating in pitching presentations.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Technology Advancement Center (TAC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnered with IWEE for the Columbia Cohort 003-2024 graduation. TAC and its team, led by Gregg Smith, provided support for the program and dedication to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in the community.
• TEDCO (Maryland Technology Development Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022TEDCO established IWEE as a key initiative to support women entrepreneurs across Maryland. As the founding partner, TEDCO provides organizational support, funding, and integration into Maryland's innovation ecosystem. IWEE operates as a TEDCO affiliate with deep operational collaboration.
• Bowie State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022One of four founding HBCU partners in the IWEE alliance. Provides representation on the board of directors and contributes to programmatic advisement and implementation. Gail Bassette serves as the Bowie State representative on the board.
• Coppin State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022One of four founding HBCU partners in the IWEE alliance. Hosts BRIDGE Program cohorts and provides board representation through Ann-Marie Waterman, who serves as Treasurer and Chief of Staff at Coppin State.
• Morgan State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022One of four founding HBCU partners in the IWEE alliance. Provides board representation through Erica Anthony, Associate Professor of Management and Department Chair, who serves as Secretary.
• University of Maryland, Eastern Shore (UMES)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022One of four founding HBCU partners in the IWEE alliance. Hosts the first BRIDGE Program cohort and provides board representation through Pamela Allison, Endowed Chair in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, who served as initial board Chair.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Black Girl Ventures: Black Girl Ventures supports Black and Brown women founders through pitch competitions, cohort programming, and capital access, closely aligned with IWEE's SEDI-focused mission and cohort-based delivery approach.
• Springboard Enterprises: Springboard Enterprises is a non-profit accelerator focused on women entrepreneurs seeking to scale technology-enabled businesses, comparable to IWEE's focus on investor readiness, leadership development, and capital access for women-led ventures.
• Tory Burch Foundation: The Tory Burch Foundation supports women entrepreneurs through education, mentorship, and capital access programs, directly comparable to IWEE's mission of empowering women founders via structured cohort programming and ecosystem partnerships.
• SCORE: SCORE is a U.S. non-profit network providing free mentoring and education to small business entrepreneurs, directly comparable to IWEE's model of cohort-based, no-cost training and mentorship for early-stage entrepreneurs.
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses delivers cohort-based, tuition-free entrepreneurship education to under-resourced founders, closely matching IWEE's BRIDGE Program structure, target audience (SEDI entrepreneurs), and sponsor-funded delivery model.
• Babson College Center for Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership: Babson College's CWEL delivers research, education, and programming to advance women's entrepreneurship, comparable to IWEE's academic-anchored, programmatic approach to developing women founders.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO): NAWBO is a national membership organization advocating for and supporting women business owners across the U.S., representing a broader, more established peer to IWEE's regional women-entrepreneur support mission.
• Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC): WBENC is the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S. and supports women entrepreneurs through certification, advocacy, and corporate connections, serving as a broader incumbent in the women entrepreneur ecosystem.
• Kauffman Foundation: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a major U.S. philanthropy supporting entrepreneurship research, education, and ecosystem building, comparable to IWEE as a non-profit advancing entrepreneurship, though at vastly larger scale.

Emerging players

• Pipeline Angels: Pipeline Angels is an angel investing network focused on women and non-binary founders, intersecting with IWEE's investor readiness curriculum and capital access mission, though delivered through investment rather than training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-women-entrepreneurship-excellence

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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